Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1908-01-24

decency is to speak the truth now. II
will not hurt you, but 1t will lift me
out of hell"
"Well-maybe | might. Anyhow.
III go on-with We. Kin | sit up?
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
revolver's 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 unlimber."
"Oh, 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
count ten, you murderer, or I'll spoil
both your hands,"
The hooking, sardonic grin deserted
Murphy's features.
"Unlimber! It's the last call"
With snarl the scout unclasped
his army belt, dropped 1t to the ground
and sullenly kicked it over toward
Hampton. "Now-now-you, you gray
eyed-devil, kin I-sit up?"
The other nodded. He had drawn
the fangs Of the wolf, and now that
ne no longer feared, q 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 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 field-glasses for a
better view.
They are Indians, right enough" he
said, at last. Here, take a 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. 'em
out west yonder-an' over east a
smudge is-just startin'. Looks like
we wus In pocket-an' thar might
be some-har-raisin' fore long,"
We'll, Murphy, you are the older
hand at this business. What do you
advise doing?"
Me? Why, push right 1ong-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-let the cattle rest-frst.
An'-if We ever feed prisoners-Pd
like ter eat bite-mesilf."
They rested there for over two
hours, the tired horses contentedly
munching the succulent grass of the
coulee, their two masters scarcely ex-
changing word. Murphy, after salts
flying his appetite, rested fat upon
his back, one arm flung over his eyes
to protect them from the sun.
At last they saddled 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 lurk be-
hind the sharp corners of the winding
defile, and they kept vigilant eyes
upon the serrated skyline. The saw.
ages were moving north and so were
they.
1t was fully three o'clock when thew
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.
tons 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 a
shifting of those smoke signals to
points farther north. Then they Law
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.
1t must have been two hours later
when they ventured forth. Silence
and loneliness brooded everywhere
not so much as a 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 a great, overhang.
ing bluf. having numerous trees near