The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-02-29
A TALE OF THE PLAINS
Copyright, A. G. EcClurz d Co. l9l0.>
By RANDALL PARRISH

With every step of advance the
brooding silence seemed more pro-
found, more deathlike. He got to
marking the sand ridges, the slight va
riations giving play to the brain. way
off to tae left was the mirage OF
lake, apparently so real that he had
to battle with himself to keep from
turning aside. He dropped forward
IN the saddle, his head hanging low,
so blinded by the incessant sun glare
he could no longer bear the glitter OF
that horrible ocean of sand. II vas
noon now-noon, and ne had been rid
Ing steadily seven hours The thought
brought his blurred eyes again 10 the
horizon. Where could he IL. che man
he sought in the heart Cf This soil
tude? Surely he Should be hers by
now, If he had left the water-hoie at
dawn. Could he have gone the longer
route, south to the FORK? The posi-
bility of such thing scared through
him like hot iron driving the dull
ness from bis brain, tho lethargy from
his limbs. Go5l no. F1te could never
play sutn q SCI ~ t.ick as that! The
man mut shave 5een delayed; had
failed 10 aYa camp early-some-
where abea, yonder where the blue
maze ma Led the union of sand and
ally, hs was surely coming, riding half
dead, and dropping in the saddle.
Again Keith rose in his stirrups,
rubbing the mist out of his eyes that
he might see. clearer, and stared
ahead. What was that away out yon-
der? shadow? a spot dancing before
his tortured vision? or moving, Hv-
ing something which he actually saw?
He could not tell, he could not be
sure, yet he Strengthened up expect
Rntly, shading his eyes, and never
losing sight CT the object. It moved,
grew larger, darker, more real-yet
how it crawled, crawled, crawled to-
ward him. 1t seemed as if the vague,
shapeless thing would never take
form, never stand out revealed against
the sky so he could determine the
truth. He had forgotten all else-the
silent desert, the blazing sun, the
burning wind-all his soul concen-
trated on that speck yonder. Sudden
" it disappeared-a swale in the sand
probably-and, when it rose into view
again, he uttered q cry Of joy-it was
. horse and rider!
Little by little they drew nearer
one another, two black specks in that
OF Nf fhA mi rnnvinu
living things under the brazen circle
Of the sky. Keith was ready now, his
eyes bright, the cooked revolver
gripped hard in his hand. The space
between them narrowed, and Hawley
saw him, caught glimpse of the face
under the broad hat brim, the burn
Ing eyes surveying him. With an oath
be stopped his horse, dragging at his
gun, surprised, dazed, yet instantly
understanding. Keith also halted, and
across the intervening desert the eyes
Of the two men met in grim defiance.
The latter wet his dry lips, and spoke
shortly:
II reckon you know what this
means, Hawley, and why 1 am here.
We're Southerners both of us, and
We settle our own personal affairs.
You've got to fight me now, man to
man."
The gambler glanced about him, and
down at his horse. If he thought of
Night 1t was useless. His lip curled
with contempt.
Damn your talking, Keith" he re-
turned savagely. Let's have it over
with" and spurred his horse. The
gun Of the other came up.
"Wait!" and Hawley paused, drag
ging at his rein. Zone of us most like
ly is going to die here; perhaps both.
But if either survives he'll need
horse to get out of this alive. Dis
mount; I'll do the same; step away
SO the horses are out of range, and
then We'll fight it QUITS that
square?"
Without q word, his eyes cleaning
with cunning hatred, the gambler
swung down from his saddle onto the
sand, his horse interposed between
him and the other. Keith did the
same, his eyes peering across the
hack of his animal.
"Now." he said steadily, when l
count three drive your horse aside.
and Let go-are you ready?"
Damn you-yes!"
Then look out-one! two! three!"
The plainsman struck his horse
with the quirt In his left hand and
sprang swiftly aside so as to clear the
Aank Of the animal, his shooting arm
lung out There was q fash of flame
cross Hawley's saddle, a sharp re-
port and Keith reeled backward.
dropping to his knees, one hand clutch
ing at the sand. Again Hawley fred,
but the horse. startled by the double
report, leaped aside, and the ball went
wild. Keith wheeled about, steadying
himself with his outstretched hand,
and let drive, pressing the trigger, un-
til. through the haze over his eyes, he
saw Hawley go stumbling down, shoot
ing wildly as he fell. The man never
moved, and Keith endeavored to get
up, his gun still held ready, the smoke
circling about them. He had been
shot treacherously, as cowardly cur
might shoot, and lie could not clear
his mind Of tie thought that this last