Mower County transcript., 1907-12-11

The man laughed again. "Sorte
hurts yer Professional feelins, don't it
old feller, to be dropped in on in this
unceremonious way? But it was dca(
easy, old man. Ye see l happened
thro' Cheyenne only couple O. hours
behind We, with bunch O. papers fel
the Yellowstone The trails plain
enough out this far, and I loped long
at a pretty fair hickory, so thet l was
up on the bluff yOnder, and saw We &c
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 |
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.
II reckon. But Td-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.
"Whard-ye say ye-wus bou9do'
Mouth O. the Powder. We kin ride
tergether fer night or. two
aye kin-lo as ye-please, butt
ain't huntin'-no company,-an' I'm
a'-goin crcss now
He advanced few strides toward
his horses Then suddenly he gave
vent TO q smOthered cry, SO startling
as TO cause the stranger to spring
hastily after him.
"Oh, My God! Oh! Look there!"
what is it. mar?'
There! there! The picture! Don't
you see?"
NAV; I don't see nuthin'. Ye amt
gone cracked, hev ye? Whose pic
ture?"
Its thereto Lord!-it's there!
My God! can't ye see?-An' it's his
facial a-gleamin with green flames
Holy Mary-an' 1 amt seen it
afore in-15 year!"
He seemed suddenly to collapse, and
the stranger permitted him to drop
limp to the EARTH
Darn if I kin see anythin', old
man, but I'll scout round thar a bit,
Jest ter ease yer mind, an see what I
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
a fine scout! afeard O. spooks. Do ye
take these yere turns often? Fer if
ye do, reckon as how I'd sooner be
ridin' alone"
Murphy struggled to his feet and
gripped the others arm. "Never he'd
nuthin' like lt-afore. But-but it was
thar-all creepy-an green-ain't seen
thet face-in IS year"
What face?"
"A-a fellow I knew-once. He
he's dead"
The other grunted disdainfully. bad
luck ter see them sort,' he volun-
teered, solemnly. "Blame glad it
warn't me es see it, an 1 don't know
as l keer much right now bout keep
in company with We fer very long.
However, l reckon if either of us CAL
culates on doin' much ridin' ternight,
we better stop foolin' with ghosts, an
go ter saddlin' up
They made rapid work of it, the
newcomer proving somewhat loqua-
cious, yet holding his voice to judi
cious whisper. 1t 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 as they
advanced, causing them to exercise
greater caution. Flying clouds OBJ
scured the stars. yet through the riffs
they caught feeting glimpses suf6-
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 a
pocket, yet ever advancing north.
Finally they attained to the steep
bank of considerable stream, found
the water of sufficient depth to compel
swimming, and crept up the opposite
shore dripping and miserable, yet with
ammunition dry. Murphy stood swear
ing disjointedly. wiping the blood from
a wound In his forehead where the
Jagged edge Of rock had broken the
skin, but suddenly stopped with
quick intake OF breath that lott him
painting. The other man orept toward
him, leading his horse.
What is it now?" he asked. gpumy.