Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-01
The PtAinMnan.

The PtAirsman.
Tho man was riding Just below the
summit of the ridge. occasionally up
lifting his head SO as to gaze scrogs
the crest, shading his eyes with one
hand, to thus better concentrate his
vision, Both horse and rider plainly
exhibited signs OF wsariness. but
every movement Of the latter showed
oeaseless vigilance. his glance roam
ang the barren ridges. brown Win
chester lying cooked across the saddle
pommel his left hand taut on tho
rein. Yet the. horse he bestrode
scarcely required restraint, advancing
slowly. with head hanging low. and
only occasionally breaking into 4
1r1ef trot under the impetus OF the
spur.
The rider was q man approaching
thirty. somewhat slender and long Of
limb. but possessing broad. squared
shoulders above y deep chest, sitting
the saddle easily In plainsman fash
ion, yet with an erectness of carriage
which suggested military training.
The face under the wide brim of the
weather-worn SLOUGH hat was clean
shaven. Drowned by sun and wind.
and strongly marked, the chin slight
ly prominent, the mouth firm, the gray
eyes full Of character and daring His
dress was that OF rough service. plain
leather chaps" showing marks of
hard usage, a gray woolen shirt turn
cd low At the neck. with kerchief
knotted loosely about the sinewy
bronzsd throat. At one hip dangled
the holster Of = "forty-nve." on tho
other hung q canvas-covered csnteen
His was figure and face to be noted
anywhere, q man from whom you
would expect both thought and action.
and one who seemed to exactly Mt
Into his Wild environment
Where he rode was the very west
ern extreme Of the prairie country.
btllowed like the sea, and from on the
crest Of its higher ridges the wide
level sweep of the plains WAS visible
extending like a vast brown ocean to
the foothills of the far-away noun
tains. Yet the actual commencement
OF that drear, barren expsnse WAS
fully ten miles distant, while all
about where he rode the conformation
was irregular. comprising narrow val
'tsys and swelling mounds, with here
and there = sharp ravine. riven from
the rock and Invisible until one drew
up startled at its very brink The
general trend of depression was un
doubtedly southward leading toward
the valley Of the Arkansas, yet irreEu
lar ridges occasionally cut across,
adding to the confusion The entire
surrounding landscape presented the
same aspect. with no special object
upon which the eye could rest for
guidsnce-no tree. no upheaval Of
snakelike tratl-sll about extended
the same dull. dead m0not0ny of
brown, sun-baked hills. with slightly
srsensr deprsssions lying between,
interpreted by patches OF sand or the
white gleam OF alkali, 1t WAS
dresry, deserted land, psrched under
the hot summer sun. frightened by no
vegetation. excepting sparse punches
Of bunslo srGss or an occasional
stuntsd sage bush. and disclosing no
whore the slightest sign OF human
AAbitstion
The rising sun Redeemed the crest
Of the hills and the rider halting his
willing horse. sat motionless, gazing
steadily into the southwest. Appar-
entity he perceived nothing there un-
usual, for he slowly turned his body
about In the saddle. sweeping his
eyes. inch by inch. along the line OF
the horizon. until the entire circuit
had been completed. Then his com
pressed lips smiled slightly. his hand
unconsciously patting the horses
neck
II reckon we're stu alone, old girl"
he said quietly. q bit Of Southern
drswl In the voice. Wen try for
the trail. and take It easy"
He swung stiffiy out of the saddle,
ks1 with reihs dangling over his
Shoulder. began the slower advance
on foot. the exhausted horse trailing
behind His WAS not 4 situation in
which one could feel certain Of safety,
for any ridge might conceal the wary
fosmen he sought to avoid. yet he pro
cseded now with renewed confidence
II was the summer OF lSss, and the
place tho very heart Of the Indian
country, with every separate tribe
ranging between the Yellowstone and
the Brazos, either restless or openly
on the wsr-psth. Rumors OF atrocities
were being retold the length and
breadth Of the border. and every re-
port drifting In to either fort or set.
tsmsnt only added to the alarm. For
once at least the Plains Indians had
discovered a common cause. tribal dir.
ssrencss had been adjusted in vsr
against the white invaders ~ w..
s. comAnches. Arapaboe. ch.v.
ass ans Sioux had become welsaa
tosethsr In savage brotherbooS To
sDS0ss .nsm were the scattered and
eastern streams. guarded bv .m.u =.
taeAnsats Of regular troop. aa.."+
here aaA there ania that broad ~,
. lsasss. scarcely within touch ~ ~
eshsr SA
-A