The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-08-10
CHAPTER XII.
The Ford Of the Arkansas.


They were still In the midst OF the /
yellow featureless plain, but the weary !
horses had slowed down to walk. T,
the heavy sand retarding progress. It
was a gloomy. depressing scene In the /
spectral gray light. wide circle OF
intense loneliness, unbroken by either
dwarfed shrub or bunch OF grass. a
barren expsnse stretching to the sky.
Vague cloud SHADOWS seemed to fit
across the level surface, assuming fan
tastic shapes. but all OF the same dull
coloring, imperfect and unfinished
Nothing seemed tangible or real, but
rather some grotesque picture OF de-
lirium, ever merging into another yet
more hideous. The very silence OF
those surrounding wastes seemed bur
densome. adding UNNECESSARILY to the
horror They were but specks crawl
ing underneath the sky--the only liv-
Ing, moving objects in all that i'm.
mense circle OF desolation and death.
Keith turned In his saddle, looking
back past Nsb-who swayed In his
aekt. with head lollinE on his breast
~ though asleep, his horse plodding
after the othsrs-aiong the slight trail
rney had made across the desert so
far As eye could reach nothing moved.
nothing apparently existed. Fronting
again to the north he looked upon the
same grim barrenness, only that far
on, against the lighter background of
distant sky, there was visible n faint
blur, blush haze, which he believed
20 be the distant sand dunes border
Ing the Arkansas, The intense dreari.
ness Of 1t all left a feeling ofdepression.
His eyes turned and regarded the girl
riding silently besSe him. The same
look OF depression was visible upon
her face, and she was gazing OF into
the dull distance with lack-luster eyes,
her slender form leaning forward, her
hands clasped across the pommel.
The long WEAKNESS of the night had
left traces ON her young face, robbing
II OF some OF Its freshness. yet Keith
found II more attractive In the grow
Ing daylight than amid the lamp shad
ows OF the evening before. He had
not previously realized the peculiar
clearness of her complexion. the rose
tint showing through the olive skin,
or the soft and silky fineness OF her
hair which, disarranged, was strange.
ly becoming under the broad brim OF
the hat she wore, drawn low until II
Swallowed her eyes. II was not face
to be easily associated with frontier
concert halls, or any surrender TO
evil; the chin round and frm the lips
full, yet sufficiently compressed; the
whole expression that of pure and
digniied womanhood. She puzzled
him, and he scarcely knew what to
believe, or exactly how to act toward
her
Our friends back yonder should be
turning out from the corral by now,
he said finally, anxious to break the
| silence, for she had not spoken since
he ended his tale. 1T will not be
long until they discover Hawleyp
predicament. and perhaps the welkin
already rings with profanity, That
may even account for the blue haze
out yonder."
She turned her eyes toward him
and the slightest trace OF smile ap
psared from out OF the depths OF their
WEAKNESS.
III they would only remain satisfied
with that. VIII they follow us, do
you Think And are we far enough
away by this time to be safe?"
1T Is hardly likely they will let us
escape without chase" he answered
slowly. I'VE possess too much iufor'
nation now that we have their rem,
devious located, and Black Bart will
have a private grudge to revenge.
wonder II he suspects who attacked
| him, But don't worry, Miss Hope
we have miles the start, and the wind
has been strong enough to cover our
trail. Do you see that dark irregular
ity ahead?"
Yes; Is II a cloud?'
No; the Arkansas sand dunes.
am going to try to keep the horses
moving until we arrive there. rnen
we will halt and eat whatever NeD
has packed behind him, and rest for
Ill HOuT OF TWO. 4 Ou lOOh NtIy tlItuI
but | hope you can keep up for that
distance. We shall be safely out OF
sight then"
Indeed, | am tired the strain of
waiting alone in that cabin, and all
that happened last night, have tried
me severely, But-but can go
through"
Her voice proved her weakness, al
though II was determined enough, and
Keith. yielding to sudden impulse put
out his hand, and permitted It to rest
upon hers, clasped across the pommel.
Her eyes dropped, but there was no
change OF posture
Your nerve is all right" he said,
edmiringly, you haye shown yourself
brave girl"
oo,,II not ha nnmard and he