The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-08-22


Keith Saw the Man Go Down In a
Heap.
was nothing TO shoot at--the fellow
mad faded away into the black void
OF prairie. Keith stood there hatfield.
staring about into the gloom, the
smoking revolver in his hand. The
sound of mems voices behind was all
that reached him. and feeling the use
lessness OF further pursuit, he re-
traced his way back through the mar.
row passage
A group was gathered about the
body In the rain, a single lantern
glimmering. Two or three men had
started down the passageway, and
Keith met them. revolvers drawn and
suspicious.
Who are your" snapped one
sharply. Were you doing all that
shooting yonder?"
Keith recognized the voice, thank.
full that he did so.
II fired at the fellow. but he got
away onto the prairie. reckon you
couldn't have done any better, Bill"
Jack Keith" and Hickock's voice
had a new tone, his hand dropping on
the others shoulder Never was
gladder to meet fellow in my life.
Boys, this is an old deputy Of mine
down in Dodge. When he gives up
chasin' a murderer there isn't much
use our tryin'. Let's go back, and find
out how bad the fellow is hurt While
we're feelin our way, Jack, you might
tell us what you know about this af-
fair"
1T was just the fash of a gun. and
the man dropped" Keith explained.
briefly. Il was ten or a dozen feet
behind, and the fellow fred from I'M
der the wagon there. He must have
been laying for some one--I reckon,
maybe, II was me-"
You? Then it's likely you have
some notion who he was?"
well, II | have, Bill" and Keith's
lips we're set tight I'm not liable to
tell you. II It's the lad think likely,
III attend to the case myself. You
understandable is my personal af-
FAIR"
Hlckock nodded his hand again
pressing the others shoulder
Sure. Jack, If you feel that way.
There's enough doing here In Sheri-
dan to keep marshal reasonably
busy, without dippin' into private
matters. rather reckon you can
take care of yourself. but II you need
me, old boy, I'm always right here on
the Job. You know that"
81 do, Bill, and appreciate It,"
The group about the motionless
body fell away, and made room for the
marshal, the last man to rise saying
soberly:
He's dead all right, Hickock |
guess he never knew what hit him.
Good shootin too, dark as 1t is here"
Had the range fixed. likely" re-
turned the marshal That's what
makes it look like it was arranged
for"
III bent down, striving to distin'
guish the dead mans features turned
up 20 the drizzle, but the night re-
vealcd only the faintest outline.
Anybody know him. There was
no response, only a shufiiing of feet
in the mud. Here, you man with the
lantern, hold it over where can see.
There, that Is better. Now you fell
lows take a look, and see II some OF
you can't name the poor devil"
They glanced down, one after the
other, over Bills shoulder, shading
theireeyes from the rain so as to sec
clearer. The light of the Pickering
lantern streamed full on the CHASTITY
face, but each man shook his head,
and passed on. Keith hung back, hop
ing some one would identify the body
and not make II necessary for him TO
take part in the grewsome task 1t
was not likely TO be any one he knew,
and besides, he felt the man had died
In his stead. and he dreaded to look
upon the stricken face, When the last
OF the group had drlfted back out Of
the radius OF light Hickock looked up
and saw him,
Here, Jack" he said, sravely. you
better tiy--you might know him..
Keith bent over and looked down.
A he did SC his heart seemed to rise
! choking irlo his throat and blur