Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-05-16

His Feet.
terest to both. keith could not fully
determine what this mission might be.
as the persons evidently understood
each other so thoroughly that mere
allusion took the place Of detail.
Twice the name Phyllis was mention.
ed. and once a Fred" was also re-
ferred to. but in neither instance
clearly enough to reveal the relation.
ship, although the latter appeared TO
be pleaded for. Certain references
caused the belief that these letters had
been mailed from some small Mis-.
souri town. but no name was mon.
TONED. They were invariably slxned
Mary" The only other paper Keith
discovered was q brief itinerary OF the
Santa Fe trail extending as far west
as the Ration Mountains, giving the
usual camping spots and places where
water WAS accessible. He slipped the
papers back into his pocket with a
distinct feeling of disappointment
and lay back staring up at the litue
strip OF blue sky. The silence v-as
profound. even his horse standing mo-
tonless, and finally he fell asleep.
The sun had disappeared. and even
the gray Of twilight was fading cut os
the sky. when Ke'th returned again
to consciousness, aroused by his
horse rolling on the soft turf Ia
awoke thoroughly refreshed a-d
eager to get away on his long nirh+'s
ride. A cold lunch. hastily eaten. for
fire would have been dangerous.
and he saddled up and was off. trot.
ting out OF the narrow ravine and into
the broad trail which could he fol.
lowed without difficulty under the dull
CLEAN OF the stars Horse and rider
were soon at their best. the animal
swinging unurged into the long. easv
lope of prairie travel, the fresh air
tanning the mans face as he lesoad
forward. Once they halted to drinl,
from narrow stream. and then rush.
ed on. hour after hour, through the
deserted night. Keith had little fear
OF Indian raiders in that darkness.
and every stride OF his horse brought
him closer to the settlements and
further removed from danger. Yet
eyes and ears were alert to every
shadow and sound. Once, It must
have been after midnight he drew mia
pony sharply back into a rock shadow
at the noise of something approach.
Ing from the east The stage to Santa
Fe ratified past, the four mules trot.
ting swiftly. squad of troopers rid.
ing hard behind. 1t was merely
Jumping shadow sweeping swiftly
past; he could perceive the dim out.
lines OF driver and guard, the soldiers
swaying in their saddles, heard tina
pounding Of hoofs, the creak OF ax1es
and then the apparition disapueared
into the black void. He had not can.
ed out-what was the use? Those reo.
pie would never pause tc hunt down
prairie outlaws. and thei- guard vss
sunlCieAt 20 prevent attack They ac.
know'edged but one duty-to get the
mail through on time.
The dust of their passing still in the
air, Keith rode on, the noise dying
away In his rear. AS the hours pass
e., his horse wearied and had to BIZ
spurred into the swifter stride. but
the man seemed tireless. The sun was
an hour high when they climbed the
long hill, and loped into Carson City.
The cantonment was to the right. but
Keith, having no reuo rt to make, rode
directly ahead down the one long
street to a livery corral. leaving his
horse there, and sought the nearest
restaurant
Exhausted by a night OF high play
snd deep drinking, the border town
was sleeping off its debauch, saloons
and gambling dens silent, the streets
almost deserted. To Keith, whose for
ner acquaintance with the place had
been entirely after nightfall, the view
OF 1t now was almost a shock-the
miserable shacks. the gaudy saloon
fronts. the Uttered streets, the dingy
implanted hotel, the dirty flap of can
I vas, the unoccupied road, the dull
prairie sweeping away to the horizon
all composed a hideous picture be
meath the sun glare. He could scarce
ly find man to attend his horse, and
at the restaurant a drowsy Chinaman
had to be shaken awake. and fright
/ ened into serving him. He sat down
10 the miserable meal oppressed with
disgCst-never before had his life
! seemed so mean, useless. utterly with
out excuse.
He possessed the appetite Of the
open. of the normal man in perfect
physical health. and he ate heartily.
his eyes wandering out OF the open
window down the long. dismal street.
A drunken man lay in front Of the
Red Light" saloon sleeping undi
turbed; two cur dogs were snarling at
each other just beyond over a bone;
mover wagon was slowly coming
In across the open through a cloud of