Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-21

self, looking around.
We'll, Doctor, | am very glad to
have met you again, and to learn
Waite Ia actually alive. This Is
rather queer affair, but will have to
work Itself out. Anyway, I am too
dead tired tonight to hunt after clues
in midst of this babel. I've been in
the saddle most OF the time for
week, and have got to find bed"
Il reckon you won't discover such
thing here" dryly. Got seven in
room upstairs. and others corded
along the hall. Better share my cell
only thing to do
THAT would be asking too much
I can turn In at the corral with Neb;
I've slept in worse places"
Couldn't think Of 1t, Keith" and
the doctor got up. Besides, you
sleep at night, don't you?"
Usually yes" the other admitted.
Then you won't bother me any
no doctor sleeps at night in Sheridan:
that's our harvest time. Come on,
and I'll show you the way. When
morning comes I'll rout you out and
take my turn
Keith had enjoyed considerable ex-
perience in frontier hotels, but moth
ing before had ever quite eQualed this.
the pride OF Sheridan The product
of a mushroom town, which merely ex-
listed by grace of the temporary rail-
way terminus, It had been hastily and
fiimsily constructed, so 1t could be
transported elsewhere at a moments
~ q hQd echoed
from wall to wall The thin part-
tons often failed to reach the ceiling
by a foot or two, and the slightest
noise aroused the entire floor. Ana
there was noise of every conceivable
kind In plenty, from the blare OF
, band at the Pioneer Dance Hall oppo-
site, to the energetic cursing OF the
cook in the rear. A discordant DIN
Of voices surged up from the street
below-laughter, shouts, the shrieks OF
women, a rattle OF dice, an occasional
, pistol shot, and the continuous yell
. ing Of Industrious "barkers." There
q was no safety anywhere. An exploding
revolver in No. Al was quite likely to
disturb the peaceful slunlbers OF the
innocent occupant of No. Is, and every
sound of quarrel In the thronged bar
room below caused the ledger to curl
I'D in momentary expectation OF
stray bullet coursing toward him
through the floor. With this to trou-
BILE him, he could lie there and hear
everything that occurred within and
:, without Every creak, stamp, and
:. snore was faithfully reported; every
curse, blow. snarl re-echoed to his
ears. Inside vas hell; outside was
, Sheridan.
- Wearied, and half dead, as Keith
y was, sleep was simply impossible He
:, heard heavy feet tramping up and
down the hall; once a drunken man
= endeavored vainly to open his door;
. not far away there was scufhe, ana
y the sound OF body falling down stairs
;, In some distant apartment fellow
was struggling TO draw off his ugnt
boots. skipping about on one loot
amid much profanity. That the boot
conquered was evident when the man
crawled into the creaking bed, an
nouncing deflantly. IF the landlord
wants them boots of. let him come
!. an pull 'em off" Across the hall
a was a rattle OF chips, and the voices
: of several men. occasionally raised in
h anger. Now and then they would
!. stamp on the floor as an order 1or
O liquid refreshments from below. From
somewhere beyond, the long-drawn
=. melancholy howl OF distressed dog
greeted the rising moon.
n Out from all this pandemonium
TIT rrcnpcrinnply dpfact
y the sound OF voices talking in the
, room to his left, In the lull Of OBJ
>, structing sound few words reached
Il him through the slight open space be-
y tween wall and ceiling.
Hell, Bill, what's the use goin' out
"a again when We haven't the price,
+. "Oh, we might find Bart somewhere,
d and he'd stake us. guess | know
" enough to make him loosen up. Come
e on; I'm goin'.''
n Not me; this town Is too near
20 Fort Hays: I'm liable to run into
-e some of the fellows"
s A chair scraped across the floor as
II. Bill arose to his feet; evidently from
N the noise he had been drinking, but
II Keith heard him lift the latch OF the
+e door.
at An right, Willoughby," he said
" thickly. I'll try my luck, an If see
NJ Bart III tell him yer here. So long.
ID He shuffied along the hall and
II went, half sliding, down stairs, and
an Keith DISTINGUISHED the click OF glass
"a and bottle in the next room lie was
ar sitting up in bed now, wide awake,
obsessed with a desire to invest-
~ gate. The reference overheard must
Q have been to Hawley. and II so, this
a. Willoughby. who was afraid OF meet.
- Ing soldiers from the fort would be
r. the deserter Miss Hope was seeking.
&c There could be no harm in making
,e sure. ana he slipped into his clothes,
n and as silently as possible. unlatcned
his door There was noisy crowd at
the farther end OF the hall, and the
=, sound of some one laboriously mount
=, ing the stairs. Not desiring to be
seen. Keith slipped swiftly toward the
". door OF the other room, and tried the
=, latch II was unfastened. and he
SO stepped quietly within, closing 1t be-
hind him.
A small lamp was on the washstand.
70 a half.emptied bottle and two glasses
beside It, while a pack OF cards lay
scattered on the floor. Fully dressed.