River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-08-03
CHAPTER lII.-(continued.)

from the river, turned sharply into
narrow ravine. There was a consid-
cradle break in the rocky barrier
here, leading back for perhaps hun
dred yards, and the plainsman turned
his horse that way, dismounting when
out of sight among the boulders. He
could rest here until night with little
danger of discovery. He lay down on
the rocks, pillowing his head on the
saddle. but his brain was too active
to permit sleeping Finally he drew
the letters from out his pocket, and
began examining them. They yield
ed very little information, those TAX
en- from the older man having no en-
velopes to show to whom they had
been addressed The single document
found in the pocket of the other was
q memorandum of account at the
Pioneer Store at Topeka, charged to
John Sibley, and marked paid. This
then must have been the younger
mans name, as the letters to the 9TH
er began occasionally Dear Will"
They were missives such as a wife
might write to a husband long alb
sent, yet upon a mission of deep in
terest to both. Keith could not fully
determine what this mission might be,
as the persons evidently understood
each other SO thoroughly that mere
allusion took the place OF detail.
Twice the name Phyllis was mention
ed, and once a Fred" was also re-
ferTed to, but in neither instance
clearly enough to reveal the relation
ship, although the latter appeared to
be pleaded for Certain references
been mailed from some small Mis-
souri, town, but no name was men
toned. They were invariably signed
Mary" The only other paper Keith
discovered was a brief itinerary of the
Santa Fe trail extending as far west
as the Ration Mountains, giving the
usual camping spots and places where
water was accessible. He slipped the
papers back into his pocket with a
distinct feeling of disappointment.
and lay back staring up at the little
strip Of blue sky. The silence was
profound, even his horse standing mo-
tionless, and finally he fell asleep.
The sun had disappeared, and even
th$sTay of twilight was fading out of
the sky, when Keith returned again
to consciousness, aroused by his
horse rolling on the soft turf. He
awoke thoroughly refreshed, and
eager to get away on his long nights
ride. A cold lunch, hastily eaten, for
a fire would have been dangerous.
and he saddled' up and was off, trot-
ting out of the narrow ravine and into
the broad trail, which could be fol-
lowed without difficulty under the dull
CLEAN of the stars. Horse and rider
were soon at their best, the animal
swinging unurged into the long, easy
lOpe of prairie travel, the fresh air
tanning the mans face as he leaned
forward. Once they halted to drink
from a narrow stream, and then push
ed on, hour after hour, through the
deserted night. Keith had little fear
of Indian raiders in that darkness,
and every stride of his horse brought
him closer to the settlements and
further removed from danger. Yet
eyes and ears were alert to every
shadow and sound. Once, it must
have been after midnight, he drew his
pony sharply back into a rock shadow
at the noise of something approach
ing from the east. The stage to Santa
Fe ratified past, the four mules trot-
ting swiftly, a squad of troopers rid
ing hard behind. 1t was merely a
l,,vN
past; he could perceive the dim out
lines of driver and guard, the soldiers
swaying in their saddles, heard the
pounding Of hoofs, the creak of axles.
and then the apparition disappeared
into the black void. He had not call
ed out-what was the use? Those peo-
pie would never pause to hunt down
prairie outlaws, and their guard was
sufficient to prevent attack. They ac-
knowledged but one duty-to get the
mail through on time.
The dust of their passing still in the
air, Keith rode on, the noise dying
away in his rear AS the hours pass
ed, his horse wearied and had to be
spurred into the swifter stride, bat
the man seemed tireless. The sun was
an hour high when they climbed the
long hill, and Hoped into Carson City.
The cantonment was to the right, but
Keith. having no report to make, rode
directly ahead down the one 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 of 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 view
of it now was almost a shock-the
miserable shacks, the gaudy saloon
fronts, the Uttered streets, the dingy,
implanted hotel, the dirty flap of can
vas, the unoccupied road, the dull
prairie sweeping away to the horizon,
all composed . hideous picture be-
meath the sun glare. He could scarce
~ find man to attend his horse, and
at the restaurant drowsy Chinaman
had to be shaken awake. and fright.
ened into serving him. He sat down
to the miserable meal oppressed with
disgust-neyer before had his life
seemed so mean, useless, utterly with
out excuse.