Semi-weekly herald., 1911-06-12

Keith Eibowed His Way Through the
Heterogeneous Crowd.
him also. The latter broke silence
with u quick. jerky uttersnce. which
seemed to peculiarly At his personal
appearance.
Damn 1t sll-know you. sir-sure
l do-but for lifa Of me can't tell
where"
Keith stared across at him more
ssarchinKly, and replied, rather in
differently:
Probably a mistake then. as / have
no recollection OF your face"
Never made a mistake. sir-nevsr
forget n face" the other snapped with
some show OF Indignation. his hands
now clasped on the table, one stubby
foretnger pointed, as he leaned for
ward Don't tell me-Pve seen you
somewhere-no. not y word-don't
even tell me your name-lm going to
think OF it
Keith smiled, not unwilling to humor
the mans eccentricity, and returned TO
his meal. with only an occasional in.
quiring glance across the table. The
other sat and stared at him, his
heavy eyebrows wrinkled as he strug
gled to awaken memory. The younger
man had begun on his pie when the
face opposite suddenly cleared.
Damn me, I've got it-hsll. yes.
hospital Observation-Disclosures i'm
bedded under third rib-ordinary case
that's why I forgot-clear as mud
now-get the name in a minuts-Cup
tain-Captsin Keith-thats it-shaks
hands,
Puzzled at the unexpected recoEni-
ton. yet realizing the friendlness OF
the man, Keith grasped the pudgy I'm.
gers extended with some cordially.
Don't remember me | s'pose-don't
think you ever saw me-delirious
when l came - hate to tell you
what you was talking about-save
you hypodermic nrst thins-behaved
well enough though when | dug out
the lead-Minie bullet. badly blunted
hitting the rib-thought you might
die with blood poison-couldn't stay
to see-to damn much to do-evident-
ly didn't though-remember me nowH"
mo. only from what you say. You
must have been at General Waits's
headquarters"
That's it-charse OF Stonewall's
neld hospital-just happened to ride
Into Waite's camp that night-damn
lucky for you | did-youns snip there
wanted to saw the bone-I stopped
thaf-ItkaA IA -i,,o nj -
might be worth saving-ain't SO sure
of 1t now, or you wouldn't be out in
this God forsaken country. eating
such grub-my names Fairbain-Jo-
seph Wright Fairbain. NJ. D.-contract
surgeon for the railrosd-workinE on
the line7"
Keith shook his head. feeling awak-
ening interest In his peculiar com.
panion-
NO: Just drifted IN here from down
on the Arkansas" he explained brief
ly. did you know General Waite
was deadf"
The doctors ruddy face whitened.
"Dead?-willis Waite dead7" he re-
peated. What do you mean. sir7 Are
you sure, when7"
'I ought TO be sure: buried him
Just this side the Cimmsron Crossing
out on the Santa Fe trail"
But do you know II was General
Waiter" the mans insistent tono full
of doubt.
II have no question about it, ro-
turned Keith. conclusiyely. The man
was WaIte'n size and general appear
ancs. with gray beard. similar to the
ono I remember he wore during the
war. He had been scalped. and his
face beaten beyond recognition. but
papers in his pockets were sufficient
to prove his Identity. Besides, he and
his companion-a young fellow named
sibley-were known to have pulled out
two days before from Carson city
when was thisT'
Ten days ago"
Fairbanks lips smiled. the ruddy
colorins sweeping back into his
checks.
Damn me. Keith, you came near
giving me a shock" he said. 1erkily.
Shouldn't be SO careless-not sure
my hearts just risht-tendency to
apoplexy. too-sot to be guarded
against. Now, let me tell you some-
thine-msybe you buried some poor
devil out at Cimmaron Crossing-but
It wasn't willis Waite. How do
knowf Because saw him, and talked
with him yesterdsy-damn mo. II l
Aidnsf rtSht hare in this town"