The Mena weekly star., 1911-09-14
Continued from Last Issue.)
CHAPTER xvIi.
In the Next Room.

|% Keith. his eyes filled with unfis- aruised doubt. studied the face of th<
 han opposite. almost convinced that E1 Q was. in some way. connected with
 inc puzzling mystery. But the hon $ssty of the rugged face only added to &his rAyplexity.
 # Are you certain your are not mis- *taken?"
 "Of course am. Keith. I've known 8Waite for fifteen years bit intimate *ly-have met him frequently since the Hgar-and l certainly talked with him
 lie told me enough to partially confirm E -Four story. He said he had started Efor Santa F'e light. because he couldn't Eget enough men to run a caravan Nafraid of Indians. you know So. he Determined to take money-buy Mexi- 8 can goods-and risk himself. Old Ffghting cock wouldn't turn back for Esll the Indians on the plains once he got an idea In his head-he was that Eklnd-Lord, you ought to seen the Eight he put up at Spottsylvania! He got to Carson City with two wagons. | d driver and cook--had eight thou sand dollars with him. too, the damn sfool. Cook got into row. gambling. cut a man, and was jugged. Old Waite kwouldn't leasa. even nigger in that 'fort of fix-nAtural fighter-likes any Kind of row. So he hung on there at fCarson. but had sense enough--Lord Eknows where he got it--to put all . but a few hundred dollars in Ben ELevy's safe Then. he went out one night 10 play poker with his driver and friend--had drink or two- doped probably. and never woke up for forty-eight hours-lost clothes. Emoney. papers. and whole outflt-was \ lust naturally cleaned out--couldnt get trace worth following after. You ought to have heard him cuss when he told me -it seemed to be the papers that bothered him most--them. and the mules"
 You say there was no tracer" 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 hay Ing run the fellows as far as Cim- maron Crossing-there they got across and escaped"
 Who led the posse?"
 "A man called Black. think" he said.
 Black Bart?"
 Yes, that's the name; 30, reckon you didn't bury Willis Waite this time. Captain. You wouldn't have though he was dead one If you had heart him swear while he was telling the story-it did him proud; never heard him do better since the second day at Gettysburg his ear shot off then, and I had to fix him up-Lord. but he called me few things"
 Keith sat silent. fully convinced now that the doctor was telling the truth. yet more puzzled thar ever over the peculiar situation in which hs found himself involved.
 What brought tho General up nereY he questioned, finally.
 T haven't much idea" was the reply. T don't think I asked him di- reetly. l wasn't much interested. There was a hint dropped. however, now you speak about 1t. He's keen after tnose papers, and doesn't feel satis- ned regarding the report of the posse. US my opinion he's trailing after Black Bart.'
 The dining-room was thinning out. and they were about the only ones left at the trbles. Keith stretched him self, looking around.
 Well, Doctor, am very glad to nave met you again. and to learn waite Is actually alive. This is a rather queer affair, but will have to work itself out Anyway. am too dead tired tonight to hunt after clues m midst of this babel I've been in the saddle most of the time for e week, and have got to find bed"
 l 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"
 eeias': think think os t. t Keith, Keith ana me doctor got up. Besides. 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; mats our harvest time. Come on. ana 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 noth- ing before had ever quite equallec this. 'he pride of Sheridan. The product VI mushroom town. which merely ex- kN'ed by grace of the temporary rail- say terminus. it had been hastily and n'msily constructed. so 1t could be
 transported elsewhere at moments notice Every creak of bed echoed rom wall to wall. The thin parti- aohs often failed to reach the ceiling " foot or two. and the slightest ao'se aroused the entire floor. And mere was noise of every conceivable Aino. In plenty. from the blars of q
 1.ho at the Pioaeer Dance Hall oppo- s'e. 10 the energetic curs.ng of the sSek in the rear. X di.cosdant din