The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-04-26

ypa know the rest-the girl was easy, D., lse she was so ignorant of her j. ltage. and nothing prevented Is. ley from winning except that Mc se got mad and decided to fight ' |. knocked over the whole thing"
 hey were outside now, and the first touch of the cool night air, the first glance up and down the noisy street, brought Keith to himself, his mind ready 10 grapple with the prob lem of Hopes disappearance. It 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- stunned control-clear headed, and ac- customed to that sort of thing-call- ing in Hickock and his deputies to assist, and fairly combing 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 a 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 were 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 volun- teers for this work, but it was day- light before the slightest clue pre- sented itself. Keith, with the sherin and two or three others, had groped their way outward until, with the first flush of dawn, they found themselves at the opening of a small rocky ra- vine, near the foot of Boots HILL" Peering down into it's still shadowed depths, they discerned what appeared like a body lying there motionless. 1ACtln Pf dnS QOWu UCSlQS IL, anu Iul IT ed the rigid form over until the dead face was revealed in the wan light it was that of the red moustached Scott He staggered back at the rec ognition, barely able to ejaculate.
 Here, Sheriff This is one of Flaw ley's men!"
 The sheriff was bending instantly above the corpse, searching for the truth
 You know the fellow?"
 Yes, his name was Scott"
 Well, he's been dead some hours, at least six should say; shot just above the eye, and good Heavensi look here, Keith, at the size of this bullet wound; that's no mans gun in this country-no more than a .32' I'd say"
 Miss Waite had a small revolver. She must have shot the fellow. But why did they leave the body here to be discovered?"
 The sheriff arose to his feet, prowl- ing about in the brfghtening glow Of the dawn.
 They were in hurry to get away, and knew he wouldn't be found before A six hours start means a 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 a stiff fight, 'too-see where they dragged her up the path. From the footprints there must have been half a dozen in the party. Get back out of the way. Sims. while follow their trail"
 It 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 evt- dencing they must have been there for some considerable time. Keith and the sheriff circled out until they final y 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, 't
 That's the whole, story" replied the sheriff, staring of toward the pare horizon, "and the cusses have at east six hours the start with fresh | 1orses" He turned around Well, ooys, that takes em out of my baili- wick, reckon. Some of the rest Of | you will have to run that gang down"
 CHAPTER xx<II.