Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-05-23
and the mules"

and the mules
"You say there was no tracer"
Nothing to travel on after forty
eight hours--a posse started out next
morning, soon as they found him
! when they got back they reported hav-
ing run the fellows as far as Gin
maron Crossing-there they got across
and escaped"
Who led the posse?"
"A man called Black. think" he
| said
BLACK Bart?"
yes, that's the name; 80, reckon
you didn't bury Willis Waite this time,
Captain. You wouldn't have. thought
he was a dead one If you had heard
him swear while he was telling the
story-it did him proud; never heard
him do better since the second day at
Gettysburg his ear shot off
then, and had to fix him up--Lord
but he called me few things"
Keith sat silent. fully convinced
| now that the doctor was telling the
truth, yet more puzzled than eve.
over the peculiar situation in whica
he found himself involved.
What brought the General up
here?" he questioned, finally.
Il haven't much idea," was the
reply. Il don't think asked him d.
rectly. l wasn't much interested.
There was a hint dropped, however,
now you speak about it. He's keen after
those papers, and doesn't feel salts
ned regarding the report of the posse.
It's my opinion he's trailing after
| Black Bart"
The dining-room was thinning out,
and they were about the only ones left
at the tables. Keith stretched him
self, looking around
Well Doctor, am very glad to
have met you again, and to learn
| Waite is actually alive. This Is a
rather queer affair but will have to
work itself out. Anyway, l am too
dead tired tonight to hunt after clues
in midst of this babel. I've been In
the saddle most of the time for a
week, and have got to find bed"
| Il reckon you won't discover such
a Thing here" dryly. Got seven in
room upstairs, and others corded
along tho hall. Better share my cell
only thing to do"
That would be asking too much
can turn in at the corral with Neb;
| I've slept in worse places"
Couldn't think of it, Keith" and
the doctor got up. Besides, you
sleep at night. don't you?"
Usually, yes" the other admitted.
Then you won't bother me any
no doctor sleeps at night In Sheridan;
| that's our harvest time. Come on,
and I'll show you the way. When
morning comes I'll rout you out and
take my turn"
Keith had enjoyed considerable ex-
| perience in frontier hotels, but moth
! ing before had ever quite equalled this,
of mushroom town, which merely ex-
| listed by grace of the temporary rail-
| way terminus 1t had been hastily and
| fiimsily constructed, SO 1t could be
transported elsewhere at moments
| notice Every creak of bed echoed
! from wall to wall. The thin partt-
tons often failed to reach the ceiling
by foot or two, and the slightest
noise aroused the entire floor. And
there was noise of every conceivable
| kind, in plenty, from the blare Of a
band at the Pioneer Dance Hall oppo-
site, to the energetic cursing of the
cook in the rear. A discordant din
of voices surged up from the street
below-laughter, shouts, the shrieks Of
women, rattle of dice, an occasional
| pistol shot, and the continuous yell
/ Ing of Industrious "barkers. There
was no safety anywhere. An exploding
revolver in No. AZ was quite likely to
| disturb the peaceful slumbers OF the
innocent occupant of No. Is, and every
sound of quarrel in the thronged bar
| room below caused the ledger to curl
up in momentary expectation OF a
stray bullet coursing toward him
through the floor. With this to trou-
BILE him, he could lie there and hear
everything that occurred within and
without. Every creak, stamp, and
snore was faithfully reported; every
curse, blow, snarl reechoed to his
ears. Inside was hell; outside was
Sheridan.
Wearied and half dead, as Keith
was, sleep was simply impossible. He
heard heavy feet tramping up and
down the hall; once a drunken man
endeavored vainly to open his door;
not far away there was scufffe, and
the sound of body falling down stairs.
In some distant apartment fellow
was struggling to draw off his tight
boots skipping about on one foot
amid much profanity. That the boot
conquered was evident when the man
crawled into the creaking bed, an
nouncing defiantly. IF the landlord
wants them boots off, let him come
an pull 'em off" Across the hall
was rattle of chips, and the voices
of several men, occasionally raised IN
AMER Now and then they would