The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-05-21
CHAPTER XII.

- sean the trail. and. having no
means of knowing that the fresh tracks
he found were not those OF the two
riders he followed, he urged his lather-
ed horse ahead till he became suddenly
conscious that he was very tired and
had not slept for TWO days and nights.
The recollection did not reassure the
young man, for his body was weapon
which must not fail in the slightest
do. Even the unwelcome speculation
upon his physical handicap offered re-
lief, however, from the agony which
fed upon him whenever he thought OF
Helen in the gamblers hands. Mean
while the horse, groaning at his mas
ter's violence. plunged onward toward
the roofs of Nome, now growing gray
In the first dawn.
1t seemed years since Roy bad seen
the sunlight, for this night, burdened
With suspense. had been endlessly long.
His body was faint beneath the strain.
and vet he rode on and on, tired, dog
red, stony, his eyes set toward the sea.
his mind storm Of formless, whirling
thoughts, beneath which was an unde-
waiting, implacable determination.
He knew now that he had sacrificed
all hope Of the Midas, and likewise the
hope Of Helen was gone; in fact, he
began to realize dimly that from the
beginning he had never had the posi-
bilty Of winning her, that she had
never been destined for him and that
his love for her had been sent as
tight by which he was to find himself.
He had failed everywhere; he had be-
come an outlaw; he had fought and
rome down. certain only Of his recti-
tude and the mastery Of his unruly
spirit Now the hour had come when
he would perform his last mission, de-
irving therefrom that satisfaction
which the gods could not deny. He
would have his vengeance.
The scheme took form without con-
scious effort on his part and embraced
two things-the death Of the gambler
and a meeting with Mcnamara. or
the former, he had no more doubt than
that the sun rising there would sink
IN the west. So well confirmed was
this belief that the details did not en-
gage his thought: but on the result OF
the other encounter he speculated with
some interest. From the first McNa-
mara had been a riddle to him. and
mystery breeds curiosity. His blind.
instructive hatred Of the man had as
gumed the proportions Of mania; but
as to what the outcome would be when
they met face to face. fate alone could
tell. Anyway. Mcnamara should never
have Helen-Roy believed bis mission
covered that point as we'll as her de-
Nverance from the Bronco Kid. When
be had finished. he would pay the
price. II he had the luck to escape.
he would go back to his hills and his
solitude; II he did not. his future would
be In the hands Of his enemies.
He entered the silent streets unob-
served. for the mists were heavy and
low. Smoke columns arose vertically
IN the still air. The rain had ceased.
having beaten down the waves which
yumbled against the beach. filling the
streets with their subdued thunder.
ship anchored In the offng. had run
In from the lee of Sledge island with
the first lull. while midway to the
shore a tender was rising and falling.
its oars flashing like the silvered
feelers of sea insect crawling upon
the surface Of the ocean.
He rode down Front street needless
Of danger, needless Of the comment his
appearance might create, and. unseen,
entered his enemy's stronghold. He
psssed a gambling hall. through the
windows Of which came a sickly yel-
low gleam A man came out un-
steadily aud stared at the horseman.
then passed on.
Glenisters plan was to 90 straight to
the Northern and from there to track
down it2 owner relentlessly. but IN
order to reach the place his course led
him past the oflce Of Dunham d
Struve. This brought back to his mind
the man dying out there ten miles at
his back. The scantiest humanity de-
manded that assistance be sent at
once. Yet he dared not give word
openly, thus betraying his presence, for
II was necessary that he maintain bis
liberty during the next hour at all haz-
ards. he suddenly thought Of an sxr
incident and reiued in his horse. which
stopped with wide spread legs and de-
,jected head while he dismounted and
climbed the stairs to leave note upon
the door. Some one would see the
message shortly and recognize Its
urgency.
In dressing for the battle at the Mi
das on the previous night he had re-
placed his leather boots with "muk-
iIuks," which are waterproof, light and
,pliable footgear made from the skin Of
seal and walrus. He was thus able to
move as noiSelessly as though in moe
casins. Finding neither pencil nor pa
per in his pocket, he tried the outer
door OF the office, to find it unlocked.
He stepped inside and listened, then
Ia-,-,,I 70 an which Unrn