The Wagner leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1912-1912, 1912-03-22

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bank; the man flung up his hand, stag
gered, then went stumbling up the
stream, knee deep in water. He made
a dozen yards, Keeling as though
drunk, and fell forward. face down
across q spit Of sand. Keith stared
out at the black, motionless shape,
felt along the ground for his lost gun,
and arose to his feet. Bristoe had
turned over the dead body at the
foot Of the steps, and was peering
down into the ~upturned face.
ITS the Indian" he said grimly,
Sanchez must a. mistook him fer
one of US, and shot the poor devil"
And Sanchez himself Is out yonder
on that sand-pit," and Keith pointed;
then lifted his voice t. make it carry
across the stream. Come on over,
Doctor, you and Neb. We've got the
gang. Bring that body out there
along with you"
The Bar X" man waded out to
help, and the three together laid the
dead Mexican outlaw on the bank, be-
side the Indian he had shot down in
his effort to escape. Keith stood for
a moment bending low to look curl
ously into the dead face-wrinkled,
SCARED. still featuring cruelty, the
thin lips drawn back In q snarl. What
scenes Of horror those eyes had gazed
upon during fifty years Of crime;
what suffering Of men, women, chill
dren; what deeds of rapine; what ex-
amples of merciless hate. Juan
Sanchex!-the very sound of the name
made the blood run cold. Dead or
alive!" Well, they had him At last
dead; and the plainsman shuddered,
as he turned away.
Z Taking Fairbain with him and has
tily reviewing late occurrences to him.
Keith crossed owe to the corral, real
izing that their work-his work-was
not wholly done until Hawley had
been located. With this quest in mind
he STROBE straight to the blackboard
ed giant who had guarded Hope from
Sheridan.
What Is your manner" he asked
sharply.
!. The man looked up scowling.
"Hatchett," be answered grufly.
Well, Hatchett, l am going to ask
| you q question or two, and advise you
to reply just about IS straight as you
know how. I am In no mood tonight
for any ~foolishness. Where is Black
Bart Hawley?"
How in hell should I known"
you do know, just the mt Per-
you know near enough where he Is,
and where he has been since you left
Sheridan"
IF I do. I'm damned II I'll tell you"
mo? Well now, Hatchett, listen to
me-" and Keith's voice had In 1t the
click Of q steel trap. You'll either
answer, and answer straight, or wen
hang o to that cottonwood in about
i've minutes. II you want . chance
for your miserable life you answer
me We have our way Of treating your
kind out In this country. Sit up, you
brute! Now where did Hawley 60 aft
er he left your"
ITO Fort Larned."
After those fresh horses?"
YES"
He didn't bring them to you; I
know that. Where has he been since?"
"Topeky and Leavenworth,"
How do you knowr
0XYA -~&k - 49, ~ 49, A>.A~a
brought"
Hand 1t over"
Keith took the dirty slip Of paper
the man reluctantly extracted from
his belt, and Fairbain lit matches
while he ran his eyes hastily over the
lines. AS he ended he crushed the
paper between his fingers. and walked
away to the end Of the corral. He
wanted to be alone. to think, to decide
definitely upon what he ought to do.
Hawley, according to the schedule
Just read, must have left Larned alone
early the day before: this night he
would be camped at the water-hole;
with daybreak he expected to resume
his lonely journey across the desert
to the Salt Fork. For years Keith had
lived . primitive life. and In some
ways his thought had grown print
i've. His code Of honor was that OF
the border. ttnged by that Of the South
before the war. The antagonism exist
ing between him and this gambler was
personal. private. deadly-not an af-
fair for any others-outsiders-to med
die with. He could wait here, and
permit Hawley to be made captive:
could watch him ride unsuspectingly
into the power Of these armed men,
and then turn him over to the law to be
dealt with The very thought nause-
ated him. That would be q towards
act, leaving . stain level to be eradi-
Gated. No, he must meet this a.
became . man. and now. now before
Hope 30 much - dreamed Of his pur-
poee-Aye. and before he spoke an
other word Of love to Hope. He
wheeled shout fully decided On his
course, his duty. and met Fairbain