The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1912-04-24
CHAPTER xxxvl.
The Duel in the Desert.

Neith rode straight forward into the
rnrdy desolation. squirting his horse
rfB swift trot. After one glance
harvard as they clambered up the
sAap bank. glance which revealed
fEVe's slender5form in the cabin door,
hh syes never turned again that way.
VIZ had mans stern work to do out
Imier. and his purpose could not be
szryed. his firmness OF hand and
ketaness OF eye affected, by any
th1Ight OF her His lips compressed,
an fingers gripping the rein, he drove
all regretful memory from his MIND,
zlTai every nerve within him throbbed
o. anison with his present purpose,
liz vas right; he knew he was right.
d vas not hate, not even revenge,
sifkh had set him forth, leaving love
toffud, bat honor--the honor OF the
sHth. and OF the frontier, OF his an.
rfstfy and his training honor that
arrse him now TO meet Hawley face
% kace. man to man. TO settle the feud
Erwccn them for all time. And he
rsts smiling, gladly, as to a tryst,
nps that he was at last alone, free
h the desert.
The hours passed. the sun rising
lsirhar IN the blazing blue OF the sky;
Six horse. wearled by the constant
va OF the sand, had long since slowed
psn to walk. the last dim blur OF
:, I = 5ottsggoods along tho Fork had
tEppearod;, and the rider sweyed IN
af saddle the dead lllelessness OIL
Hks and desert dulling his brain. Yet
Arhad not forgotten his errand -rous'
tar constantly from lethargy to sweep
th shaded eyes about the rounded
kuhSnn. keenly marking the slightest
shIfiw across the sands. taking ad.
Faza4ee of every drift TO give him
Eltsi viewpoint. rising In his stirrnps
~ scan the leagues OF desolatlor
ttmd twice he drew his reyolyeN
iTsu out It's sheath. tested II, ana
Siupsd in a fresh cartridge, return
,Alhe Weapon more lightly to its
~. the nap Of the holster turned
ifask and held open by his les Tbs
sur beat upon him like a ball OF iire
ths hot sand ninging the blaze back
tl'g his face He pushed back tht
tIE'sr part OF his shirt and drink q
sVallo& OF tepld water from can
fem strapped behind the saddle HI
syra acbed with the glare. until he
nrt fantastic rcd and yelldw shapes
sEa.rg dizzlly before him This
keiriness Of the long night presses
aptu his eye-halls he felt the strain
III The past hours. the lack Of FOOD
~ need Of rest Ills head nodded
s9f ne brought himself 10 life again
ain a jerk and muttered word, star
&C suit into the dim. formless dis.
aarsc. Lord. II there was only some
mag moving something he coulo
snfeentrate his attention upon; some
mug 10 rest tho straining eyes!
hat there was nothing. absolutely
Assaing Just that seemingly endless
stafch Of sand, circled by the blazing
zts. the wind sweeping its surface
sandless and hot as though from the
otis Of hell; no stir, no motion, no
nlHement Of anything animate or in,
ANIMATE 10 break the awful monotony
Dmtht It was death everywhere! his
ecl1ng eyes rested on nothing but
shst was typical OF death. Even the
Ar1t waves seemed fantastic, gro
fcwne. assuming spectral forms. os
ihpugh ghosts beckoned and danced
n me haze. Turing him on TO become
sDF Of themselves Keith was not
apnEmer, nor one to yield easily to
sud- brain fancies, but the mad deliri-
am u loneliness gripped him, and he
ana to struggle back to sanity. beat
tnE his hands upon his breast to stir
RnrH the sluggish circulation Of his
klusd. and talking to the horse in
sirxnge 1everlshness.
with every step OF advance the
ikusding silence seemed more pro.
ltrad. more deathlike. He got to
ntrking the sand ridges, the slight va
REGIONS giving play to the brain. Way
~ 70 the left was the mirage OF
z1e. apparently so real that he had
d, battle with himself to keep from
nraing aside, He dropped forward
hflEhe saddle, his head hanging low,
ssbIinded by the incessant sun glare
could no longer bear the glitter OF