Semi-weekly herald., 1911-05-08
CHAPTER ~.
An Old AequaIntsnce.


The Carson City lookup was an i'm
provised affair. although a decidedly
popular resort. 1t was originally a
two-room cabin with gable to the
street. the front apartment at one
time low srosgery. the keeper sleep
Ing In the rear room. Whether sud
den death. or financial reverses. had
been the cause, the community had In
some manner become possessed of the
property. and had at once dedicated
1t to the commonweal For the pur-
pose thus selected It was rather we'll
adapted. being strongly built. easily
guarded. and on the outskirts of the
town. With iron grating over the
windows. the back door heavily spiked,
and the front secured by iron barn,
any prisoner once locked within could
probably be found when wanted. On
the occasion of Kefth's arrival. the
portion abuttins upon the street was
occupied by rather miscellan sous
assembly-the drunk and disorderiy
elements conspicuous-who were
awaiting their several calls to appear
before . local Justice and make an
swer for various misdeeds. Some were
pacing the door, others sat moodily
on benches ranged against The wall.
while a few we're still peacefully slum-
berins upon the floor II was q frowsy,
disreputable crowd, evincing but mild
curiosity at the arrival OF a new prts-
oner. Keith had barely time to glance
about. recognizing no familiarity of
face amid the mass peering at him, a.
he WAS hustled briskly forward and
thrust into the rear room, tho heavy
door closing behind him with tho snap
OF . spring lock.
He was alone, with only the faint
est murmur of voices coming to him
through the thick partition. II was q
room some twelve feet square, open
to the roof. with bare walls. and oon-
tanning no furniture except q rude
bench. Still daLed by the suddsnnsss
OF his arrest. ne sank down upon the
seat, leaned his head on his hAnds,
and endeayorsd to think. II was dif-
ficult to get the facts mArshallsd into
any order or to comprehend clearly
the situation. yet little by little his
brain grAsped the main details, and
he swoke to = full realization OF his
condition, OF the forces he must war
against The actual murdsrsrs OF
those two men on the trail had had
their suspicious aroused by hts 40
tons; they believed he guessed some
thing OF their foul deed. and had de-
tsrminsd To clear themselves by
charging tho crime directly against
him It WAS = shrswd trick. and II
they only stuck TO their story. ought
TO sucosed. He had no evidences. 9th
or than his own word. and the marshal
mad already taken rom his pockets
the papers belonging to the slain
man. He had not found the iocket
hidden under his shirt. yet = more
thorough search would doubtless re-
veal that also.
Even should the case come to trial,
how would It be possible for him To
establish innocence, snd-would II
ever come to trial? Keith knew the
character of the frontier. and of Car
son City The inclination OF It's citi-
gems In such cases WAS TO act nrst.
and reflect later. The law had but
slender hold, being respected only
Wncu DAckcc Dy lno slfou8 uhhu, hho
primitive Instincts we're always In the
ascendoncy. requiring merely . leader
To break forth In open violsnce. And
In this case would there be any lack
Of leadership? Like fash his mind
reverted to BLACK Bart" There was
the man capable OF melting = mob. IL.
for some unknown reason. he had suf-
fcisnt interest to swear out the war
rant and assist in the arrest. he would
have equal cause to serve those fol-
lows behind him in other ways. Nat
urslly. they would dread trial. with
its possibility of exposure. and eagerly
grasp any opportunity for wiping the
slate clean. Their real security from
discovery undoubtedly lay IN his
death. aud with the Red Light
crowd behind thsm they would sx-
psrisncs no trouble In getting . fol-
lowing desperate enough for any pus-
pose.
The longer Keith thought thS lsss
h doubted ~ rssuy, = w ~ theA
~ n knAman - r AnnaG8