Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1911-10-04
CHAPTER xiI.-(cont,nued.)

mo; nave ridden lnls county, ~ ~.
years, and there is no ranch pasturing
cattle along the Salt Fork. Miss Hope.
81 want you to comprehend what It 10
you have escaped from: what you are
now fleeing from. Within the last two
years an apparently organized body
of outlaws have been operating
throughout this entire region. Often
times disguised as Indians. they have
terrorized the Santa Fe trail for two
4 hundred miles. killing travellers IN
small parties. and driving on stock.
There are few ranches as far west as
this, but these have all suffered from
raids These fellows have done more
to precipitate the present Indian war
than any act of the savages: They
have endeavored to make the authori-
tiles believe that Indians we're guilty
OF their deeds Of murder and robbery.
Both troops and volunteers have tried
to hold the gang up but they scatter
and disappear. as though swallowed
by the desert. i have been out twice,
4 hard on their trail. only to come back
bafled. Now. l think accident has
given me the clue. :
She Strengthened up: glancing ques-
tioningly at him through the dark.
ness.
This is what i mean. Miss Hope.
suspect that cabin to be the rem
devious Of those fellows. and half
believe Hawley to be their leader.
Then you will report all this to the
4 authorities p I! n
He smiled grizzly. his lips com,
pressed.
II hardly think SO: at least, not for
the present. am not blood.thirsty,
4 or enamored of man-hunting. but
Happen to have personal interest IN
this particular affair which should
prefer to settle alone" He paused.
swiftly reviewing the circumstances
u OF their short acquaintance. and as
suddenly determined to trust her dis.
cretion Deep down in his heart he
rather wanted her to know. The fact
OF the matter is. that Neb and here
were the ones that particular posse
we're trailing.
"You!" her voice faltered. HE
said those men were under arrest
''''He5 also said it was easy TO con-
Wet men in this country II you only
knew how. 1t is true we broke Jail.
but only in order to save our lives; It
was the only way. Technically, we
are outlaws, and now run the risk OF
Immediate re-arrest by returning
north Of the Arkansas. We came to
you. fugitives: | was charged with
murder, the negro with assault. So.
you see, Miss Hope. the desperate
class OF men you are now associattng
with.
The slight bitterness In his tone
stung the girl into resentment. She
was looking straight at him. but in
the gloom he could not discern the
expression OF her eyes.
Il don't believe it." she exclaimed
decisively. 'you-you do not look like
That" 81
.My appearance may be sufficient to
convince you," he returned. rather dry.
~. "but would weigh little before
Western court. Unfortunately. the
evidence was strong against me: or
would have been had the case ever
come to q trial. The strange thing
about 1t was that both warrants were
sworn out by the same complainant.
and apparently for a similar purpose
I Black Bart Hawley."
What purpose?"
ITO keep US from telling what we
knew regarding certain crime. IN
which either he. or some Of his init
mate friends, were deeply Interested
but ii would all come out at the
trial, wouldn't it,"
There was to be no trial: Judge
Lynch settles the majority OF such
cases out here at present. 1t is ex,
tremely simple. Listen, and will tell
you the story"
He reviewed briefly those occur
Fences leading directly up to his ar
rest, saying little regarding the nor
Z rors Of that scene witnessed near the
Cimmaron Crossing. but making sum
ciently clear his very slight connec'
Zion with it. and the reason those VINO
were guilty of the crime were 30 anx'
ious to get him out OF the way. She
listened intently, asking few ques
lions, until he ended Then they ootn
looked up, conscious that dawn waa
becoming gray in the east. ketth's
Arst thought was one of relief-the
bright sky showed him they were rid
ing straight north
CHAPTER XIII.