Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-09-07

tLU3r RRrlC%S By pvARr ,sR1 Nirl.y.LL.
rrvras,rrS
icClurg e Co. 1917
further removed from danger Yet
eyes and ears we're alert to every
shadow and sound Once, It must
have been after midnight, he drew his
pony sharply back into rock shadow
at the noise of something approach.
ing from the east. The stage 20 San.p
Fe ratified past, the four mules trct.
ting swiftly, squad OF troopers rid.
ing hard behind II was merely a
Jumping shadow sweeping swiftly
/ past; he could perceive the dim out.
lines Of driver and guard. the soldiers
swaying In thcir saddles, heard the
pounding of hoofs, the creak of aylcq
and then the appQritlon dis ppeared
! into the black void. He had not call.
/ ed out-what was the use? Those PEG.
pie would never pause to hunt dowa
/ prairie outlaws, and their guard was
sufficient to prevent attack. They &C.
krowledged but one duty-to get the
nail through on time.
The dust of their passing still in the
air Keith rode on. the noise dying
away In his rear. As the hours pass
cd his horse wearied and had to be
prurred into the swftor stride, but
the man seemed tireless. The sun va
an hour high when they climbed the
long hill, and loped into Carson City.
Tho cantonmeut was to the right. but
Keith. having no report to make. rode
directly ahead down the one loag
street to q livery corral. leaving hts
horse there. and sought the nearest
restaurant.
/ Exhausted by a night Of high play
and deep drinking. the border town
was sleeping off its debauch, saloons
and gambling dens silent the street.
almost deserted. To Keith. whose for
mer acquaintance with the place had
been entirely after nightfall the vifw
of It now was almost a shocli-tlc
miserable shacks. the gaudy saloon
fronts. the Uttered streets, the dinEy
implanted hotel, the dirty flap Of can
vas. the unoccupied road. the drll
prairie sweeping away to the horizon
ell composed a hideous picture be
meath the sun glare. He could scarce
iy find man to attend his horse, and
/ at the restaurant drowsy Chinaman
had to be shaken awake. and fright.
encd into serving him. lie sat down
10 the miserable m''al oppressed with
disgust-neyer before had his life
seemed so mean, useless, utterly with
out excuse.
He possessed the appetite Of the
open, OF the normal man In perfect
physical health. and he ate hcGrtil}
! his eyes wandering out OF the one
window down the Ions. dismal strc -,
A drunken man lay in front of tho
Pod Light" saloon sleeping undi'
turbcd; two cur dogs were snarlirg NJ
each Other just beyond over a bono:
a movers wagon was slowly comm r
In across the open through cloud O.
yellow dust. That was all within tto
radius Of vision. For the first time IN
years the East called him-tIe oil
life Of cleanliness and respectGbli.y
He swore to himself as he tossed thc
Cinnamon pay for his breakfast. anl
strobe out onto the steps Two mon
were coming up the street togethc-
from the opposite direction-one lean
dark-shinned, with black poatee. tho
other heavily set with closely trim.
med gray beard. Keith knew the lat.
ter, and waited, leaning against tie
door, one hand on his hip.
"Hullo. Bob" he said eanially
they must have routed you out prot
ty early today"
They shore did, Jack" was the re
Spouse. He came UP the steps some
what heavily his companion stopping
below, The boys raise he'll all night
an then come ter me ter atraighter
1t out IN the mawnin'. When did "
git in?"
AN hour ago. had to wake tho
'chink' up to get any chuck Tow
looks dead"
"Tain't over lively at this time 0
day" permitting his blue eyes to wan
der up the silent street but instantly
bringing them back to Keith's face
hut reckon tn wG.c ~ late; On"
He stood squarcly "a b0tb feet. an(
one hand rested on the butt Of q r.
volver. Keith noticed this, wonder
ing vaguely
Il reckon yer know, Jack, as how
gnaraiiy cit what | goes after" eaiC
the SLOW, drawing voice IAN that
draw bout rs quick as any O. III,
boys. They tell ne zorro n gun-Aght
ef, but it won't do ye no good te
make play yerc, fer ole o us is sur,
to cit yer--do yer sate?-
Get me?" Keith's voice and fac,
( [ II 's' 49,? :; :