The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-01-04

get enough men to run a caravan
afraid Of Indians, you know. So, he
determined to take money-buy Mexf-
can goods-and risk himself. Old
fighting cock wouldn't turn back for
all the Indians on the plains once he
got an idea in his head-he was that
kind-Lord, you ought to seen the
fight he put up at Spottsylvania! He
got to Carson City with two wagons,
q driver and cook-had eight thou
sand dollars with him, too, the damn
fool. Cook got into row, gambling. cut
q man. and was jagged Old Waite
wouldn't leave even a niger in that
sort of fix-natural fighter-likes any
kind of row. So, he hung on there at
Carson, but had sense enough-Lord
knows where he got ito put all
but 4 few hundred dollars in Ben
Levy's safe. Then. he went out one
night to play poker with his driver
and friend-had a drink or two
doped. probably. and never woke up
Tor forty-eight hours-lost clothes,
money, papers, and whole outfit-was
just naturally cleaned out-couldn't
get trace worth following after.
You ought to have heard him cuss
when he told met seemed to be the
papers that bothered him most-them,
and the mules"
You say there was no tracer"
Nothing to travel on after forty
eight hours-a posse started out next
morning, soon as they found him
when they got back they reported hav-
ing run the fellows as far as Chm
maron Crossing-there they got across
and escaped"
WHO led the posse?"
"A man called Black, l think" he
said.
BLACK Bart?"
Eyes. that's the name; so, l reckon
you didn't bury Willis Waite this time.
Captain. You wouldn't have thought
he was a dead one If you had heard
him swear while he was telling the
Etory-it did him proud; never heard
him do better since the second day at
Gettysburg his ear shot off
then, and had to fix him up-Lord,
but he called me few things"
Keith sat silent, fully convinced
now that the doctor was telling the
truth, yet more puzzled than ever
over the peculiar situation in which
he found himself involved
What brought the General up
here?" he questioned, finally.
Il haven't much idea" was tho
reply. Il don't think asked him di.
rectV. l wasn't much interested.
There was hint dropped, however,
now you speak about it. He's keen after
those papers, and doesn't feel salts
fed regarding the report OF the posse.
It's my opinion he's trailing after
Black Bart"
The dining-room was thinning out,
and they were about the only ones left
at the tables. Keith stretched him
SELF looking around.
We'll, Doctor, / 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, 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
week, and have got to find bed
Il reckon you won't discover such
a thing here" dryly. Got seven in a
room upstairs, and others corded
along the hall Better share my cell
only thing to do
THAT would be asking too much
l 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 ana
take my turn
Keith had enjoyed considerable e1-
perience in frontier hotels, but noun
ing before had ever quite equalled this
the pride of Sheridan. The product
of q mushroom town, which merely ex-
listed by grace of the temporary rali-
way terminus, it had been hastily anu
fimsily constructed, so it could Do
transported elsewhere at moment
notice. Every creak of bed ecnoeo
from wall to wall. The thin paru-
tons often failed to reach the celilns
by q foot or two, and the slightest
noise aroused the entire floor Ana
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 cursing OF the
cook in the rear. A discordant din
of voices surged up from the street
below-laughter, shouts, the shrieks OF
women, 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 AZ was quite likely TO
disturb the peaceful slumbers OF tho
innocent occupant of No. Is, and every
sound of quarrel in the thronged bar
room below caused the ledger to curl
! up in momentary expectation OF
stray bullet coursing toward him
through the floor. With this to trou-
BILE him, he could lie there and hear
everything that occurred within and