The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-03-29
CHAPTER lIi.-(continued.)

The trail, continually skirting the
high bluff and bearing farther away
srom the river. turned sharply into a
narrow ravine. There was a consid-
cradle break In the rocky barrier
here, leading back for perhaps a nun
Sred yards. and the plainsman turned
his horse that way. dismounting when
out OF sight among the boulders. He
could rest here until night with little
danger of discovery. He lay down on
the rocks, plllowing his head on the
saddle, but his brain was too active
to permit sleeping Finally he drew
The letters from out his pocket. and
began examining them. They yield
ed very little information, those TAX
en- from the older man having no en-
yelopes TO show to whom they had
been addressed. The single document
Sound In the pocket OF the other was
q memorandum of account at the
Pioneer Store at Topeka, charged to
John Sib!ey. and marked paid. This
then must have been the
mans name. as the letters to the 9th.
o. began occasionally Dear VIII"
They were missives such as a wife
might write to a husband long alb
sent. yet upon q mission of deep in
ferest TO both. Keith could not fully
determine what this mission might be,
as the persons evidently understood
each other so thoroughly that nero
fallusion took the place of detail.
Twice the name Phyllis was mention
cd. and once a Fred" was also re-
lferred to, but In neither instance
~Iclearly enough to reveal the relation
ship. although the latter appeared to
be pleaded for. Certain references
caused the belief that these letters had
been mailed from some small Mis-.
souri town, but no name was men
.honed. They were Invariably signed
MARY" The only other paper Keith
discovered was a brief itinerary of the
Banta Fe trail extending as far west
as the Ration Mountains. giving the
usual camping spots and places where
water was accessible. He slipped the
papers back into his pocket with a
distinct feeling OF disappointment.
and lay back staring up at the little
strip OF blue sky. Tho silence was
profound. even his horse standing mo
aionless, and finally he fell asleep.
The sun had disappeared, and even
the gray of twilight was fading out OF
the sky. when Keith returned again
10 consciousness. aroused by his
horse rolling or the soft turf. He
awoke thoroughly refreshed, and
'sager to get away on his long nights
ride. A cold lunch, hastily eaten, for
b are would have been dangerous,
and he saddled up and was of. trot.
eng out of tho narrow ravine and into
ethe broad trail. which could be fol.
bowed without difficulty under the dull
CLEAN of the stars. Horse and rider
were soon at their best, the animal
swinging unurged into the long. easy
Rpe Of prairie travel. the fresh air
tanning the, mans face as he leaned
Sorward. Once they halted to drink
from a narrow stream, and then push
I'D on, hour after hour, through the
deserted night. Keith had little fear
nf Indian raiders in that darkness.
and every stride of his horse brought
him closer to the settlements and
surther removed from danger. Yet
ayes and ears were alert to every
shadow and sound. Once, It must
.Aave been after midnight, he drew his
pony sharply back into a rock shadow
Int the noise of something approach
ing from the east. The stage to Santa
re ratified past. the four mules trot-
tng swiftly. a squad of troopers nd
ing hard behind. 1t was merely a
Humping shadow sweeping swiftly
past; he could perceive the dim out
Zines Of driver and guard. the soldiers
pounding Of hoofs. the creak Of axles,
and then the apparition disappeared
INTO the black void. He had not call
led out-what vas the use? Those peo-
pie would never pause to hunt down
prairie outlaws, and their guard was
sufficient TO prevent attack. They ac-
know lodged but n duty-to get the
mail through on time.
The dust Of their passing still IN the
nlr, heltn roue on, the noise dyin0
away In his a As the hours pass
cd. his horse wearied and had to be
spurred into the swifter stride. but
che man seemed tireless. The sun was
m hour high when they climbed the
Bong hill. and Hoped into Carson City.
,fhe cantonment was to the right. but
Keith. having NO report to make. rode
directly ahead Gown the one long
street to q livery corral. leaving his
sAorse there. and sought the nearest
restaurant.
Exhaustsd by = night of high play
I'D deep dRnki1g. the border town
EVas slsspiag q - dsbauch. salooas
~ U0h11og - snsnt ~ sorsts
almost desertDA- - KAtth. wAsae -
nas acaualmn1Do M - DaAO -