Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-01


way down the bank. the four horses
slowly splashing through the shallow
water 20 the northern shore. Before
them stretched bread plain. the sur
face rocky and uneven. the northern
stars obscured by ridges of higher
land. AGrrhy promptly gave his
horse the spur. never once giancing
behind While the other inflated his
example hoid.ng his animal well In
check being apparently the better
mounted.
Thcy rode sueouy. The way be-
came more broken and rough as thcy
adva@ccd causing taem 60 exercise
srca-er csu-Cn Flying clouds %.
,cured tbe sfa-s. yet through the r.-ti
hey cauSht ncedag gllalses saGi-
cic1t 10 held them 60 their course.
And tire encroactf1r hills swept FL
closer C1oa ether hand. leaving them
grorins their way between as in
pocket. yet ever .dvancing north.
Finally they attained 90 the steep
bank Of a considerable stream. found
the water Of Sufficient depth TO compel
swimming and crept up the opposite
shore dripping and miserable. yet with
ammunition dry. Murphy stood swear
Ing disjointedly. wiping the blood from
a wound IN his forehead where the
jagged edge OF a rock had broken the
skin. but suddenly storced with a
quick intake OF breath that left him
painting. The other man crept toward
him. leading his horse.
What is It now7" he asked, grufHy
"Hev' ye got EN- agin?"
The dazed old scout stared. point.
ing directly across the others shoul-
der. his arm shaking desperately.
IT'S thari-an' it's his facet oh.
Godi-I know it's year"
The man glanced backward into the
pitch darkness. but without moving
his body.
There's nuthin' out there. less it's
FREELY" he insisted. in a tone Of con
tempt You're plum crazy. Murphy:
the nights got on yer nerves. What
is Il We think ye seer"
His face. l tell YET Don't knowr
It's all green and CHASTITY, with snal1y
flames playin' about it. But know:
is years. an I amt forgot"
He sank down feebly-sank until he
was on his knees, his head craned for
ward. The man watching touched the
miserable. hunched-up figure compass
sionately. and II shook beneath his
hand, endeavoring 90 shrink away.
My God! was tibet you? I thought
IL was him a-reachin' fer me- Here.
let mo take yer hand Oh. Lordl An
can't ye see7 It's Just there beyond
them horses-all green. crawlin', dew
ilish-but it's him"
"Whog"
"Brant, Brant-15 year,"
"Brant? Fifteen years? Do you
mean Maj. Brant. the one Nolan killed
over at Bethune?"
"He-he didn't"
The old man heaved forward. his
head rocking from side 20 side: then
suddenly he ,oppled over on his face.
gasping for breath. His companion
caught him and ripped open the heavy
flannel shirt. Then he strobe savage
y across in front OF his shrinking horse.
tore down the faring picture. and
hastily thrust Il into his pocket. the
light Of the PHOSPHORUS with which Il
had been rubbed being reflected for a
Oh his features.
"a dirty. miserable. low-down trick"
be muttered. Poor old DEVIL Yet
I've got to do Il for the little girl"
He stumbled back through the dark
ness. his hat nlled with water. and
dashed 1t into Murphy's face. Come
on, Murphy There's one good thing
bout spooks; they don't hang round
fer long at a time. Likely es not this
'un is gone by now. Brace up, man.
for you an have got ter get out O.
here afore mornin'"
Then Murphy grasped his arm and
drew himself slowly 70 his feet
Don't see nuthin' now. do ye?"
NO. Where's my-horse2"
The other silently reached him the
loose rein, marking as he did so the
quick. nervous peering this way and
that. the star Ing at the slightest
sound
Did ye say. Murphy. as how It
wasn't Nolan after all who plugged
the major?"
I'm damned--if did. who-else
was it,"
why. dunno. Sorter blamed odd
though. tibet ghost should be a-haunt-
In ye Darn II II amt creepy nough
ter make a Teller believe most any
thin"
Murphy drew himself up heavily
into his saddle Then all at once he
showed the muzzle Of a AS" into the
others face we say nuther word
bout tibet an III male-a ghost outer
ye-blame lively Now, We shet up-if
We ride with me"
They moved forward ct a walk and
reached a hirher level. across which
the night wins swept bearing a touch
Of cold In IT'S breath as though coming
from the sncw-capred mountains 10
the west. There was renewed life In
this invieorating air and Murphy
spurred forward. his companion press
ing steadily after
When the first signs OF returning
day appeared in the east. the two LETT
their horses In narrow canycn aud
creDt TO the summit OF ridge. Rolov
lay the broad valley OF the Powder.