Semi-weekly herald., 1911-08-14
{ospyr.sht, A Q. NeCaurG : Co.. isio.>

that horrible ocean Of sand. II was
noon now-noon. and he had been rid
ing steadily seven hours. The thought
brought his blurred eyes again to the
horizon. Where could he be. the man
he sought in the heart of this soil
tude? Surely he should be here by
now. If he had left the water-hole at
dawn. Could he have gone the longer
route. south to the Fork? The possi-
bilfty of such a thing scared through
him like hot iron, driving the dull
ness from his brain, the lethargy from
his limbs. God! mol Fate could never
play such a scurvy trick as that! The
man must have been delayed; had
failed to leave camp early-some-
where ahead, yonder where the blue
haze marked the union of sand and
sky, he was surely coming. riding half
dead. and dropping in the saddle.
Again Keith rose in his stirrups,
rubbing the mist out of his eyes that
he might see clearer. and stared
ahead. What was that away out yon-
der7 shadow o spot dancing before
his tortured vision? or a moving, liv-
ing something which he actually saw?
He could not tell, he could not be
sure, yet he Strengthened up expect
antly, shading his eyes, and never
losing sight Of the object. 1t moved.
grew larger, darker, more real-yet
how It crawled, crawled, crawled to-
ward him. 1t seemed as If the vague.
shapeless thing would never take
form, never stand out revealed against
the sky SO he could determine the
truth. He had forgotten all else-the
silent desert. the blazing sun. the
burning wind-all his soul concen-
trated on that speck yonder Sudden
ly 1t disappeared-a swale in the sand
probably-and, when 1t rose into view
again, he uttered a cry of joy-it was
u horse and rider!
Little by little they drew nearer
one another, two black specks in that
vast ocean of sand. the only moving.
living things under the brazen circle
eyes bright, the cooked revolver
gripped hard In his hand The space
between them narrowed, and Hawley
saw him. caught a glimpse Of the face
under the broad hat brim, the burn
ing eyes surveying him. With an oath
he stopped his horse. dragging at his
gun. surprised, dazed, yet instantly
understanding. Keith also halted. and
across the intervening desert the eyes
of the two men met In grim defiance.
The latter wet his dry lips, and spoke
shortly:
Il reckon you know what this
means. Hawley, and why l am here.
We're Southerners both OF us, and
we settle our own personal affairs
You've got to fight me now. man to
man."
The gambler glanced about him. and
down at his horse. II he thought of
flight 1t was useless. His lip curled
with contempt
Damn your talking, Keith" he re-
turned savagely. Let's have 1t over
with" and spurred his horse. The
gun OF the other came up.
"Waitl" and Hawley paused. drag
ging at his rein. "One OF us most like
ly is going to die here; perhaps both
But II either survives he'll need a
horse to get out of this alive. Dis
mount: III do the same; step away
80 the horses are out of range, and
then we'll fight 1t QUITS that
square?"
Without word, his eyes cleaning
with cunning hatred. the gambler
swung down from his saddle onto the
sand. his horse interposed between
him and the other. Keith did the
same. his eyes peering across the
back of his animal.
Now" he said steadily. when
count three drive your horse aside.
and let go-are you ready?"
Damn you-ycs!"
Then look out-onei two, threel"
The plainsman struck his horse
with the Quirt in his left hand and
sprang swiftly aside so as to clear the
flank of the animal, his shooting arm
flung out There was a fash of fame
cross Hawley's saddle. a sharp re-
port. and Keith reeled backward.
dropping to his knees. one hand clutch
ing at the sand. Again Hawley fred.
but the horse. startled by the double
report, leaped aside. and the ball went
wild. Keith wheeled about. steadying
himself with his outstretched hand.
and let drive. pressing the trigger. un-
til. through the haze over his eyes. he
saw Hawley go stumbling down. shoot
ing wildly as he fell. The man never
moved. and Keith endeavored to get
up. his gun still held ready. the smoke
circling about them. He had been
shot trsacherously. as a cowardly cur
might shoot. and he could not clear
his mind OF the thought that this last
act hid treachery also. But he could
not raise himself. could not stand; red
and black shadows danced before his
eyes; he believed he saw the arm OF
tho other move Like a snake he
orept forward. holding himself up with
one hand, his head dfxxily resling. but
his gun hsld steadily on that black.
shapeless object lying on the sand.
Then the revolver hand began to
culver, to shake. TO make odd circles;
he couldn't see; It was all black. all
nothingness. Suddenly he went down
faca flrut into the Rand