Arizona republican., 1901-02-11
CHAPTER x.

The chill winter had passed and the cottonwoods and willows ringing the canyon creeks |were eagerly donning their fancy livery, after their long lem sen season. when Jack Harper returned from San Francisco.
 His trip had been successful from financial standpoint. The cattle had sold well. and he had invested some five hundred dollars in pretty and comforta- ble furniture for the new home. He had consumed much time in lowering over jewellers glittering show-C ases. He visited nearly every shop in the busy, bustlinS city before deciding on a suiable ring. and the choice he even tually made was far from satisfactory. There were no rlngs-or anything elsa, for that matter-qlIite good enough for the dainty brown fingers of the fascin- tc,ng. lovable girl longing for his re- turn. in the wild grandeur of the cam yon country.
 When everything had been purchased ana ne was about ready 10 return. he was seized by the sapIing fingers of slow, treacherous fever. He could not rid himself of its enveloping coils. Oc- casiorally he would rally for a time, and then he would write cheerful, hap py letters to Vahatha. Every Tuesday brought a bright letter from her. redo lent of nature and trust and faith: with every margin and corner bearing meas urless love. They were to Jack like springs of cool water to the lone desert prospeCtOf. They cooled and soothed his throbing brain like a loving moth CTS hands.
 He was very i'll when the murder oc- cured, so knew nothing of it.
 Now that he was home again he felt the -eliy.r of the pure, sweet mountain air. He breathed largely like a man jus. freed from loathsome dungeon. He had not written Vahatha when he would return. He wanted to surprise her. He would not go to her yet. He would wait few days 10 rest and woo back his wanton strength.
 He had been home but two days when Jim came walking wearily to the door. He was alone. pale and wan.
 After the first affectionate greetings Jack asked for Dan.
 .Iims eyes filled.
 "He Is dead" he said. sorrowfully
 Dead! Dan dead?" IL was too strange to believe,
 Let me have suopernnd rest, Jack cousin, and then I'll tell you the story of our disastrous trip. I've had all the prospecting I want. Jack"
 His face dimly lighted in a weak im- itation of the old. boyish smile, Little more was said until supper had been eaten, and they sat outside in the gloaming. on rude chairs made of deer horns cushioned with mountain lion skins.
 "Wsll." said Jack, tentatively.
 "All right" responded Jim, shudder- ing little. And then he began.
 We started from Nuremberg on the Colorado river, with couple of burros. Weeks of tramping made us tough and swarthy. dirty and dubious. Then one night the burros wandered off. A sand storm coming up obliterated their tracks, and though we hunted long. we never saw them again. wn packed up what grub we had left and strapped it onSour backs with our single canteen of water. The balance of the outfit we consigned to the tender mercies of his satanic majesty. and started. as mari ners without compass, to find our way home.
 For three long 6ays-the longest I ever knew-we toilec. and then Dan threw himself 6own on the hot sandand