The Ordway new era., 1908-01-24
opyriubt by 4. c. McCiurx & Co.. isoIJ
CHAPTER !.
- Isiand With a Mystery,

SIlhI
he Island With a Mystery.
baid positively to Battle AK. his
buckskin COW pony. that they
ride to the summit of this one
and that 1t should be the last.
had said the same thing many
since striking the barren hill re-
Ranking both sides OF the river.
after hump had been surmount.
zee the sound of the first prom
Vi tickled the ears of the tired
ho. humps as alike as the two
of Bactrian camel, the monot.
continuity of which might very
have confused the mind of one
II home on these ranges than
Williston. Even he. riding n
trail since sun.up. sitting his
with n heavy Indifference born
b. and fatigue. began to think 1t
be that they were describing a
and the sun was playing them
&c tricks. Still. he urged his pony
BE- more effort: Just SO much
er and they would retrace their
giving up for this day at least
beating OF a small bunch of cat
branded n lazy S. missing these
days.
III not untoward circumstances
sened. he might still have gone
j. on: for. laying aside the gam.
fever that was on him, he could
iord to lose the ten or twelve
somewhere wandering the wide
or huddled into some safe place.
to abide the time when daring
pr might conveniently play at
craft with the brand or other
dispose of them with profit to
elf and with credit to his craft.
|over, what might possibly never
been missed from the vast herds
ngford. his neighbor OF the plains
lry. was of most serious import
lilliston.
cvil take you, Battle Ak. but
(e SLOW" muttered Williston. I'D
a good deal to sit down this min
10 some of my little girls flap
and coffee. But nothing for us.
bones. till midnight-or morning.
likely. Do walk up as II you had
little standing in the Gorld Of
ponies. You haven't. OF e surety.
you might make an effort. All
ks are possible to him who tries.
know. which Is tremendous lie,
purse. But perhaps 1t doesn't a2-
10 poor devils like us who are
beens.' Here we are. Ah!"
ere were no more hills. Almost
ply at his feet was one of those
pitous cut-aways that character
he border bluffs of the Missouri
A few more steps, in the dark.
horse and rider would have plung-
yer a sheer wall OF nearly 200
As it was. Williston gave n gasp
hvoluntary horror which almost
ltaneously gave place to one OF
per and astonishment. He had
X the river at point absolutely
to him. 1t was the time of low
r. and the river. in most of its
es muddy and sullen-looking.
hed silver and gold with the gilt.
the setting sun. making n royal
way to the dwelling.place of
fbus. A little to the north OF this
King highroad lay what would
been an island in high water.
iy wooded with willows and cot
foods. Now long stretch of sand
he'd between blum and island.
smounting. with the quick thought
yonder island might hold the Sc
Of his lost cattle. he crept as
F to the edge as he dared. The
was sheer and tawny. entirely de.
OF shrubbery by means OF which
might hazard descent. The sand
began Immediately at the foot of
yellow wall. Even though one
faged to gain the bottom. one
4 ID hardly dare risk the deceitful
ps, ever shifting. fair and treach-
Ps. Baffled. he was on the point of
bunting to retrace his steps when
dropped his foot from the stirrup
fzed. Was the day Of miracles not
passed?
was the sun. or course. Twelve
|rs Of sun in the eyes could play
Pnse- tricks and might even cause
ancing black speck to assume the
ablance Of q man on horseback.
King his way easily, though may
bit warily, across the waste OF
q. He seemed to have sprung from
very bowels Of the bluff. Whence
)! Many rod beyond and above
ghostly figure frowned the tawny,
ked cut-away. Path for neither
se nor man appeared 80 far as eye
ID reach. 1t must be the sun. But
vas not the sun.
lotionless. intent, a figure cast in
ME as the sun went down, the lean
chman gased steadfastly down
n the miniature man and horse
eping along 90 far below. Not un
the object Of his fixed saze had
2 swallowed BY the trees and un-
brush did his muscles relax. This
q mad ridden ~ n ttnafrald