The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-23

ly 1t disappeared-a swale in the sand
probably-and, when 1t rose into view
again, he uttered a cry of joy--it was
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
OF the sky. Keith was ready now, his
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 / 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. If he thought OF
flight 1t was useless. His lip curled
with contempt
Damn your talking, Keith" he re-
turned savagely. Let's have it over
with" and spurred his horse. The
gun Of the other came up
Wait" and Hawley paused. drag.
gtng 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; I'll do the same; step away
so the horses are out of range, and
then We'll fight 1t QUITS that
sQuare?"
Without a 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-yes."
Then look out-one! two! three!"
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 q fash of flame
cross Hawley's saddle, sharp re-
port, and Keith reeled backward.
dropping to lis knees, one hand clutch.
Ing at the sand. Again Hawley fired,
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-
I'll. through the haze over his eyes, he
saw Hawley go stumbling down, shoot
Ing wildly as he fell. TIE man never
moved, and Keith endeavored to get
up, his gun still held ready, the smoke
circling about them. He had been
shot treacherously, as a covardly 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 Grm OF
the other move. Like snpke he
crept forward. holding himself up with
one hand, his head dizzily ree.iag, but
his gun held 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; 1t was all black, all
noth'rsness. Suddenly he went down
face first into the sand.
They both lay motionless, the thirs-
sand drinking In their life blood,
Hs swley huddled upon his left side, his
la still shading the glazing eyes,
Keith lying fiat. his face in the crook
OF an arm whose hand still gripped a
revolver. There was a grim smile on
his lips, AS II, as he pitched forward.
he knew that, after he had been shot
to death. he had gotten his man. The
riderless horses gazed at the two fig.
ures, and drfted away, slowly, fear
fully, still held in mute subsection to
their dead masters by dangling reins.
The sun blazed down from directly
overhead, the heat waves rising and
falling. the dead, desolate desert
stretching TO the sky. An hour, two
passed. The horses we're now a hun.
dred v"~Hs away, nose 70 nose: all
else was ch6npe,eca Tbop into tha
far northern sky there rose q black
speck, growing larger and larger; 9th.
ers came from the east and west, beat.
ing the air with widely outspread
wings, great beaks stretched forward
Out from their nests of foulness the
desert scavengers were coming for
their spoil.