The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-22


with the modern FaustO Nay, that
money would do more, than pay his
debts; the Surplus staked on the right
coiored card might put him once more
on the high road to luxury and pleas
ure. One of these days he could quiet
ly return this borrowed stake Again
the horses head was turned about, this
time more slowly.
Railroads are grasping corporations,
and this, one will never miss this paltry
sum, went on the wheedling voice of
the tempter; the man who carries it
need not be hurt. Then over his faint
heartednesS there came sudden evil
decision. He held his rein steady for
moment, and took a long, searching
look around. Not the sign oe a habi-
! tatiOn anywhere: not moving figure
in all the landscape except that horse
man ahead, walking his beast leisurely
along the grass-grown path. The shiny
leather of the saddle bags glistened in
the moonlight
With a quick instinct of self-conseal-
ment, the man whipped out his hand
kerchief and tied it over the lower part
of his face and turned down his hat
brim. Cautiously he began to follow.
Just where that tree threw its shadow
over the path was the place for the at
tack.
All unconscious of any danger, the
rider ahead logged on across the moon
lit stretch and entered the shadow
Then the chestnut mare behind felt the
spurs prick deep into her TANKS and
the taut rein hold her to her course,
There was a streaking shadow across
the moonlight, the sound of a collision,
CRY
hand grasping the butt end of a pistol
and then white horse went riderlcss
out of the shadow into the moonlight
beyond, and stopped TO look back in
animal fear for its erstwhile rider. But
that rider was on the ground, face up
ward, white as the wan starlight, his
eyes stark and staring.
HE is but stunned" said his assail-
ant, shuddering; and went hastily to
the white horse and unstrapped the
saddlebags. To cut them open was the
work of a moment. and the coveted
money was in his grasp. But as he
rammed ii into his pockets, the sharp
swapping of a twig caught his ear, and,
looking up. he saw above the rail fence
the head and shoulders of a man. Even
in the peril Of the moment he noted the
unkempt hair and ragged shirt. For
each others faces, standing not ten
steps apart. Then the stranger REACHED
for his pistol but with a yell that
echoed fiendishly through the dark re
cesses of the night the other man threw
up his hands and fed into the under
brush of the field beyond.
Tn stranger started in pursuit, but
wiser thoughts prevailed. The man
would give the alarm, or Sim HOleman
himself might recover consciousness,
and then escape would be impossible.
AS he turned back from the fence
something attracted his attention in
the grass "a worn felt hat which the
late intruder had dropped in his fright.
With a harsh laugh the man kicked it
close to the PROSTATE form in the shad-
ow, and springing into his saddle drove
the white horse before him at a rapid
gait dOWn the lane whence he had
come. Where there were some bars in
the fence he dismounted and, turning
the driven horse in, he closed the gap
and rode on faster than before.
THAT gives me a chance, for when
Sim Holeman RECEIVERS from that blow
on the head he cannot follow me afoot, +"
he said to himself
At the fork of the road he turned to
the right and went steadily and rapidly
onward. He knew the horse he rode,
the scion of a famous Kentucky racer
and he felt sure that if nothing else
happened he could make up the lost
hour and reach Boon in time to avert
suspicion. He asked himself no ques-
tons, he dared not even think as he
pressed onward: but at his heart was
a sickening sense of loneliness, a nau-
sea of life and self which he could not
shake off. On the outskirts Of Boon
he dismounted and with a cloth from
his knapsack rubbed of his horse, SO
that the animal had no appearance of
being faded when he turned him over
to the hostler at the inn.
What time is it? Quarter to 10, sir.
Yes, the stage goes by at daylight. All
right, sir; I'll get you up in time" were
the answers TO his questions.
Then he lay down and counted every
hour that struck until the gray dawn
crept into his window and the warning
knock at the door told him x WAS time
to be up. Mechanically he ate the
breakfast spread before him and short
Nv afterward found himself on top of
the stage, straining his eyes through
the mist to- catch a glimpse of the road
they travelled. Sleep seemed to have
deserted him, his throat was Darched
and his eyes burned IN their sockets
He did not notice that the road was
muddy until the driver said something
of the heavy rain that had fallen after
midnight.
Eight days later he sat in Louis
vile clubroom and read the morning
paper. There were no telegraphs in
these days, and news Travelled slowly.
Under a glaring headline he found the
following item:
1.-THE pioneer town Of Clayton, Tenn,
has had it's first sensation since the
days of the Indian raids. On Friday,
the 10Th, Sim Holeman, paymaster for
the A. & z. road now building through
that district. went out as usual with
the funds tC pay off the hands and
some other expenses of the week,
Amounting in all TO $1,000. He started
alone on horseback from Ciaytou to
go. TO Redville. leaving the former place
at D. m. The next morning about s