Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-08

hswiedesd but ses 1ua1l1 q a.
mail through on time.
The dust Of their passing still in the
air. Keith rode on, the noise dying
away in his rear. Az tho hours pass
ed, his horse wearied and had to b
spurred into the swifter stride, but
the man seemed tirsless. The sun was
an hour high whom they climbed the
long hill. and lopsd into Carson City.
Tho cantonment was to the right. but
Keith. having no report to make. rode
directly ahead down tho ono long
street to livery corral. leaving his
horse there, and sought the nearest
restaurant
Exhausted by = night Of high play
and deep drinking. the border town
was sleeping on its debauch. saloons
and gambling dens silent. the streets
almost deserted To Keith. whose for
mer acquaintance with the place had
been entirely after nightfall the Wow
OF 1t now WAS almost = shock-ths
miserable shacks. the gsudy saloon
fronts. the Uttered streets. the dingy.
unpainted hotel. the dirty Zap OF can
vas. the unoccupied road. the dull
prairie sweeping away to the horizon.
all composed a hideous picture b.
meath the sun glare. He could scarce
ly find man to attend his horse and
st the restaurant a droWsy Chinaman
had to be shaken awake, and fright
ened into serving him. He sat down
to the miserable meal oppressed with
disgust never before had his life
seemed so mean, useless, utterly with
out excuse
He possessed the appetite of the
open. OF the normal man in perfect
physical health. and he ate heartily.
his eyes wandering out of the open
window down the long, dismal street
A drunken man lay in front OF the
"hed Light" saloon sleeping undis-
turbed; two cur dogs were snarlins at
each other just beyond over bone;
q movers wagon WAS slowly coming
In across the open through q cloud of
yellow dust That WAS all within the
radius of vision For the first time in
years the East called him-the old
life of cleanliness and respectebility.
He swore to himself as he tossed the
Chinamsn pay for his breakfast, and
Etrode out onto the steps Two men
were coming up the street together
from the opposite direction-one lean,
dark-skinned, with black goatee. the
other heavily set with closely trim
med gray beard Keith knew the lat.
ter. and waited, Leaning against the
door. one hand on his hip,
"Hullo, Bob" he said Kenially;
they must have routed you out pret-
ty early today"
They shore did, Jack" was the re,
sponse. He came up the steps some
what heavily. his companion stopping
below. THE boys raise he'll all night,
an then come ter me ter straighten
1t out In the mawnin'. When did ye
git in?"
AN hour ago; had to wake the
'chink up to get any chuck. Town
looks dead"
''Tain't over lively at this time O.
day" permitting his blue eyes to wan
der up the silent street. but instantly
bringing them back to Keith's face,
"but | reckon itll wake up later on"
He stood squsrely on both feet, and
one hand rested on the butt OF re.
volver. Keith noticed this. wonder
ing vaguely.
81 reckon yer know, Jack, as how |
ginerally git what | goes after" said
the slow, drawing voice, "an' that !
draw bout as quick as any o. the
boys. They tell me yo're a gun-fight.
er, but 1t won't do ye no good ter
make play yere. fer one O. us is sure
to git yer-do yer sabe?"
Get me?" Keith's voice and face