The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-11-23
Continued from Last Issue

,sctlv across, and with only the slight
sst possible delay they forded thu
shallow water. and mounted the op
uosite bank. A hundred yards farthe
an Bristoe refined up suddenly, point
lug down at the trail.
zone boss left the bunch here" he
asclared positively. Keith swung him
.er cut Of the saddle, and bent over
10 study the tracks. There was nc
doubling the evidence-a single horse
The only one shod in the bunch
with rider on its back. judging from
the deep imprint of the hoofs, had
sweryed sharply to the left of the
main body, heading directly into tn.
southeast The plainsman ran for
ward for a hundred yards to assure
himself the man had not circled back
At that point the animal had been
spurred into a lope. Keith rejoined
the others.
Must have been about daylight
they reached here" he said, picking
up his dangling rein, and looking into
the questioning faces about him. The
fellow that rode out yonder alone was
heading straight toward Carson City.
He is going fer fresh horses. figure
It, and will reioin the bunch some
place down on the Arkansas. Ths
Nhers intend to keep farther west.
where they won't be seen What do
Fou say, Benz"
"Thets the way 1t looms up ter me.
Cap; most likely twas the boss him
self
We'll, whoever 1t was, the girl Is
still with the others, and their trail
Is the easiest to follow Well keer
after them"
They pushed on hour after hour. az
long as daylight lasted or they could
perceive the faintest trace to follow.
Already half-conyinced that he knew
the ultimate destination of the fugi-
lives, Keith yet dare not venture on
pressing forward during the night, thus
possibly losing the trail and being
compelled to retrace their steps 1t
was better to proceed slow and sure.
Besides. judging from the condition of
their own horses. the pursued would
be compelled to halt somewhere to
rest their stock also. Their trail even
revealed the fact that they were trav-
cling far less rapidly than at nrst. al
though evidently making every effort
70 cover the greatest possible dis
lance before stopping. Just as the
dusk shut in close about them they
rode down into the valley OF Shaw
nee Fork. and discovered signs of .
recent camp at the edge of the stream.
Here, apparently, Judging from the
campfire ashes. and the trampled
grass along the Fork, the party must
have halted for several hours. BY
lighting matches Keith and Bristoe
discerned where some among them
had laid down to sleep. and. through
various signs, decided they must have
again departed some FIVE or six hours
previous, one of their horses limping
as II lame. The tired pursuers went
into camp at the same spot, but with
out venturing to light any fire. merely
snatching cold bite. and dropping
on TO sleep with heads pillowed upon
their saddles.
Ihey we're upon the trail again with
the first dimness of the gray dawn,
wading the waters OF the Fork, and
sulklng forth across the dull level OF
oroWn prairie and white alkali to-
ward the Arkansas. They saw nothing
al day moving in that wide vista
ABOUT them, but rode steadily, scarce
~ exchanging a word, determined.
srin' never swerving a yard from the
iaint trail. The pursued were moving
slower, hampered, no doubt, by their
iame horse, but were still well In ad-
vance. Moreover, the strain of the
sadie was already beginning TO tell
severely On " ate. weakened some y hat
ny years, and the pursuers were com
PEELED to halt oftener on his account.
Inc end of the second day found them
approaching the broken land border
ing the Arkansas valley, and just be-
iore nightfall they picked up lame
Morse, evidently discarded by the
Marty ahead.
By this time Keith had reached
definite decision as to his course. II
the fugitives received fresh relay
OF horses down there somewhere. and
crossed the Arkansas. he felt positive
iy sure as to their destination. But 1t
would be useless pushing on after
them In the present shape of his party
their horses worn out, and Waite
reeling giddily in the saddle. II Haw
ieys outfit crossed the upper ford. to-
ward which they were evidently mead
ing and struck through the sand hills,
then they were making for the refuge
OF that lone cabin on Salt Fork.
should this prove true, then 1t was
probable the gambler had not even
yet discovered the identity OF Hope,
ior II he had, he would scarcely ven
lure upon taking her there. knowing
mat Keith would naturally suspect
me spot. But Keith would not be like
y TO personally take up the trail In
search for Christie Maclsire. II must
nave been Hawley then who had left
me party and ridden east. and up to
mat time he had not found out his
mistake. Yet II he brought out the
,Iesh animals the chances were that
ropes identity would be revealed
hfistoe, who had turned aside TO ex-
anime the straying horse. came tro'
ling up.