The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-05
TheSpoilers.
~ RRX B. BRAcA-
Copyright fsoA By Rsx u Beach
CHAPTER XXI.

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 a weapon
which must not fail In the slightest
measure now that there was work TO
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.
II seemed years since Roy had seen
the sunlight. for this night. buTdencl
with suspense, had been cndlcssly long.
His body was faint beneath the strain.
and yet he rode on and on. tired. dog
gel. stony, his eyes set toward the sea.
his mind a storm of formless. whirling
thoughts. beneath which was an unde-
Waiting implacable determination.
lie knew now that he had sacrificed
all hope Of the Midas. and likewise the
hope of Helen was gone: i'm fact. he
began TO realize dimly that from the
beginning he had never had thc posi-
bility of winning her. that she had
never been destined for him and that
his love for her had been sent rs a
light by which he was to find himself
He bad failed everywhere; he had be,
come an outlaw: he had fought and
gone down. certain only o. his recti-
tude and the mastery his uuruly
spirit. Now the hour como whcu
The would perform his last mission, de
irving thercfrom that satisfaction
which the gods could not deny. lie
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. OF
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 speculateh with
some interest. From the first McNa-
mara had been riddle TO him, aud
mystery breeds curiosity. Ills blind.
instructive hatred Of the man bad as
sumed the proportions Of mania; but
as to what the outcome would be when
they met face 10 face. fate alone could
tell. Anyway. Mcnamara should never
have Heleu-Roy believed his mission
covered that point as well as her de-
llverance from the Bronco Kid. When
he had finished. he would pay the
price. If he had the luck 10 escape.
he would go back to his hills and his
solitude: If 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
rumbled against the beach, filling the
streets with their subdued thunder. \
ship anchored In the ofIiug. had run
in from the lee Of Sledge island with
the first lull. while midway 10 the
shore n tender was rising and falling
its oars flashing like the silvered
feelers of a 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
passed a gambling hall. through the
windows of which came n sickly vel
low CLEAN. A man came out I'M
steadily and stared at the horseman,
then passed on.
Glenister's plan was TO go straight 10
the Northern and from there 10 track
down its owner relentlesSly. but I'm
order to reach the place his course led
him past the Office of Durham Il
Strive. This brought back TO his mind
the man dying ont there ten miles Mt
his back. The scantieSt humanity de
manded that assistance he sent nj
once. Yet he dared not give word
openly. thus betraying his presence. for
II was necessary that he maintain his
liberty during the next hour ut all hnz-
ards He suddenly thought of an eN-
pedient and refined IN his horse which
NipIfDfu Win W lffN ulib W.
1ected head while he dismounted and
climbed the stairs TO leave a note upon
the door Some one would see the
message shortly and recognize its
urgency.
In dressing for the battle at the MI
las on the previous night he had re.
placed his leather boots with ''muk-
luks," which are waterproof. light ana
pllable footgear made from the skin of
seal and walrus. He was thus able to
move as nolselessly 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
moved toward table on which were
writing materials, but in doing so
heard a rustic In Strives private of,
fee. Evidently his soft soles had not
disturbed the man inside Roy was
about TO tiptoe out as he had come
when the hidden man cleared his
throat. 1t is In these Involuntary
sounds that the voice retains its nat
ural quality more distinctly even than
In speaking. A strange eagerness grew
in Glenister's face. and he approached
the Dartition steaithily IL was of wood