Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-07-25

-.s-- z11oCaE1 over the whole thing.
They were outside now, and the
first touch OF the cool night air, the
hrst glance up and down the noisy
street, brought Keith to himself, his
mind ready to grapple with the prob
lem of Hopes disappearance 1t
seemed to him he had already looked
everywhere, yet there was nothing to
do except to continue the search, only
more systematically. The sheriff as
sumed control-clear headed, and &C
customed to that sort of thing-call-
ing in Hickock and his deputies to
assist, and fairly bling the town
from one end to the other. Not rat
could have slipped unobserved
through the net he dragged down that
long street, or it's intersecting alleys
but it was without result; nowhere
was there found trace of either the
gambler or his companion.
They dug into saloons, bagnios,
dance-halls, searching back rooms
and questioning inmates; they routed
out every occupant of the hotel in
vaded boarding houses, and explored
shacks and tents, Indifferent to the
protests of those disturbed-but with
out result. They found several who
knew Hawley, others who had seen the
two together passing by the lighted
windows of the Trocadero, but beyond
that-nothing. Convinced, at last that
the parties sought We're not alive in
Sheridan, and beginning to fear the
worst, the searchers separated, and
began spreading forth over the black
surrounding prairie, and by the light
OF lanterns seeking any semblance of
trail. There was no lack of vclun-
teers for this work, but it was Gay
light before the slightest clue pre-
sented itself Keith, with the sheriff
and two or three others, had CROPPED
their way outward until, with the first
flush of dawn, they found themselves
at the opening of a small rocky ya-
vine, near the foot of Boots HILL"
Peering down into it's still Swallowed
depths, they discerned what appeared
like body lying there motionless.
Keith sprang down beside it, and turn
ed the rigid form over until the dead
face was revealed in the wan light
1t was that of the red moustached
Scott. He staggered back at the rec
ignition, barely able to calculate.
Here, Sheriff! This is one of Haw-
1ey's men!"
The sheriff was bending instantly
above the corpse, searching for the
truth.
You know the fellow?"
Yes, his name was Scott"
We'll, he's been dead some hours.
at least six l should say; shot just
above the eye, and good Heavens!
look here. Keith, at the size OF this
| bullet wound: that's no mans gun in
this country-no more than '32' I'd
say"
Miss Waite had small revolver
She must have shot the fellow. But
why did they leave the body here to
be discoyered?"
| The sheriff arose to his feet, prowl-
ing about in the Frightening glow OF
the dawn.
| They were in hurry to get away,
and knew he wouldn't be found before
morning. A six hours start means q
good deal. They did drag him back
out OF sight-look here. This was
where the struggle took place, and
here Is where the man FELL" tracing
1t out upon the ground. The girl
put up stiff fight, too-see where
they dragged her up the path. From
the footprints there must have been
half dozen in the party. Get back
out of the way, Sims, while I follow
their trail"
1t was plain enough, now they had
daylight to assist them, and led around
the edge of the hill. A hundred feet
away they came to where horses had
been standing, the trampled sod evil
dencing they must have been there for
some considerable time. Keith and
tho sheriff circled out until they final
ly struck the trail of the party, which
led forth southwest across the prairie.
Seven horses. one being led light"
said the former. That was Scott's,
probably"
That's the whole story" replied
the sheriff, staring off toward the
bare horizon. and the cusses have at
least six hours the start with fresh
horses" He turned around. We'll.
boys, that takes EN- out of my baili-
wick. l reckon. Some of the rest OF
you will have to run that gang down"