The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-11-23
CHAPTER xxxIv.
AGAIN at the Cabin.

They were two weary days reach
ing Carson City, travelling along the
open trail yet meeting with no one,
not even a mail coach passing them.
Evidently the Indians were so trou-
blcsome as to interrupt all traffic with
Santa Fe and the more western forts
The slowness of their progress was
on account of the General, whose con
dition became worse in spite of Fair
bain's assiduous attentions With no
medicine the doctor could do but little
to relieve the sufferings OF the older
man, although he declared that his
Illness was not serious one, and
would yield quickly to proper medical
treatment They constructed a rude
travels from limbs of the cottonwood,
and securely strapped him thereon,
one man leading the horse, while the
doctor tramped behind
Keith, fretting more and more ever
this necessary delay, and now OBJ
sessed with the thought that Hawley
must have rejoined his party on the
Arkansas and gone south with them,
finally broke away from the others
and rode ahead, to gather together the
necessary horses and supplies in ad-
vance of their arrival. He could not
drive from his mind the remembrance
OF the gamblers attempted familiarity
with Hope, when he had her. as he
then supposed, safe in his power once
before in that lonely cabin on the Salt
Fork. Now, angry with bafiled ambi-
ton, and a victim OF her trickery,
there was no guessing to what ex'
tremes the desperate might resort.
The possibilities OF such a situation
made th- slightest delay e rescue an
agony almost unbearable. Reaching
Carson City, and perfectly reckless as
to his own safety there from arrest,
the plainsman lost no time In perfect
ing arrangements for pushing for
ward. Horses and provisions were pro
cured, and he very fortunately discov-
cred in town two cowboys belonging
to the bar x" outfit. their work there
accomplished and about ready to re-
turn to the ranch on the Canadian.
who gladly allied themselves with his
party, looking forward to the posi-
bilities of fight with keen anticipa.
ton. Keith was more than ever de-
lighted with adding these to his outfit,
when on the final arrival OF the 9TH
ers, the extra man brought from Sher-
idan announced that he had had
enough, and was going 10 rssssssse.. IL
there. No efforts made revealed any
knowledge of Hawley's presence in
Carson City; either he had mot been
there. or else his friends we're very
carefully concealing the fact. The ut
ter absence OF any trace, however, led
Keith to believe that the gambler had
gone elsewhere-probably TO Fort
Larned-for his new outfit, and this
belief left him more fully convinced
than ever OF the fellows efforts TO
conceal his trail
The party escorting Waite reached
the town In the evening, and In the
following gray dawn the adventures
forded the river. and mounted on fresh
hors.g and fully equipped. headed
forth into the sand hills. The little
company now consisted of Keith, Fair
hahn who in spite OF his rotundity
Of form had proven himself hard and
A.. Neb. having charge OF the single
psck-horse. the scout Brlstoe. and the
two cowboys OF tine Bar <. rough.
wsry fellow. accustomed TO expo
sure and peril II was emphaticslly
fighting outfit and TO be trusted IN
emergency.
TrsY fcllove1 The cattle tran south
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