The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-09-21
tOopyvishA A. @. McCiurg d Co, isio.)
CHAPTER xXxVl.
The Duel In the Desert.

I ne pucI w the DESERT.
Keith rode straight forward into the
sandy desolation, squirting his horse
into a swift trot. After one glance
backward as they clambered UP the
steep bank, a glance which revealed
Hopes slender form in the cabin door,
his eyes never turned again that way.
lie had mans stern work. to do out
yonder, and his purpose could not be
swerved, his firmness OF hand and
keenness of eye. affected, by any
thought of her. His lips compressed.
his fingers gripping the rein, he drove
all regretful memory from his mind,
until every nerve within him thrObbed
in unison with his present purpose.
He was right; he knew he was right.
II was not hate, not even revenge,
which had set him forth, leaving love
behind, but honor---the honor of the
South, and of the frontier. of his an.
cestry and his training -honor that
drove him now to meet Hawley face
to face. man to man, TO settle the feud
between them for all time. And he
rode smiling. gladly, as TO tryst.
HON lndl ut was at ldSl uipiNs NV
in the desert.
The hours passed, the sun rising
higher In the blazing blue OF the sky,
the horse, wearied by the constant
pull OF the sand. had long since slowed
down to walk; the last dim blur of
the cottonN GODS along he Fork had
disappeared; and the f1der swayed in
the saddle. the dead lfelessness OF
sky and desert duling his brain. Yet
he had not forgotten his errand-rous-
ing constantly from lethargy to sweep
his shaded eyes about the rounded
horizon. keen'y marking the slightest
shadow acrosJ the sands, taking ad'
vantage of ,very drift to give hun
wider vtewro ut, rising in his stirrups
to scan tn leagues of desolation
ahead Twice he drew his revolver
from out its sheath. tested it, ana
slipled in fresh cartridge, return
ing The weapon more lightly to It's
place, the flap of the holster turned
back and he'd open by his leg. In"
sun beat upon him like ball OF nre
the hot sand Ginging the blaze back
into his face He pushed back the
upper part OF his shirt and drank
swallow OF tepid water from can
teen strapped lehind the saddle. his
eyes ached with the glare. until he
saw fantastic red and yellow shape!
dancing DIZZY before him. Thu
WEAKNESS OF The long night PRESSED
upon his eye-balls; he fet the strain
OF the past hours, the lack OF food
the need of rest. His head nodded
and he brought himself to life agar
with jerk and a muttored word, star
ing out into the dim, formless dis
lance. Lord, II there was only some
thing moving; something he coul'
concentrate his attention upon; some
thing to rest he straining eyes!
But there was nothing, absolutel
nothng-just that seemingly endles
stretch OF Sand. circled by the biazln
sky. the win sweeping its surlac
soundless and hot. as though from tn
pits OF hell: 10 stir. no motion, n
movement of anything animate or II
animate to break the awful monoton!
Death! II was death everywhere! hi
aching eyes rested on nothing bu
what was typical OF death, Even tn
heat waves -.camed fantastic, gre
tesque, assuming spectral forms,
though ghosts beckoned and dance
In the haze, Turing him on to becom
one of themselves. Keith was not
dreamer, nor one 10 yield easily
such brain fancies, but the mad delir
um OF loneliness gripped him, and n
had to struggle back TO sanity. bea
ing his hands upon his breast to 81
anew the sluggish circulation OF hi
blood and talking TO the hcfss
strange feyerishness.
With every srep OF advance II
broodlng silence seemed more pr
found, more deathlike, lie got
marking the sand ridges, the slight VI
riations giving play 10 the brain. wa
OF to the left was the mirage of
lake, apparently 50 real thai he la
to battle with himself &c keep fro
turning aside. He dropped forwal
In the saddle. his head hanging lo'
70 blinded by tho iHcessant sun gla
10 could no longer hear the glitter