The Ordway new era., 1908-04-17

period Immediately preceding bis
ueath. the agent could tell notb,nv
' "au not been seen at the agency
,or nearly year. The reprobate band
had covered its tracks we'll Tbere
was nothing to do but Law tho dead
oouy away and shovel oblivion over
Its secret.
III the early morning after the re-.
turn OF the men from their unsuccess.
ihi man hunt. Gordon, gray and hap.
gard from loss OF sleep and from hard
'"ouRh'' stepped out into the kitchen
'o stretch his cramped limbs. He
stumbled over the figure OF Langfort
prone upon the floor. dead asleep in
utter exhaustion. He smiled under.
standinsly and opened the outerdoor
quietly. hoping he had not aroused the
wornout boss. The air was fresh and
cool. with hint Of autumn SHARPNESS
ana premature Indian summer haze
mat soitcned the gauntness OF the
landscape. and made the distances
blue and est-giving. He felt the need
oil ihVisoration after his nights virgil,
and struck off down the road with
! long strides. In pleasant anticipation
oi "A coming appetite for breakfast.
/ thus II was that Langford. strug.
/ elng to Il sitting posture, rubbing his
heavy eyes with Il dim consciousness
that he had been disturbed, and won.
dcring drowsily why he was so stupid
felt something seeping through his
senses that told him he did not do
u.lt .,t.
take plunge into the cold artesian
] pond. and with such drastic measures
hanish one" and for all the elusive vet
all'pervading cobwebs which clung to
him, Rising To his feet with unusual
awkwardness. he looked with scorn
upon the bare floor and accused IL
] blindly and bitterly as the direct
cause of the strange soreness that be-
SET his whole anatomy. The lay of the
floor had changed in a night. Where
was he? He glanced hclplessly
about. Then he knew
Thus II was, that when Mary Ian.
suidly opened her eyes a little later
1t was the boss who sat beside her
and smiled reassuringly.
You have not slept a wink" she
creid. accusingly.
Indeed have" he said. Three
whole hours. fecr tip.top.'
You arc-iibbing. she said Your
eyes look SO tired. and Your face is all
worn"
His heart leapcd with tho JOY of her
solicitudc.
''You are wrong he laughed.
teasinely Il slept on the floor: and a
good bed IL was. too No. Miss Willis.
ion. | am not all in yet, by any
means
In his new consciousness. new
formality crcpt into his way OF ad.
dressing her. She did not seem to
notice IL.
Forgive me for forgetting. last
night" she said. earnestly. Il was
very selfish ! forgot that you had not
slept for nearly two days and were
riding all the while in-our behalf |
forgot. was tired. and | went 70
sleep ! want You to forgive me.
want you to believe that do appr @.
ciate what you have done My faith.
/ rr-
Don't. don't. little girl" cried
L.angIord. forgetting his new awe oi
her maidenhood in his pity for the
stricken child.
My father" she went on steadily
would thank you If he were here.
thank Won. too. even If | did forget tC
think whether or no you and all the
men had any sleep or anything to eat
last night. VIII you try 20 believe
that did not forget Willingly? ! was
SO tired
When l.angford answered her
which was not Immediately. his race
was white and he spoke quietly with
touch of injured pride.
"If you want to hurt us. Miss VII
liston, that is the way to talk. we
cowmen do not do things for thanks.
She looked at him wonderingly q
moment. then said. simply. Forgive
me-" but her lips were trembling and
she turned to the wall to hide the
tears that would come. After all
she was only woman-with nerves
and the reaction had come.
The sheriff and his party of depu
ties made diligent search for Willis
ton that day and for many days tt
come. 1t was of no avail. He had
disappeared. and all trace with MIN
as completely as II he had been spir
tied away in the night to another
world-body and soul. That the
soul of him had really gone to another
world came to be generally believed
Mary held no hope after the return
of the first expedition but why cotlo
they find no trace of his body? Where
was IT. Where had 1t found rest
ing place? Was 1t possible for man
mick or dead. even west of the river
in an early day Of its civilization wher
tbe law had a winking eye. to raj
away from his wonted haunts IN
night and leave no print. neither