Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-20

I'm dog tired-lyin yere."
"Unbuckle your belt, and throw that
over first"
I'm damned-if will. Not-in no
Injun-country"
Il know it's tough" retorted Hamp-
ton. with exasperating GOODNESS, his
revolyer's muzzle held steady; but.
Just the same, it's got to be done.
know you far too we'll to take chances
on your gun. So unlimber."
ooh. I-guess not" and Murphy spat
CONTEMPORARY. DO ye think-I'm
afeard o yer-shootin'? Ye don'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
l count ten, you murderer, or III spoil
both your hands!"
The hooking, sardonic grin deserted
Murphy's features.
"Unlimber! It's the last call"
With q snarl the scout unclasped
his army belt, dropped II to the ground
and sullenly kicked It over toward
Hampton. "Now-now-you,y you gray
eyed-devil. kin I-sit up?" a
The other nodded. He had drawn
the fangs of the wolf. and now that
he no longer feared, sudden, unex-
plainable feeling Of sympathy took
possession Of him. Murphy sputtered
and swore. but his victorious compan-
ion neither spoke nor moved. There
were several distant smokes out to
the northward now, evidently the an
swering signals OF different bands of
savages, while far away, beneath the
shadow of the low bluffs 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 fleld-glasses for
better view.
They are Indians, right enough" he
said, at last. Here, take 2 look. Muir
ply. l 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.closin' In" he
declared, finally, staring around into
the others face, all bravado gone.
There's anuther lot-bucks, all O. EN-
out west yonder-an' over east .
smudge 3s-just startin'. Looks like
we wus in a pocket-an' thar might
be some-har-raisin fore long"
well. Murphy. you are the older
hand at this business. What do you
advise doing?"
me! Why, push right Iong-while
we kin keep under cover. Then-after
dark-trust ter bull luck an make
'nuther dash. It's mostly luck, any
how.
"You mean We should start now
"Better-let the cattle rest-frst.
Ant ye ever feed prisoners-Td
like ter eat hite-mssilf."
They rested there for over two
hours, the tired horses contsntedly
munching the succulent grass of the
coulea, their two masters scarcely ex-
changing word. Murphy, after salts
flying his appetite, rested nat upon
his back, one arm lung over his eyes
to protect them from the sun.
At last they saddled up and passed
down the coulee into the more Drecip-
itous depths Of the narrow canyon.
Their early advance was slow and
cautious, Is they never felt certain
what hidden enemies might Turk be-
hind the sharp corners Of the winding
dafile, and they kept vigilant eyes
upon the ssrrated skyline. The saw
ages were moving north and so were
they.
1t was fully three O'Clock when they
attained to the bank Of the Powder.
and crouched among the rocks to wait
for the shades of night to shroud their
further advance. Murphy climbed the
bluff for wider view, bearing Hamp-
toms f1eld-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 to
points farther north. Then they lay
down again, Hampton smoking, Muir
ply either sleeping or pretending to
sleep. And slowly the shadows of an
other black night swept down and
shut them in.
It must have been two hours later
when they ventured forth. Silence
and loneliness brooded everywhere.
not so much as breath Of air stir
ring the leaves. Murphy continued to
lead, the light tread Of his horse bare
ly audible, Hampton pressing closely
behind. revolver in hand. the two pack
horses trailing in the rear.
Midnight, and they pulled up amid
the deeper gloom Of great, overhang
ing bluff, having numerous trees near
it's summit There was the glow OF a
distant dre upon their left. which red
dened the sky, and reflected oddly on
the edges Of vast cloud-mass rolling
I'D threateningly from the west.
Their horses stood with heads hang
ing YEARLY down, their sides rising
and falling, and Hampton, rolling stiff
" from the saddle. hastily loosened
his girth.
They'll drop under us If we don't
give them an hour or two he said,
.,,ya+l,, ..Thoy,ra hnfh dead heat"