The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-05
(Continued.)

The man laughed again. 'Sorter
hurts yer Professional feelins, don't it,
old Teller, to be dropped in on in this
unceremonious way? But it was dead
easy. old man We see | happened
thro' Cheyenne only a couple o. hours
behind We, with bunch @ papers fer
the Yellowstone. The trails plain
enough out this far, and Hoped long
at a pretty fair hickory so thet | 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 I
am. It's a darn sight pleasanter ter
hev company travelin', ter my notion.
Now kin / cum on?"
Murphy reluctantly lowered his Colt,
every movement betraying annoyance.
Il reckon. But Pd-a 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 dye say ye-wus bound?"
Mouth o. the Powder. We kin ride
tergether fer night or two"
"Ye kin-do as ye-please, butt
amt huntin'-no company,-an' I'm
a'-goin' cross now"
He advanced a few strides toward
his horses. Then suddenly he gave
vent to a smothered cry, so startling
as to cause the stranger to spring
hastily after him.
ooh! My God! Oh! Look there!"
What is it, man."
There! there! The picture! Don't
you see?"
Nav; I don't see nuthin Ye amt
gone cracked, hev We? Whose pic
ture?"
ITS THERETO Lord!-it's there!
My Cod can't We see?-An' it's his
facial a-gleamin' with green flames
Holy Mary-an' I amt seen it
Rfore in-15 year,"
He seemed suddenly to collapse, and
the stranger permitted him to drop
limp to the earth.
Darn If l kin see anythin' old
man, but I'll scout round thar bit.
Jest 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-its
not there now-thet's queer!'
The other returned and stood gazing
down upon his huddled figure. You're
a One SCOUT afeaPd o. spooks. Do We
take these yere turns often? Fer il
ye do, 1 reckon as how I'd sooner be
ridin' alone"
Murphy struggled to his feet and
gripped the others arm. Never he'd
nuthin' like it-afore But-but it was
thar-all creepy-an' green-ain't seen
tibet face-in 10 year"
What face?"
"A fellow l knew-once. He
he's dead"
The other grunted disdainfully. bad
luck ter see them Sort" he volun,
teered, solemply. Blame glad il
warn't me es see it, al l don't know
as l keer much right now bout keep
In company with We fer very long
However, / reckon if either of US cal
culates on dom much ridin ternight
we better stop foolin' with ghosts, an
&c ter saddlin' up"
They made rapid work of it, the
newcomer proving somewhat loqua.
cious, yet holding his voice to 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 a 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 well in
check. being apparently the better
mounted.
They rode silently The way be
came more broken and rough as they
advanced. causing them 10 exercise
greater caution. Flying clouds OBJ
scured the stars, yet through the riffs
they caught feeting glimpses sufh-
cient to hold them to their course
And the encroaching hills swept in
closer upon either hand, ledving them
cropping their way between as in 8
pocket, yet ever advancing north.
Finally they attained to the steei
bank of a considerable stream, found
the water OF sufficient depth to compel
swimming. and cTept up the opposite
shore dripping and miserable, yet with
ammunition dry. Murphy stood swear.
ing disjointedly, wiping the blood from
wound in his forehead where the
jagged edge of a rock had broken the
skin, but suddenly stopped with q
quick intake of breath that left him
painting. The other man crept toward
him, leading his horse.
What is it now?" he asked, gruffly
nHf