The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-07-28
McClurg & Co.. l9la)

discover their identity. Without
thinking of personal danger he ran
forward on their trail, which led dt.
rectly westward, along the line OF
cottonwoods. These served to con.
ceal his W movements, yet for the
moment, burning with passion, he
was utterly without caution, without
slightest Of peril. He must
know who was guilty of such Q crime;
he felt capable of killing them ever as
he would venemous snakes. It was a
perfectly plain trail to follow, for the
fugitives, apparently convinced of
safety, and confident their cowardly
deed would be charged to Indian raid
ers, had made no particular effort at
concealment, but had ridden away At
a gallop, their horses hoofs digging
deeply into the soft turf. On this re-
treat they had followed closely along
the river bank, aiming for the ford,
and almost before he realized 1t Keith
was himself at the waters edge where
the trail abruptly ended. staring
vaguely across toward tho opposite
shore. Even as he stood there, real
izing the futility Of further pursuit
amid the maze of sand dunes opposite,
the sharp reports of two rifles reach
ed him, spurts of smoke rose from the
farther bank, and a bullet chugged
into the ground at his feet, while an
other SANG shrilly overhead.
These shots, although neither came
sufficiently near to be alarming, serv-
ed to send Keith to cover Cool-head-
| ed and alert now, his first mad rage
dissipated, he scanned the opposite
bank cautiously, but could nowhere
| discover any evidence Of life. Little
/ by little he comprehended the situa-
ton, and decided upon his " &C.
] ton. The fugitives were aware OF his
presence, and would prevent his
crossing the stream, yet they were
not at all liable to return to this side
and thus reveal their identity. To
| attempt any further advance would be
madness, but he felt perfectly secure
from molestation so long as he re-
NAMED quietly on the north shore.
Those shots were merely . warning
to keep back; the very fact that the
men firing kept concealed was proof
positive that they simply wished to be
left alone. They were not afraid Of
what he knew now, only DESTROYS OF
not being seen. Confident as to this,
he retreated openly, without making
the slightest effort to conceal his
movements, until he had regained the
scene of murder. In evidence Of the
truth of his theory no further shots
were fired, and although he watched
that opposite sand bank carefully, not
the slightest movement revealed the
/ presence of others. That every mo-
ton he made was being observed BY
keen eyes he had no doubt, but this
knowledge did not disconcert him,
now that he felt convinced fear Of re-
vealment would keep his watchers ut
: a safe distance. Whoever they might
be they were evidently more anxious
to escape discovery than he wal fear
full of attack, and possessed no desire
to take his life, unless II became
necessary to prevent recognition.
They still had every reason to believe
their attack on the wagons would be
credited to hostile Indians, and would
consider it far safer to remain con-
cealed, and thus harbor this SUPPOSE
ton. They could not suspect that
Keith had already stumbled upon the
truth, and was determined to verify
It.
Secure In this conception Of the sit
uation, yet still keeping q wary eye
about to guard against any treachery,
the plainsman, discovering q spade in
the nearest wagon, hastily dug a hole
In the sand, wrapped the dead bodies
in blankets, and deposited them there
in, piling above the mound the char
red remains of boxes as some slight
protection against prowling wolves.
He searched the clothing Of the men,
but found little to reward the effort,
a few letters which were slipped into
his pockets to be read later, some or.
binary trinkets hardly worth preserv.
ing except that they might assist In
identifying the victims, and, about the
neck of the elder man, . rather pc
culiar locket, containing q portrait
Il painted on ivory. Keith was Q long
time opening this, the spring being
very in~geniously concealed, but upon
finally succeeding, he looked upon the
features Of a woman Of middle age,
a strong mature face Of marked re
finement, exceedingly attractive still.
with smiling dark eyes, and q perfect
wealth of reddish brown hair. He
held the locket open In his hand for
several minutes, wondering who she
could be, and what possible connec-
ton she could have held with the
dead. Something about that face
smiling up into his own held peculiar
fascination for him, gripping him with
a strange feeling Of familiarity, touch
Ing some dim memory which failed
to respond. Surely he had never seen
the original. for she was not one to
he easily ~rpOtf and vat Avos