The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-07
(Coptinued.)

About that time / fell foul of Muir
ply and Slayin there in Glencaid.
never got my eyes on Murphy. you
know, and Slavin was so changed by
that big red beard that | failed to rec
ognize him. But their actions aroused
my suspicious, and l went after them
good and hard. ! wanted to find out
what they knew, and why those lies
were told on Nolan at the trial | had
an idea they could tell me. So, for a
starter | tackled Slavin, supposing we
were alone, and I was pumping the
facts out of him successfully by hold
Ing a gun under his nose, and occa-
sionally jogging his memory, when
this fellow Murphy got excited, and
chasseed into the game, but happened
to nip his partner instead of me- In
the course Of our little scufle |
CHANGED to catch a glimpse of the fell
lows right hand, and it had a scar on
the back Of 1t that looked mighty ia
miliar. / had seen it before, and |
wanted to see it again. SO, when |
got out of that scrape, and the doctor
had dug a stray bullet out of my
anatomy, there didn't seem to be any
one left for me to chase excepting
Murphy. for Slayin was dead. l wasn't
exactly sure he was the owner of that
scar, but | had my suspicious and
wanted to verify them. Having struck
his trail, | reached Cheyenne Just
about four hours after he left there
with these dispatches for the Big Horn.
] caught up with the fellow on the
south bank of the Belle Fourche, and
being well aware that no threat or
gun play would ever. force him to con
fess the truth | undertook to brighten
him by trickery. | brought along
some drawing-paper and drew your ia
theirs picture in phosphorus and gave
him the benefit in the dark. That
caught Murphy all right, and every
thing was coming my way. He threw
up his hands and even agreed to come
in here with me and tell the whole
story. but the poor fellows brain
couldn't stand the strain of the scare
had given him. He went raving mad
on the Powder; he jumped on me
while I was asleep, and since then
every mile has been a little hell
That's the whole of it to date"
They were up with the pack-train
by now, and the cavalrymen gazed
with interest at the new arrivals.
Several among them seemed to recog-
nize Murphy and crowded about his
horse with rough expressions of sym
pathy. Brant scarcely glanced at
them. his grave eyes on Hampton S
stern face.
And what is it you wish me to do?'
Take care of Murphy. Don't let
him remain alone for a minute. If he
has any return of reason, compel him
to talk. He knows you, and will be as
greatly frightened at your presence
and knowledge as at mine. Besides
you have fully as much at stake as
anyone, for in no other way can the
existing barrier between Nadia and
yourself be broken down."
Insisting that now he felt perfectly
fit for any service, the impatient
Hampton was quickly supplied witt
the necessary food and clothing, while
Murphy, grown violently abusive wa.
strapped on a litter between two
mules, a guard on either side. Bran
rode with the civilian on sharp tro
as far as the head OF the pack-train
endeayoring to the very last to pei
suade the wearied man to relinquisl
this work to another.
Foster" he said to the sergeant il
command Of the advance, did yol
chance TO notice just what coulee Gus
ter turned into when his column
swung to the right"
i think 1t must have been the sec
ond yonder. sir; where you see tina
bunch of trees. We was a long way
back, but l could see the boys plain
enough as they come out on the blui
up there. Some of EN- waved thei
hats back at US. Is this man goin
after them, sir?"
Yes. he has dispatches from Chey
enne"
Well he ought ter have no troubl
findin' the trail. 1t ought ter be 'bou
plain as road back in Gods country
sir. fer there were more than 90
horses, and they'd leave a good mar
even on hard ground"
Brant held out his hand. I'll cei
tanly DO all in my power Hampton
to bring this out right. You can rel
on that and / will be faithful to tn
little sirl"
The two men clasped hands, thei
eyes filled with mutual confidence
Then Hampton touched spurs to hi
horse and galloped swiftly forward
CHAPTER XXI.
The Fight in. the Valley.