Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1908-03-14

slowly splashing through the shallow
water to the northern shore. Before
them stretched a broad plain, the sur
face rocky and uneven, the northern
stars obscured by ridges of higher
land. Murphy promptly gave his
horse the spur, never once glancing
behind, while the other initiated his
example, holding his animal well in
check, being apparently the better
mounted
They rode silently. The way be-
came more broken and rough as they
advanced, causing them to exercise
greater caution Flying clouds OBJ
scured the stars, yet through the riffs
they caught fleeing glimpses suffi-
cient to hold them to their course.
And the encroaching hills swept in
closer upon either hand, leaving them
cropping their way between as in a
pocket, yet ever advancing north.
Finally they attained to the steep
bank of 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
skin, but suddenly stopped with
painting. The other man crept toward
him, leading his horse.
What is it now?' he asked, gruff1y.
''Hev' We got 'em agin?"
The dazed old scout stared. point
ing directly across the others shout
der, his arm shaking desperately.
Its thar!-an' it's his face! Oh,
God!-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 tone of con-
tempt. You're plum crazy. Murphy;
the nights got on yer nerves. What
is it We think We see?"
His face, 1 tell We, Don't 1 know?
It's all green and CHASTITY, with snaky
flames playin' about it! But 1 know;
Is years, an 1 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 it shook beneath his
hand, endeavoring to shrink away
My God! was tibet you? l thought
it was him a-reachin' fer me. Here.
let me take yer hand. Oh, Lord, An
can't We see? It's just there beyond
them horses-all green, crawlin, dew
ilish-but it's him"
"Who?"
'.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 to side; then
suddenly he toppled 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 fiaring picture, and
hastily thrust it into his pocket, the
light of the PHOSPHORUS with which 1t
had been rubbed being reflected for a
on his features.
"A dirty, miserable, low-down trick
he muttered. Poor old devil Yet |
I've got to do it for the little girl
He stumbled back through the dark |
ness, his hat filed with water, and |
dashed it into Murphy's face. Come |
On, Murphy, There's one good thing |
bout spooks: they don't hang round |
Ter long at time. Likely es not this |
I'm is gone by now. Brace up, man,
sor you an l have got ter get out o.
here afore mornin'."
Then Murphy grasped his arm and |
irew himself slowly to his feet.
Don't see nuthin' now, do ye2"
NO. Where's my-horse?'
The other silently reached him the
Dose rein, marking as he did so the
quick, nervous peering this way and
hat, the starting at the slightest |
sound
Did We say. Murphy, as how it |
wasn't Nolan after all who plugged |
he major?'
I'm damned-if 1 did. Who-else
vas it?"
why, / dunno Sorter blamed odd |
hough, tibet ghost should be a-haunt-
n We. Darn if it amt creepy 'nough
er make a Teller believe most any
him.
Murphy drew himself up heavily
nto his saddle. Then all at once he
hoved the muzzle of As into the
ther's face I'VE say nuther word
bout tibet, an I'll make-a ghost outer
lively. Now, We shet up-if
e ride with me-
They moved forward at walk and
cached higher level, across which
he night wind swept, bearing a touch
f cold in its breath as though coming
rom the snow-capped mountains to
be west. There was renewed life in
his invigorating air and Murphy