The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1912-04-12

the fugitlves received a fresh relay
of horses down there somewhere, and
crossed the Arkansas, he felt positive
ly sure as TO their destination. But 1t
would be useless pushing on after
them in the present shape OF his party
their horses worn out, and Waite
reeling giddily In the saddle If Haw-
ley's outfit crossed the upper ford, to.
ward which they were evidently head
Ing, and struck through the sand hills,
then they we're making for the refuge
| of that lone cabin on Salt Fork
| Should this prove true, then 1t was
| probable the gambler had not even
| yet discovered the identity OF Hope,
| for II he had, he would scarcely ven
ture upon taking her there knowing
that Keith would naturally suspect
the spot But Keith would not be like
ly to personally take up the trail in
search for Christie Maclaire II must
have been Hawley then who had left
the party and ridden east, and up to
that time he had not found out his
mistake. Yet II he brought out the
fresh animals the chances were that
Hopes identity would be revealed.
Bristoe, who had turned aside to ex-
anime the straying horse. came trot-
ting up.
Belonged to their outfit all right,
Cap" he reported, carries the double
cross brand and that shebang is
upon the Smokey; saddle gals still
bleeding"
Waite was now suffering SO acute.
ly they were obliged to halt before
gaining sight of the river, finding, for.
tunately water-hole fed by a spring,
AS soon as the sick man could be
made comfortable. Keith gave to the
others his conclusions. and listened to
what they had to say. Bristoe favor.
ed clinging to the trail. even though
they must travel slowly, but Fairbain
Insisted that Waite must be taken to
some town where he could be given
necessary care Keith finally decided
the matter
None can be more anxious to reach
those fellows that am. he declared,
but | know that country out south,
and well never get through to the
Salt Fork without fresh horses. Be
sides, as the doctor says. we've got to
take care Of Waite If we find things
as / expect well ride for Carson City,
and re-outfit there What's more, we
won't lost much time-it's shorter
ride from there TO the cabin than from
here"
BY morning the General was able to
sit his saddle again, and leaving him
with Neb TO follow slowly. the others
spurred forward. discovered an outlet
through the bluff into the valley, and
crossed the Santa Fe Trail II was
not easy to discover where those in
advance had passed this point. but
they found evidence of late camp in
a little grove of cottonwoods beside
the river There were traces OF two
trails leading TO the spot, one being
that OF the same five horses they had
been following so long, the other not
10 easily read. as 1t had been trav-
ersed in both directions, the different
hoof marks obliterating each other
Bristoe, creeping about on hands and
knees, studied the signs with the eyes
Of an Indian.
You kin see the difference yere |
whar the ground is soft, Cap" he said,
ointing TO some tracks palmer than |
he others. This yere boss had a
.ider, but the rest OF EN- was led; |
thet's why they've bungled up ther |
trail so. An 1t want Their same
bunch tibet went back east what come |
from thar-see tibet split hoofi thar |
amt no split hoof Printing Their other
way-but yere is the mark OF the crit
ter thet puts her foot down so fur
outside tibet we've been a trailln' from
Sheridan. an she's Printing east, an
being led Now. let's see whar the
bunch went from yere with thet split
hoof."
This was not so easily accom-.
plished owing to the nature OF the
ground. but at last the searchers
stumbled onto tracks close in under
the bank and one OF these revealed
the split hoof
That makes II clear, Ben" ex-
claimed Keith. decidedly. staring out
across the river at the white sand
hills. They have kept on the edge OF
the water, making for the ford. which
Is yonder at the bend They are out
in the sand desert by this time riding
for the Salt Fork. Whoever he was
the fellow brought them five horses,
and the five old ones were taken east
again on the trail. The girl is still
with the party. and Wen go into Car
son City and reoutfit-"