Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-02-29

forces augmented by two Volunteers
both men of experience-Keith. Waite.
Fairbain and Neb departed without
delay. not even pausing to eat but
taking the necessary food with them.
The sun had barely risen when they
took up the trail. Keith, and man
named Bristoe. slightly in advance.
their keen eyes marking, every slight
sign left for guidance across the bare
plain 1t was a comparatively easy
trail to follow, leading directly into
the southwest, the pony tracks cutting
into the sod as though the reckless
riders had punched together. their
horses trotting rapidly. Evidently no
attempt had been made at conceal
ment, and this served to convince the
pursuers that Haw1ey still believed
his captive to be Miss Maclaire. and
that her disappearance would not be
suspected until after nightfall. In
! that case the trail could not be dis
covered before the following morn
ing, and with such start. pursuit
would be useless. Tireless. steadily.
scarcely speaking except upon the
! business in hand, the pursuers pressed
| forward at an easy trot, Keith. In spite
of intense anxiety with the remem-
brance of old cavalry days to guide
him, insisting upon sparing the horses
as much as possible. This was to be
stern chase and long one, and 1t
was Impossible to tell when they could
procure remounts. The constant swerv-
ing of the trail westward seemed to
shatter his earlier theory, and,
brought him greater uneasiness. Fin
ally he spoke of it to the old plains,
man beside him.
What do you suppose those fellows
4 are heading so far west for, Ben
They are takingsa big risk of running
into hostiles.
"Oh, don't know, returned the
other gravely. lifting his eyes to the
far-off sky line Il reckon from the
1 news thet come In last night from
Hays, thar amt no Injuns rangtn
tibet way iist now. They're too blame
busy out on the Arickaree Maybe
/ them fellers heerd the same storysaan
/ thet's what makes 'em so bold"
A What story? I've heard nothing.
Why, It's like this. Cap, drawing
out the words, "leastways, thetss how
1t come inter Sheridan: Sandy For
sythe an his outfit, mostly plainsmen
Estarted while ago across Solomon
River an down Beaver Crick. headin
fer Fort Wallace. Over on the Aricka
4 rec, the whole damned Injun outfi
jumped EN-. From all heerd. thai
must bin nigh onto three thousan
O. the varmints. droppin on EN- all a
oncet, hell-bentfer-election with oil
Roman Nose q leadin' EN-. 1t wa
shore good fight, fer the scouts go
onto an island an stopped the bucks
Two of the fellers got through t
Wallace yist'day, am courier brough
the news In ter Hays. The Injuns hat
them boys cooped up thar fer etgh
days before them fsllers got out, an
reckon it'll be two or three days NOR,
fore the niger sogers they sent on
ter help ever git thar. So thar won
be no Injuns long this route we'r
travelin', fer the whole kit an ca
doodle are up thar yit after Sandy
And You suppose HaWley knew
about this?''
why not. Cap? He was hangin
round till after ten o'clock las night
an it was all over town by then
'Taint likely he's got an outfit Ion
with him thet's lost any Iniuns.
4 don't know whar they're bound. NJ
morn you do, but / reckon they'r,
reasonably sure they've got . ella
road 9
They pulled up on the banks OF /
small stream to water their horses
and ate hastily The trail led d
rectly across, and with only the Sigh