Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-19
oy. Gave We quite a scare. 1 reckon"

boy. Gave We quite a scare. reckon"
Murphy could now dimly perceive
the other advancing through the inter-
vening willows, and his Colt shot up
to the level "stop!-ye take another
step an Tll-let drive. Ye tell me
-frst-who ye be-"
The invader paused, but he realized
the nervous finger pressing the trigger
and made haste to answer. ITS all
right, tell ye. I'm one O. Terry's
scouts"
"Ye are? Jist the same-Tve heard
yer voice-afore."
Likely nough. I saw service in the
Seventh"
Murphy was still trife suspicious.
How'd We git yere? How'd We come
ter krow-whar wus?"
The man laughed again. "Sorrer
hurts yer Professional feelins, don't 1t,
old Teller, to be dropped in on in this
unceremonious way? But it was dead
easy, old man. Ye see l happened
thro' Cheyenne only couple O. hours
behind We, with bunch O. papers Ter
the Yellowstone. The trails plain
enough out this far, and l Hoped Icing
at a pretty fair hickory, 40 tibet l was
up on the bluff yonder, and saw ye go
into camp yere just afore dark. You
wus a-keepin' yer eyes skinned across
the Fourche, and naturally didn't ex-
pect no callers from them hills be-
hind. The rest wus nuthin', an here
f! am. It's darn sight pleasanter ter
hev company travelin', ter my notion.
I Now kin ! cum on?"
Murphy reluctantly lowered his Colt,
! every movement betraying annoyance.
| ~ reckon. But i'd damn sight
rather risk it-alone."
! The stranger came forward without
| further hesitation. The night was far
| too dark to reveal features. but to
Murphy's strained vision the new
conner appeared somewhat slender in
build. and Of good height
"Whar'd-ye say ye-wus bound!
| Mouth O. the Powder. We kin ride
tergether fer night or two"
Eye kin-do as ye-please, but
amt huntin'-no company.-an' I'm
a'-goin' cross now"
He advanced few strides toward
| his horses. Then suddenly he gave
vent to smothered cry. 30 startling
az to cause the stranger to spring
hastily after him.
ooh! My God! Oh! Look there"
What is 1t, mani"
There! there! The picture! Cont
you see?"
NAV; don't see nuthin'. Ye amt
gone cracked, hev ye? Whose pic
| ture?"
ITS there!-O Lord!-it's there!
/ NY God! can't ye see?-An' it's his
4 facial a-gleamin' with green flames
Holy Mary-an' l amt seen It.
! afore in-15 year."
He seemed suddenly to collapse, and
! the stranger permitted him to drop
i limp to the earth.
Darn If l kin see anythin'. old
/ man, but I'll scout round thar bit,
lest ter ease yer mind, an see what l
! kin skeer up"
| He had hardly taken a half dozen
| steps before Murphy called after him:
"Don't-don't go an leave me--it's
not there now-thet's queer!"
The other returned and stood gazing
| down upon his huddled figure. You're
/ fine scout! afeard o. spooks. Do ye
take these yere turns often? Fer II
We do, reckon as how I'd sooner be
! rtdin' alone"
Murphy struggled to his feet ana
:; gripped the others arm. Never he'd
!, nuthin' like it-afore. But-but 1t was
thar-all creepy-an' green-ain't seen
| thet face-in Is year"
What face?"
] IA fellow I knew-once. He
he's dead"
The other grunted disdainfully. bad
luck ter see them sort" he yolun-
teered. solemnly. Blame glad 1t
warn't me es see 1t, an don't know
! as keer much right now bout keep
in company with ye fer very long.
However, reckon if either of us cal
culates on dom much ridin' ternight.
we better stop foolin' with ghosts, an
go ter saddlin' up
i They made rapid work OF 1t, the
newcomer proving somewhat loqua-
! cious, yet holding his voice to q judi
cious whisper. It was he who led the
way down the bank, the four horses
slowly splashing through the shallow
water to the northern shore. Before
them stretched broad plain, the sur
face rocky and uneven, the northern
stars obscured by ridges OF higher
land Murphy promptly gave his
horse the spur, never once glancing
behind, while the other initiated his
example, holding his. animal we'll in
check, being apparently the better
mounted.
They rode silently. The way be-
came more broken and rough al they
advanced, causing them to exercise
greater caution. Flying CLOUDS OBJ
secured the stars, yet through the riffs
they caught fleeing glimpses sufti-
cient to hold them to their course.
And the encroaching hills swept in
closer upon either hand, leaving them
cropping their way between as In q
pocket, yet ever advancing north.
Finally they attained to the steep
bank of considerable stream, found