River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-09-28
CHAPTER xII.-(continued.)

CHAPTER XII.-(Continued.)
mo; | have ridden this country for
years, and there is no ranch pasturing
cattle along the Salt Fork. Miss Hope,
! want you to comprehend what 1t is
you have escaped from; what you are
now fleeing from. Within the last two
years an apparently organized body
Of outlaws have been operating
throughout this entire region. Often
times disguised as Indians. they have
terrorized the Santa Fe trail for two
hundred miles, killing travellers in
small parties. and driving off stock.
There are few ranches as far west as
this, but these have all suffered from
raids These fellows have done more
to precipitate the present Indian war
than any act of the savages. They
have endeavored to make the authori-
ties believe that Indians were 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 twice,
hard on their trail. only to come back
baffled. Now, | think accident has
given me the clue"
She Strengthened up; glanclng ques-
tioningly at him through the dark
ness.
This is what | mean, Miss Hope.
suspect that cabin to be the rem
devious Of those fellows. and | half
believe Hawley to be their leader
Then you will report all this to the
authorities?"
He smiled grtmly. his lips COM
pressed.
Il hardly think so; at least. not for
the present | am not blood -thirsty,
or enamored of man-hunting. but |
happen to have a personal interest In
this particular affair which | should
prefer to settle alone" He paused,
swiftly reviewing the circumstances
OF their short acquaintance, and as
suddenly determined to trust her dis
erection. Deep down in his heart he
rather wanted her to know. The fact
OF the matter is, that Neb and | here
were the ones that particular posse
were trailing"
You'll" her voice faltered. He
said those men were under arrest
for murder. and had broken jail"
He also said it was easy to con-
Vict men In this country If you only
knew how. 1t is true we broke jail.
but only in order to save our lives; it
was the only way. Technically. we
are outlaws. and now run the risk of
immediate re-arrest by returning
north of the Arkansas. We came to
you fugitives: was charged with
murder. the negro with assault. So.
you see. Miss Hope. the desperate
class of men you are now associating
with"
The slight bitterness in his tone
stung the girl into resentment. She
was looking straight at him. but in
the gloom he could not discern the
expression of her eyes.
Il don't believe it." she exclaimed
decisively, 'you-you do not look like
that"
My appearance may be sufficient to
convince you." he returned. rather dry
ly, but would weigh little before a
L.
evidence was strong against me; or
would have been had the case ever
come to a trial. The strange thing
about 1t was that both warrants were
sworn out by the same complainant.
and apparently for similar purpose
Black Bart Hawley."
What purpose?"
'sTo keen us from falling what we
knew regarding a certain crime, In
which either he. or some OF his inti-
mate friends. were deeply interested"
But 1t would all come out at the
trial, wouldn't it?"
There was to be no trial; Judge
Lynch settles the majority Of such
cases out here at present 1t is ex'
tremely simple. Listen. and | will tell
you the story"
He reviewed briefly those occur
rences leading directly up to his ar
rest. SAYING little regarding the hor-
rors of that scene witnessed near the
Cimmaron Crossing. but making sutfi-
GENTLY clear his very slight connec-
ton with 1t, and the reason those who
were guilty of the crime were so anx-
ious to get him out of the way. She
listened intently. asking few Ques-
lions. until he ended. Then they both
looked up. conscious that dawn was
becoming gray in the east. Keith s
first thought was one of relief-the
bright sky showed him they were rid
ing straight north.