The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-08-21

Have the ptopp
pUp yonder before Custer and the
o6icers Of the Seventh. When We get
In
They'd nab me-Itkely.s
.Now, see here, you say II Is impos-
.sIbIe for them to touch you because
the case Is closed legally. But I've
had to suffer for your crime, Murphy,
suffer for is years, ten Of them behind
stone walls; and there are others who
have suffered With me. It has cost me
love, home, al that man holds dear.
The very least you can do in ordinary
decency is to speak the truth now. 1t
vili not hurt you. but it will lift me
out Of hell
"Weil-naybe might. ANYHOW,
III 20 on-with ye. Kin sit mp?
I'm dog tired-lytn' yere."
.sUnbuekle your belt, and throw that
over first
I'm danned-if I win Not-,n no
Intun-country."
Z know it's tough" retorted Hamp-
ton, with exasperating coolness, his
revolvsFS muzzle held steady; but
Just the same, IT'S got to be done. ]
know you far too well to take chances
on your gun, SO unltmber."
"oh, I-guess not and Murphy spat
CONTEMPORARY. DO We think-I'm
afcard O. yer-shootin'? Yedon't dare
fer I'm no good ter ye-dead."
You are perfectly right You are
quite philosopher in your way. You
would be no good to me dead, Murphy.
but you might prove fully, as valuable
manned. Now I'm playing this game
to the limit, and that limit is just
about reached. You unlimber before
count ten. you murderer, Or I'll spoil
both your handsI"
The mocking. sardonic grin deserted
Murphy's features.
"UuIimbert It's the last call.
with q snarl the scout unclasped
his army belt, dropped 1t to the ground
and sullenly kicked 1t over toward
Hampton. ''Now-now-you, you gray
eyed-dedl, kin I-sit up?"
The other nodded. He had drawn
the fangs Of the wolf. and now that
he no longer feared, a sudden, unex-
plainable feeling Of sympathy took
possession Of him. Murphy sputtered
and swore, but his victorious compan-
| lon neither spoke nor moved. There
were several distant smokes out to
| the uorthWard now. evidently the an
swering signals of different bands Of
savages, while far away. beneath the
shadow Of the low blufts BORDERING the
stream, numerous black, moving dots
began to show against the light brown
background. Hampton, noticing that
Murphy had stopped swearing to gaze.
swung forward his held.glasses for a
better view.
They are Indians. right enough" he
said. at last. Here, take look. Muir
ply. could count about 20 In that
bunch and they are travelling north
The older man adjusted the tubes to
his eyes and looked long and steadily
at the party.
"They seem-to be a,closln' In" he
declared, finally, staring around into
the others face, all brayado gone.
There's anuther lot-bucks all o EN-
-out west yonder-an' over east a
smudge is-just startin'. Looks like
I'VE wus in pocket-an' thar might
be some har.rafstn' fore long"
well, Murphy. you are the older
hand at this business. What do you
advise doing?'
Me? Why, push right long-while
we kin keep under cover. THEREAFTER
dark-trust ter bull luck an make
'nuther dash. It's mostly luck. any
how.
You mean We should start now?"
"Better-Iet the cattle rest-frst.
An-if We ever feed prisoners-Fd
like ter eat bite-mesflf"
They rested there for over two
hours, the tired horses eontentedly
munching the succulent grass Of the
coulee, their two masters scarcely ex'
changing word. Murphy, after salts
flying his appetite, rested dat upon
his back. one arm flung over his. eyes
to protect them from the sun.
At last they saddIed up and passed
down the coulee into the more precip'
| itous depths Of the narrow canyon.
Their early advance was slow and
cautious, as they never felt certain
what hidden enemies might Turk be
hind the sharp corners Of the winding
| defile, and they kept VlgilaDt eyes
upon the serrated skyline. The saw
ages were moving north and so were
they.
It was fully three O'Clock when they
attained to the bank Of the Powder
and crouched among the rocks to wait
fonthe shades Of night to shroud their
further advance. Murphy climbed the
bluff for wider view. bearing Hamp-
toms field.glasses slung across his
shoulder, for the latter would not
leave him alone with the horses. He
returned finally to grunt out that there
was nothing special IN sight except
shifting Of those smoke signals %
points farther north, Then they la
down again, Hampton smoking, Mur.
phy either sleeping or pretending to