Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1908-01-23
(Copyrisbt by A. G, McClurg & Co., 1900
CHAPTER /.
The Island With a Mystery.

lie sara pOSlJlNely W bdJllS IA, MS
scraggy buckskin COW pony that they
would ride to the summit of this one
bluff, and that 1t should be the last.
But he had said the same thing many
times since striking the barren hill re-
gion flanking both sides of the river.
Hump after hump had been surmount-
ed since the sound of the first prom
Use had tickled the ears of the tired
broncho, humps as alike as the two
humps Of Bactrian camel, the monot-
onous continuity of which might very
well have confused the mind Of one
less at home on these ranges than
George Williston. Even he, riding a
blind trail since sun-up, sitting his
saddle with heavy indifference born
of heat and fatigue, began to think it
might be that they were describing
circle and the sun was playing them
strange tricks. Still, he urged his pony
20 one more effort; just so much
farther and they would retrace their
steps. giving up for this day at least
the locating of a small bunch of cat
tie, branded a lazy S, missing these
three days.
Had not untoward circumstances
interviewed. he might still have gone
blindly on; for, laying aside the gam
bling fever that was on him, he could
Ill afford to lose the ten or twelve
steers somewhere wandering the wide
range or huddled into some safe place,
there to abide the time when a daring
rustler might conveniently play at
AL, h. NkI
wise dispose of them with profit to
himself and with credit to his craft.
Moreover, what might possibly never
have been missed from the vast herds
OF Langford, his neighbor of the plains
country, was of most serious import
to Williston.
Devil take you, Battle AK, but
you're SLOW" muttered Williston. 'Td
give good deal to sit down this min
ute to some of my little girls flap
jacks and coffee. But nothing for us,
laZy-bones, till midnight-or morning,
more likely. Do walk up as IL you had
some little standing in the world Of
COW ponies. You haven't, of a surety,
but you might make an effort. All
things are possible to him who tries,
you know, which is a tremendous lie,
of course. But perhaps 1t doesn't ap-
ply to poor devils like us who are
has beens.' Here we are Ali"
There were no more hills. Almost
directly at his feet was one of those
precipitous getaways that character
ize the border bluffs of the Missouri
river. A few more steps. in the dark.
and horse and rider would have plung-
ed over a sheer wall of nearly 200
feet. AS 1t was, Williston gave a gasp
OF involuntary horror which almost
simultaneously gave place to one of
wonder and establishment. He had
struck the river at a point absolutely
new to him. II was the time of low
water, and the river, in most Of its
phases muddy and sullen-looking
cleaned silver and gold with the gilt
ter of the setting sun, making royal
highway to the dwelling-place oil
Phoebus. A little to the north of this
sparkling highroad lay what would
have been an island in high water
thickiy wooded with willows and cot
tonwoods. Now long stretch OF sanG
reached between bluff and island.
Dismounting, with the quick thought
that yonder island might hold the Sc
cret of his lost cattle. he crept as
close To the edge as he dared. The
cut was sheer and tawny. entirely de
void OF shrubbery by means of which
one might hazard descent. The sane
bed began Immediately at the foot o
the yellow wall. Even though on,
khn hot
would hardly dare risk the deceitfu
sands, ever shifting. fair and treach
erous. Baffied, he was ON the point o
remounting to retrace his steps whel
he dropped his foot from the stirru
amazed. Was the day of miracles no
yet passed?
Il was the sun. or course. Twelv
hours of sun in the eyes could pla
strange tricks and might even caus
dancing black speck to assume tn
semblance of a man on horseback
picking his way easily. though may
hap bit warilN across the waste O
sand He seemed to have sprung froI
the very bowels OF the bluff Whenc
else? Many a rod beyond and abov
the ghostly figure frowned the tawny
wicked cut-away. Path for neithe
horse nor man appeared 30 far as ey
could reach. 1t must be the sun. Blu
II was not the sun.
Motionless, intent, figure cast 1
bronze as the sun went down, the lea
ranchmap gazed steadfastly dow
upon the miniature man and hors
creeping along so far below. Not u
til the object OF his fixed gaze ha
been swallowed by the trees and III
derbrush did his muscleL relax Thi
man had ridden as II unatraid