The Columbus journal., 1907-09-25

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"elampeea olsed He AnsleWs gyee -
~ Glass"
pectedly out a the black night, startled
him more than would . volley q ri1ea.
He spraAg half egect then - swiftly
crouched behind . willow. utterly m
able to articulata. Fur the instant his
very blood ran cold: b appeared 70
shrivel up.
"Oh. come. Murphy: speak up. man:
I know you're IN here"
That terror Of the unknown instant
" vanished. This was the familiar
language q the world. and. however
the fellow came to BE- there. II vas
assuredly . man Who spoke.
"Who-the hell are yer: ho blurt-
ed out.
The visitor laughed. the bushes
rustling - he pushed toward the
sound Of the voice. It's an right. old
boy. Gave ~ quite . scare. I 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 IN let drive. 70 tell me
-nrst-who ye be-"
The invader paused. but. he realized
the nervous finger pressing the trigger
and made haste to answer. It's al
right, I ten ye. I'm one O Terry's
scouts."
"Ye are! list the same- I've heard
yer voice afore."
Likely 'nough. Isaw service In the
Seventh"
Murphy was still . tribe suspicious.
How'd ye git yere? How'd " como
ter knoW-whar I Wus!
The man laughed again. "Sorter
hurts yer professional feelins, don't II,
old Teller. to be dropped IN On In this
unceremoaious way? But II vas dead
easy, old man. Ye see I happened
throt Cheyenne only . couple O hours
behind ye. With . bunch O papers fer
the Yellowstooe. The trails plain
enough out this IN. and I Hoped long
at . pretty fair hickory, % thet I vas
up On the blur yonder. and saW 70 %
into camp yere Just afore dark. You
wus arkeepin' yer eVes skinned ACROSS
tho Fourche. and naturally didn't ex-
pect no callers from them hills b.
hind. The rest Wus nuthin'. an here I
an. It's . darn sight ~pleasantef ter
hev company tfsvelin,, ter my notion.
Now hin I cum ONT"
Murphy reluctantly lowered his Colt,
every movement betraying annoyance.
II 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
"Whard-ye say ye-wus bound!'
Mouth O. the Powder. We kin ride g..
tergether fer . night or two"
"Ye kin-do ~ ye-please. butt
amt q huntin-no company.-an' I'm
a'-goin' cross now"
He advanced q few strides toward.
his horses. Then suddenly he gave
vent to q smothered cry. 20 startling
a. to cause the stranger to spring
hastily after him.
"Oh! Ny God! Oh! Look there!"
what II II, mani"
There! there's. The picture! Don't
you sect"
Nav; I don't zee nuthin.. Ye amt
gone cracked. hev ye? Whose pic
ture!'
It's there!-O Lord!-it's there!
NY 0odt can't ye see!-An' It's his
face all a-gleamin' with green flames
Mary-an' I amt seen IT.
afore in-15 year!"
He seemed suddenly to collapse, and
the stranger permitted him to drop
limp to the earth.
Dam II I hin see anythin', old
man, but I'm scout round thar . bit,
jest ter ease ysr mind. IN zee what I
kin skeeF up"
He had hardly taken . half dozen
steps before Murphy called after him:
''Dont-don't % an leave NETS
not there noW-thet's Queer!"
The other returned and stood gazing
down upon hi huddled figure. You're
. Ane scout! afeard O. spooka. Do 70
take these yere turns often? Fer II
70 do, I reckon - how I'd sooner be
ridin' alone"
Murphy struggled b his fest and
gripped the others nm. Never he'd
nuthin' Ike it-afore. But-but II was
Eha-an creepy-an' green amt seen
net faco-ih Is year"
What facef~
a. fellow I meW-ooea He
heis dead"
The other gEunted disdainfully. bad
|uck tee 80 them sort" he volun-
solemnly. "Blame glad Il
waFn't ne - go Il, an I don't know
n I ke0r much righf now 'hout keeD.