The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-08-12
(copyrigh,, A. c. Meciurg a Co. iSiO)
CHAPTER XIV.
The Landlady Of the Occidental.

Nevertheless. in fear lest her pony
might stumble over some irregularity,
he gave his own rein to Neb. and went
forward on foot. grssping firmly the
tired animals bit. II was a long
stretch OF sand and water extending
from bank to bank but the water was
shallow, the only danger being that
OF straying on from the more solid
bottom into quicksand. With tower
ing cottonwood as guide. oddly mis-
shapen and standing out gauntly
against the slightly lighter sky the
plainsman led on unhesitatingly, until
they began to climb the rather sharp
uplift Of the north bank. Here there
was q plain trail. pounded into smooth.
ness by the hoofs OF cavalry horses
ridden down to water. and at the sum-
init they emerged within fifty yards OF
the stables.
The few lights visible, some station.
airy. with others dancing about like
wisps, revealed imperfectly
the contour OF various buildings. but
Keith turned sharply to the right. anx.
ious to slip past without being chal-
lenged by sentry. Beyond the brow
OF the blum other lights now became
visible. fickering here and there.
marking where a struggling town had
sprung up under the protection OF the
post-a town garish enough in the
Daylight composed mostly OF shacks
and tents, but now with Its defcien.
cies mercifully concealed by the en-
veloping darkness. The trail, easily
followed, led directly along its single
street, but Keith circled the outskirts
through a wilderness OF tin-cans and
heaps OF other debris, until he halted
his charged beside the black shadow
II the only two-story edifice in the
place. Th,s was the Occidental, the
ospitality of which he mad frequently
tested.
A light screamed from out the front
windows. aut, uncertain who might
be harborA within. Keith tapped
gently at the back door. II was not
opened Immediately. and when 1t was
finally showed aside the merest crack.
no glow OF light revealed the darkened
interior. The voice which spoke how.
ever, was amply sufficient to identify
its owner.
rs that va agin, Murphy. playin'
Az yer dirthp thricks?'
NO. Mrs. Murphy" he FASTENED to
explain. this is Kelth-Jack Keith.
IF the Bar *
"The Lord deliver us!" was the In
slant exclamation, the door opening
Wide. They do be afther telin me
tonight av the throuble we was In
over at Carson. an OF fought maybe
We moigbt turn up this way. II was
nate trick We played on the loikes
av EN-, Jack. but this is dom poor
half-dozen in the party now talkin
about 1t, wild a couple av officers from
the fort. Is the mayer wild ye?"
yes, but we have no intention OF
hiding here. I'd rather take MI
chance In the open The fact Is, Kate
we started of for the Bar x"
"Av course, We did; OF was shure a,
It,"
But down on the Salt Fork we rar
across a young girl whom Black Bar
had inveigled down that way on a lie
We had a bit Of a fight. and got hel
away from him. This is what brought
us back hereto put the girl where
she will be safe out OF his clutches"
The door was wide open now, ant
Mrs. Murphy outside. her interest a
fever heat
"Ye had foight wild Black Bart
oh, ye divil, An ye licked the birth!
spalpane, an got away wild his gyurl
Glory be- And would OF take her
Well, OF would. Niver doubt that. me
bye. She may be the quane ay shaba
an she may be Digger lnjun Squaw
but the loikes av him had better kap'
away from Kate Murphy. It's glat
OF am ter do It! Bring her in. o
don't want ter hear no more"
Just word, Kate; | don't know
whether she has any money or not
but III pay her bill, as soon as II II
safe for me 10 come back
"Oh, the divil take her bill, Shell
have the best in the house, anyhow
an Oim only hopin' that fellow will
turn up huntiD' her ord loike te
take one slap at the spalpane.
Fully convinced as to Mrs. Murphy
good Will, Keith slipped back into thu
darkness, and returned with the girl
Introductions were superhuous as tn,
mistress of the Occidental cared littl
regarding ceremony.
AN is this you, my DEAR sb
burst out, endeavoring TO curb he
voice TO secretiye sortness. "Shurt
Jack Keith has told me all about II
an It's safe II is yer goin ter be here
Come on In; oi'll give We humble
forty-two, thet's next behint me owl
room, an we'll 20 up the back sthaii a
Hip the young loidy, Jack, fer shur
We know the way"
She disappeared, evidently wit
IN ufAW