The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1896-01-17

the porch, AMI from the S1aQOW OF Cne |
steps he saw the something that in all
the world he couldn't bear to SEEM
DRY crossing the room to take Grace
Blanchard in his arms; Emory With |
passion paling his face and Grace
Blanchard in the beauty of a disturb
ing humility.
"He cursed as be watched them cling |
to each other, and he cursed his way
back to the saloons and his MaripOss
mining.
"The.next day he turned up again in
the settlement, with liquor enough
aboard to put a wheel in his head, and,
after losing fling at the tables, he
started to find Emory.
"After little Intellectual riding, he
leaped from the back of his viciOus-eyed
piebald at the corner that bulged thick
est with saloons, and stood close to the
stirrup with his hand on his hip. Some
one who noticed him said his face had
the steely intensity of a razor edge.
"Then out of the crowd, unconscious,
with the music of love in his heart,
swung Ned Emory. His hat was pushed
back on his fair hair, and he was whist
ling the overflow out of his veins.
SIN one instant a bullet rang through
the air, followed by another. Emory
fell in his own blood, and a horseman
was riding off wildly and safe through
theshowero of bullets atrained around
him. Every man with a cayuse tore in
pursuit, but they only brought back
eight half dead horses. Stokes had
staked relay beasts at different points
along the road, and was then safe in the
chaparral canyons toward the north.
"The gambling dens chOked up with
the crowds; gold dust was hesped on
gold dust for the reward of the coward
ly hounds capture. Murders weren't
rare then, but there was only one Ned
Emory, remember.
"Four Of US wouldn't drop the search.
We let the blood-money men get out of
the way, and then we worked as we'd
toll for only our own.
"There was scarcely no scent to fol-
low, for Stokes had bribed the greasers
who furnished his horses; but we
forced our way along on nothing, Day
and night we rode with cur eyes open,
sometimes bullying and sometimes beg
ging. It began to seem hopeless. The
days were running into summer again.
some afternoon toward twilight, we
rested on the crest of a mountain where
the path took sudden turn away from
a two-hundred-foOt precipice.
"We we're torn with the swapping
branches of the crossword, and full
of EXTREMIST dirt and disgust. Sudden
ly We heard the rustic of step on the
fallen leaves. Under a live oak, not
thirty yards away, on the very edge Of
the cliff, stood Shorty Stokes. He had
not heard US, and he stood looking at
the moon which hung sicklein the hot
sky. The evening star was showing.
"The four of US we're like stones. He
could have got to Guinea before mo-
tion'd have come to US. Then stimuli
taneOusly with our steps forward, be
turned and looked into our faces.
"It was a moment to test the nerve
of any man. He stood it as we we're
used to seeing him face all things.
81 suppose I'm the man you're after,
he said.
"He said it with the dignity Of a
parson.
"In a second he had thrown down his
pistols. He unsheathed his knives and
dropped them to the ground.
flake me- he said.
"Four of US looked into the unfinch-
ing oleaFness of his eyes. As we hest
tated, he spoke again.
"'Listen. It is not in excuse that I
speak, nor in weakening. It is to tell
you that those among you who are
men will follow my steps under like
circumstances.
Emory gave me his hand and his
oath, in the manner Of his frankness,
to stand by an arranged agreement.
We were TO meet at eight o'clock
OF that Sunday night. IA beautifully
good woman was to decide on our ar
gument which man she would marry.
In riding to meet my engagement I
happened OF an accident. Within half
a mile Of the settlement, close onto
time, my piebald went back on his
launches and the grOan OF a man came
up from the roadside. found an over
loaded miner, hurt in the leg, and the
hope in my Own heart aroused my sym
pathy. I mounted the man on my beast
and headed him back toward camp.
"'Walk as I never walk, I reached
the meeting place three minutes late.
Ah-God-o in the darkness I saw