The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1912-04-12

|
other gravely, lifting his eyes to the
faro sky line. Il reckon from the
new tibet como In last night from
Hays. thar Amt no Injuns a rangin'
thet way list now They're too blame
busy out on the Arickaree Maybe
them fellers heerd the same story, an
thet's what makes EN- so bold"
What story? I've heard nothing"
why, It's like this, Cap drawing
out the words, 'leastways, thets how
1t come inter Sheridan; Sandy For
sythe an his outfit, mostly plainsmen,
started while ago across Solomon
River an down Beaver Crick headin'
fer Fort Wallace over on the Aricka.
rec, the whole damned Injun outfit
Jumped 'em. From all heerd, thar
must bin nigh onto three thousan'
O. the varmints, droppin' on 'em all at
oncet. hell.bent-fer-election, with OIL
Roman Nose leadin' EN-. It was
shore good fight. fer the scouts got
onto an island an stopped the bucks
Two OF the fellers got through to
Wallace yist'day. an a courier brought
the news in ter Hays. The lnjuns had
them boys cooped up thar fer eight
days before them fellers got out. an
reckon it'll be two or three days more
fore theenigger sogers they sent out
ter help ever git thar. So thar won't
be no Injuns long this route we're
travelin. fer the whole kit an ca.
xfft Az
And you suppose Hawley knew
about this2"
why not, Cap? He was hangin'
round till after ten o'clock las night.
an It was all over town by then
faint likely he's got an outfit long
with him thet's lost any Injuns.
don't know whar they're bound, no
MORN you do. but reckon they're
reasonably sure they've got clar
road"
They pulled up on the banks OF
small stream to water their horses,
and ate hastily. The trail led di
rectly across. and with only the slight
est possible delay they torded the
shallow water. ana mounted the OPP
posite bank A hundred yards farther
on Bristoe refined UP suddenly, point
ing down at the trail
"One boss left the bunch here" he
declared positively. Keith swung him
selr out OF the saddle, and bent over
to study the tracks There was no
doubling the evidence-a single horse
the only one shod in the bunch
with a rider on its back, Judging from
the deep imprint OF the hoofs, had
swerved sharply to the left OF the
main body, heading directly into the
southeast The plainsman ran for
ward for hundred yards TO assure
himself the man had not circled back;
at that point the animal had been
spurred into lope. Keith rejoined
The others.
Must have been about daylight
they reached here" he said, picking
up his dangling rein. and looking into
The questioning faces about him The
fellow that rode out yonder alone was
heading straight toward Carson City
He is going for fresh horses, figure
It. and win rejoin the bunch some
place down on the Arkansas. The
aers intend TO keep farther west,
here they won't be seen, What do
you say. Penn"
"Thets the way It looms UP ter me,
capi most likely twas the boss him
self"
Wen. whoever 1t was, the girl Is
still with the others, and their trail
is the easiest to follow. Well keep
after them"
They pushed on hour after hour. as
long as daylight lasted or they could |
the faintest trace to follow.
Already half-convinced that he knew
the ultimate destination OF the fugi.
lives, Keith yet dare not venture on |
forward during the night, thus
possibly losing the trail and being
compelled to retrace their steps 1t
was better to proceed slow and sure.
Besides, judging from the condition OF
their own horses. the pursued would
be compelled TO halt somewhere TO
rest their stock also. Their trail even
revealed the fact that they were tray
cling far less rapidly than at first. al
though evidently making every effort
TO cover the greatest possible dis
lance before stopping Just as the
dusk shut In close about them they
rode down into the valley OF Shaw.
nee Fork, and discovered signs of
recent camp at the edge OF the stream.
Here. apparently, judging from the
ashes, and the trampled
grass along the Fork the party must
have halted for several hours. BY
lighting matches Keith an6 Bristoe
discerned where some among them
had laid down to sleep, and. through
various signs, decided hey must have
again departed some five or six hours
previous, one OF their horses limping
as If lame. The tired pursuers went
INTO camp at the same spot. but with.
nut venturing to light any fire, merely
a cold bite, and dropping
'ff to sleep with heads pillowed upon
heir saddles.
They were upon the trail again with
he first dimness of the gray dawn,
vading the waters OF the Fork, and
striking forth across the dull level OF
brown prairie and white alkall to-