Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-29


reputation. and cur by nature. Just
nov suspect him Of being even deep
er In the nlirs than this.'
He could toll by the quick cIAsping
OF her hands on the pommsi OF the
saddle the effect sf His words. but
waited until the silence compelled her
to speak.
"Oh. didn't know, You 20 not BE-
iieve that ever saspsc>sA such .
thing That ever met him there
understanding who he vast"
mo. do not" he answered. "whaa
I overheard between you convinced
me you were the victim of deceit But
your going to that place Ai@as waA .
most reckless act"
She lifted her hand to asr syss. her
head dropping forward.
Wasn't II what he told ms--ths
eut-statiop OF . rAnchf''
No; have ridden this country for
years. and there 10 NO ranch pasturing
cattle along the Salt Fork Miss Hope,
want you to comprehend what It II
you have escaped from; what you are
now fleeing from. Within the last I've
Year, an apparently erssnixed bsdy
OF outlaws have been operating
throughout this entire region. Often
times disguised a. Indians. they have
tsrrorized the santa rs trail for two
hundred miles. killing travellers In
small parties, and driving Oh stock.
There are few ranches ~ far west ~
this, but those have all suffered from
raids. These fellows have done more
to prscipitats the present Indian war
than any act Of the savaSss. They
have sndeavorsd to make the antnori-
ties believe that Indians wsrc guilty
of their deeds Of murder and robbery.
Both troops and volunteers have tried
to hold the gang up. but they scatter
and disappear. as though swallowed
by the desert. have been out twics.
hard on their trail. only 70 come back
bafhed. Now. thiAk accident has
given me tbs clue"
She Strengthened up; Elsnoinv Sues-
tioninEly ut him through tAS dark.
ness.
This is what | mean. Miss Hope.
| suspect that cabin 10 bs tho rem
dezvous OF those fellows, and l half
believe Hawley to be their leader"
Then you will report all tiilx to tn .
authorities7"
He smiled Grimly. his lips com
pressed
Il hardly think 20; at least. not for
the present am not 6lood-shirsty,
or enamored OF man hunting, but
happen to have q personal interest in
this particular AFFAIR whish 1 should
prefer to settle alone" He paused
swiftly reviewing the circumstances
OF their short acquaintance. and ~
suddenly determined to trust her dis
erection. Deep down 10 his heart he
rather wanted her to know The fact
of the matter IL, that Nsh and here
were the ones that particular posse
were trailing"
You'll" her voice faltsrsA, He
said those mon we're under Rrrssl
for murder. and had broken jail"
He also said It wsA easy to con
Wet men in this country II you onlJ
knew how. 1t il true We broke Jail
but only In order to save our lives: Il
was the only way. Technically. ".
are outlaws, and now run tho risk oi
Immediate rssrrest by returning
north Of the Arkansas. We came tc
you fugitives; was charged with
murder, the negro with assault 30
you see. Miss Hope. the desperate
GLASS Of men you are now associatins
with"
The slight bitterness in his tone
stung the girl into rsssatmsnt She
was looking straight At him. but In
the gloom he could not discern the
expression Of her eyes.
~ don't believe IT," she exclaimed
decisiveiy. ''you-you do not look like
that!"
my appearance may % sufficient u
convince you," he returned. rather lry.
ly. but would wVigh little before .
Western court. Unfortunately, ths
evidence was strong against me; ss
would have been had the case ever
come TO \ trial. The strange thtns
about II was that both warrants were
sworn out by the same complainant,
and apparently for similar purpose
Black Bart Hawlsy."
What purposer
ITO keep US from telling what w
know regarding = certain crime. In
which either he. or some Of his init
mate friends. were deeply interested.
But It would all oome out II thl
trial. wouldn't itf"
There was 10 be no trial; Judge
Lynch settles the majority sf suoh
cases out here At present It II sx
trsmely simple. Listen. and viii tell
you the story"
He reviewed briefly those occur
renoss leading directly up To his ar
rest. saying little regarding the hor'
rors of that scene witnessed near ths
cimmaron Crossing. but making suA
ciently clear his very slight conneo
tion with It. and the reason those wAd
were guilty Of the crime were 20 Ar1
ious to get him out Of the way. She
listened intently. asking few quss
tions. until he ended. Then they both
looked up. conscious that dawn Wa
becoming gray in the sAst Keith
first thought was enc Of rslisf--<hl
bright sky showed him thsy were re
Ing straight north.