Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-01
,.ss.,y .ore.. toward III. .,pos,t.

amid the maze OF sand dunes opposite,
the sharp reports of two rifsss reach
ed him. spurts OF smoke rose frea the
farther bank, and = bullet ohusgsA
into the ground at his feet. while an
ether sang shrilIy overhead
These shots. although nsithsr came
sufncisntly near to bs alarming. ssrv-
ed 10 send Keith to cover. Cool-head-
Cd and alert now. his frst mad rage
aiesipated. he scanned the opposite
bank cautiously. but could nowhere
by little he comprehended the situa-
ton. and decided upon his own 40.
ton. Tho fugitives were aware of his
presence. and would prevent his
crossing the stream. yot they were
not at all liable to return to this side
and thus reveal their Identity. Ts
attempt any further advance would ~
madness. but he felt perfectly secure
from molestation so loag as he ~.
mained quietly on the north ahsrs.
Those shots were merely = warning
to keep back; the very fact that the
mon firing kept concealed was proof
positive that they simply wished to b.
left alone. They were not afraid s<
what he know now, only dssireus Of
not being seen. Confident as to this,
he rstreated 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 nred. and although he watched
that opposite sand bank carefully, not
tho slightest movement revealed tho
presence of others. That every mo-
tion he made was being observed by
keen eyes he had no doubt. but this
knowledge did not diseoncert him,
now that he felt convinced fear OF re-
yealment would keep his watchers at
a safe distance Whoever they might
be they were evidently more anxious
TO escape discovery than ho was fear.
full Of attack. and possessed no desire
to take his life, unless It 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 1t far safer to remain con
cealed, and thus hArbor this supposi-
tion. 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 4 wary eye
about to guard against any treachsry,
the plainsmsn, discovering a spade In
the nearest wagon hastily dug hole
In the Band. wrapped the dead bodies
In blankets. and deposited them there
in, pilins above the mound tho 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 bo read later. some or
binary trfnkets hardly worth presery-
ing except that they might assist In
Identifying the victims. and. about the
neck of the elder man, a rather pS-
culisr 1ocket. containing portrait
painted on ivory. Keith was a long
time opening this. the spring being
very ingenfously concealed, but upon
nnally succeeding, he looked upon the
features of a woman Of middle age
strong mature face of marked re-
fnement. 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 connso-
hu hzI .xts
dead. Something about that faoe
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
be easily forgotten, and yet eyes,
hair, expression. combined to remind
him Of some one whom he had seen
but could not bring definitely to mind
There were no names on tho locket.
no marks OF Identification OF any kind
yet realizing the sacredness Of II.
Keith slipped the fragile gold chain
about his neck. and securely hid the
trtnkst beneath his shirt.
II WAS noon by this time, the sun
high overhead, and his horse, with
dangling rein. still nibblins daintiiy
at the short grass. There was no rss.
son for his lingering longer He swept
his gaze the lcngth and breadth Of the
Aesolate valley. and across the river
over the sand hills All alike appear
Cd deserted. not \ moving thing being
visible between the bluks and the
stream. Still he had the unpleasant
feeling OF being watched, and II made
him restless and eager To be away.
The earlier gust OF anger. the spirit
sf revenge. had left him. but It haa
merely changed into a dogsed resoIu-
aoa to discover the perpetrators Of
this outrage and bring them 10 Justice
for the crime. The face In tho lockst
seemed to ask II of him. and his ns-
ture urged response. But he could
hope to accomplish nothing more
here. and the plsinsman swung hin.
self into the saddle. He turned his
horses head eastward. and rode
away. From the deeply ruttsd trail
hs looked back TO where the Are stu
smoked in the midst Of tAat aesolAts
silence.
ITO be eoDtiDued.)
Frank Eldredge of the Eldredge In