The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-03-15

| heref. he questioned, finally.
 T haven't much idea" was the l reply. T don't think asked him di- rectly. I wasn't much interested. There was a hint dropped. however, now you speak about it. He's keen after those papers, and doesn't feel satis- fled regarding the report of the posse. It's my opinion he's trailing after Black Bart" The dfning-room was thinning out and they were about the only ones left at the tables. Keith stretched him self, looking around.
 Well, Doctor, I am very glad to have met you again. and to learn Waite is actually alive. This Is rather queer affair, but will have to work itself out. Anyway, I am too dead tired tonight to hunt after clues in midst of this babel. I've been in the saddle most of the time for a week. and have got to find bed"
 "I reckon you won't discover such q thing here," dryly. Got seven in room upstairs, and others corded along the hall. Better share my cell- only thing to do."
 That would be asking too much I can turn in at the corral with Neb; I've slept in worse places"
 Couldn't think of it, Keith" and the doctor got up. Besides, you sleep at night, don't you?"
 Usually, yes," the other admitted.
 Then you won't bother me any no doctor sleeps at night in Sheridan; that's our harvest time. Come on. and I'll show you the way. When morning comes I'll rout you out and take my turn"
 Keith had enjoyed considerable ex- perience in frontier hotels, but noth- ing before had ever quite equalled this, the pride of Sheridan. The product of a mushroom town, which merely ex- isted by grace of the temporary rail- way terminus, 1t had been hastily and fimsily constructed, so 1t could be transported elsewhere at a moments notice. Every creak of bed echoed from wall to wall. The thin parh- tions often failed to reach the ceiling by foot or two, and the slightest noise aroused the entire floor. And there was noise of every conceivable kind, in plenty, from the blare of a band at the Pioneer Dance Hall oppo- site, to the energetic curstng of the cook in the rear. A discordant din of voices surged up from the street below-laughter, shouts, the shrieks of women, a rattle of dice, an occasional pistol shot, and the continuous yell ing of industrious 'barkers." There was no safety anywhere An exploding revolver in No. 47 was quite likely to disturb the peaceful slumbers of the innocent occupant of No. 15, and every sound of quarrel in the thronged bar room below caused the lodger to curl up in momentary expectation Of stray bullet coursing toward him through the floor. With this to trou- ble him. he could lie there and hear everything that occurred within and without Every creak, stamp, and snore was faithfully reported; every curse, blow, snarl re-echoed to his ears. Inside was hell; outside was Sheridan.
 Wearied, and half dead, as Keith was, sleep was simply impossible. He heard heavy feet tramping up and down the hall; once a drunken man endeavored vainly to open his door; not far away there was scufde, and the sound of a body falling down stairs In some distant apartment fellow was struggling to draw oil his tight boots, skipping about on one foot amid much profanity. That the boot conquered was evident when the man crawled into the creaking bed, an nouncing defiantiy, 'If the landlord wants them boots of, let him come an pull lem off" Across the hall was a rattle of chips, and the voices of several men. occasionally raised in anger; Now and then they would stamp on the floor as an order for liquid refreshments from below. From somewhere beyond, the long-drawn melancholy howl of . distressed dog greeted the rising moon.
 Out from all this pandemonium Keith began to unoonsciously detect the sound of voices talking in the room to his, left In the lull of oh- structing sound few words reached him through, the slight open space be- tween wall and ceiling. es
 Hell, Bill, what's the use goin' out again. when, we haven't the pricer'
 "Oh, we might find Bart somewhers, and, he'd stake us Iguess l know enough to make him loosen up. Come on; I'm soin."
 '"Not- me; this town Is too near Fort, Hays; I'm liable to run into some of the fellows."
 A. chair scraped across the floor as Bill arose to his feet; evidently from the noise he had been drinking. but Keith heard him lift the latch of the do0r.A a5-e z> -'. # g--
 rAn right. Willoughby." hs said. thickly, ''In. try my luck, an if see Bart I'll tell him yer here So long"
 He shuMsd along the hall and went, half sliding, down stairs. and