Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-11-07
CHAPTER xVll.-(contIr
You say there was 70 trace"

FOu say tnere was no trace:
Nothing to travel on after forty
eight hOurs-a posse started out next
morning soon as they found him
when they got back they reported hav
ing run the fellows as far as Gin.
maron Crossing-there they got across
and escaped
Who led the posse?"
"A man called Black. | think" h J
said
BLACK Bart?"
Yes, that's the name; so. I reckon
you didn't bury Willis Waite this time.
Captain You wouldn't have thought
he was a dead one If you had heard
him swear while he was telling the
story-it did him proud: never heard
him do better since the second day at
Gettysburg-ha his ear shot OFF
then. and | had to fix him up-Lord
but he called me few things"
Keith sat silent. fully convinced
truth, yet more puzzled than ever
over the peculiar situation in which
he found himself involved
What brought the General up
here? he questioned. finally.
Il haven't much idea" was the
reply. Il don't think asked him dl
rectly. | wasn't much interested
There was a hint dropped. however
now you speak about it oHes keen after
those papers. and doesn't feel salts.
fed regarding the report OF the posse
It's my opinion he's trailing after
Black Bart"
The dining-rOom was thinning out.
and they were about the only ones left
at the tables Keith stretched him.
self looking around
We'll. Doctor, am very glad to
have met you again. and to learn
Waite is actually alive This is
rather queer affair. but will have TO
work itself out Anyway. | am too
dead tired tonight 10 hunt after clues
the saddle most OF the time tor
week. and have got to find a bed
Il reckon you won't discover such
a thing here" dryly Got seven in a
room upstairs, and others corded
along the hall Better share my CELL
only thing to do
THAT would be asking too much
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 Resides. you
sleep at night don't your"
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 mad ever quite equalled this
the pride OF Sheridan The product
OF q mushroom town. which merely ex,
listed by grace OF the temporary rail
way terminus. II had been hastily and
fiimsily constructed. so II could be
transported elsewhere at a moment
notice Every Creak OF a bed echoed
from wall TO wall The thin partI
tons often tailed to reach the ceiling
by 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
beIow-Iaughter. shouts. the shrieks OF
women. a rattle OF dice. an occasional
pistol shot. and the continuous yell
Ing of industrious "6arkers There
was no safety anywhere An exploding
revolver IN No. - was quite likely to
disturb the peaceful sIumberS OF the
innocent occupant OF No is, and every
sound OF quarrel in the thronGed bar
room below caused the lodger TO curl
up in momentary expectation Ni a
stray bullet coursius toward him
through the floor. With this TO uou,
bic him. he could lie there and near
everything that occurred within and
without Every creak, stamp. ana
snore was faithfully reported: every
curse. blow, snarl re-echoed 10 MS
ears Inside was hell; outside was
Sheridan
Wearied. and half dead. as Keith
was, sleep was simply Impossible. he
heard heavy feet tramping up and
down the hall: once drunken man
endeayored vainly to open his door.
not TAR away there was a scuHie. and
the sound of a body falling down stairs
In some distant apartment a fellow
was struggling to, draw OF his tight