Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1903-09-17


Kirkham laughed easily. He was a
tall, broad-shouldered fellow, a favor
ite with his troop and the admiration
and envy of every girl in Guaymas.
His unfailing truthfulness and sin
certify had won for him the title of
odd Honesty" among his men, and
these qualities had found their COM
plement in the grave, simple dignity of
the Indian girl, whom his laughing,
cordial ways had won.
When Kirkham and the girl had
passed out of hearing the hidden
shadow drifted noiselessly toward the
open spaces of the plain. For a little
while the figure was visible crossing
the sand dunes that at intervals broke
the expanse, but when the moon,
emerging from behind a passing cloud,
cast her clear light over the treeless
solitude, the vast plain lay white and
silent for miles.
Three months later two hui. ters
were tracking their way through the
range of mountains that bordered the
desert waste. They had been four days
on the trail of a puma, which had fled
through canyon and gully and through
the tortuous mountain trails, till,
strength and spirit exhausted, they
sought only for food and shelter.
The elder Of the two, suddenly ut
tered an exclamation.
See here, Kirkham," he said, some
ones been here before us, and by the
old Harry, some ones got that puma!"
He pointed to where a blood-stained
trail led up into the winding Businesses
of the mountain ridge. The earth
around was torn and the bushes
showed signs of a sever struggle.
You're right, Havens," he said.
I'm with you," he added, reading the
others intention in his eyes.
Somewhat revived by this unexpected
happening, the two men tramped stur-
Oily up the narrow trail. 1t grew
sleeper and narrower as they climbed,
but as the entire way showed traces
of the deadly struggle which had evil
evidently taken place, they felt en-
couraged at every step, and unheed-
ing fatigue and hunger, gradually ap-
preached the mountains top.
I'D give a buttin' to know who
killed that puma" said Ravens sud-
denly, pausing in his tracks. why,
Kirkham, there hasn't been big game
killed in these mountains for years.
You know that as well as l do. It's
next to impossible. These mountains
were made for hiding places. When
old Indian Charley killed that panther
three years ago, the whole post was
thirsty for more: but did they ever
get it? No, though every man spent
every day he could get in these noun
tains, there's never been a kill shot
since"
well, by Jupiter"
They had reached the top, and were
staring in stupefaction at a little hol-
low a few PAGES to the left. On the
rocky ground a solitary campfire
burned, and or poles and the limbs of
trees suspended in a large circle
around the~fire, were the skins of at
least a dozen wild beasts in various
stages Of preservation, and lei the
burning embers lay the body of the
slain puma with it's death-wound yet
oozing. Not a sound broke the 81
lence. Not a human being was to be
seen.
WELL" said Kirkham, smiling
grimly, you're wrong this time, Ha-
vens. Somebody's fired a kill-shot.
and pretty lately, too, I should judge"
HaveDs nodded. What do you say
to tracking the hunter instead of the
gamer" he asked laconically. "We can
ambush here, if you're good for a
siege"
Kirkham frowned. 81 don't know"
he. said uncertainty. We've passed
the time limit; Altoonah-'
"Oh, say, old fellow, you're not
afraid of your wife tracking you!"
laughed Ravens, comfortably. "She is
all right. Girls of her blood under
stand these things"
This time Kirkham scowled. "1ll
stay" he said briefly.
They concealed themselves in an
underground of scrub, a short distance
from q huge boulder raising its pre-
cipitous front, boldly repelling, q
veritable fortress Of strength, and lay
ing their rifles across a projecting rock
waited in silence as the sun disap-
peared behind the highest peak in a
red blaze of fire.
The slow hours dragged on. Kirk
ham, about to yawn, felt his arm alb
ruptly seized in a heavy grip. With
his mouth half open he turned quickly
to where Ravens was pointing to a
solitary figure outlined in giant i'm
mensity among the shadows.
Kirkham barely suppressed the ex-
clamation which rose to his lips.
by George!" he whispered excit-
eddy to Havens. ITS Eagle Wind"
Ravens nodded, his eyes glued to the
advancing figure, a cautious hand on
his rifle.
The Indian advanced into the circle
Of the campfire, and with a satisfied
grunt, lay down his burden. The two
hunters noted the fine deer, and even
in their excitement a pang of envy
shot through them. Eagle Wind cast
a wary glance about him, and they
held their breath. lad he heard some
slight sound inaudible to their duller
ears? His splendid, muscular figure
seemed to crouch cat-like for a spring,
and he turned his deep, burning eyes
directly upon the bush clump where
Kirkham and Ravens lay like statues.
Ia an instant, the two rifles COW
cred him. Ravens had sprung to his
feet, and Kirkham had jumped sim