The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-01-26

to permit sleeping. Finally he drew the letters from out his pocket, and began examining them. They yield ed very little information, those talk on from the older man having no en- velopes to show to whom they had been addressed. The single document found in the pocket of the other waa a memorandum of account at the Pioneer Store at Topeka, charged ts John Sibley, and marked paid. This then must have been the youngeh mans name. as the letters to the oth- CT began occasionally Dear Will" They were missives such as a wife might write to husband long ab' sent, yet upon a mission of deep in terest to both. Keith could not fully 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 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 Q- been mailed from some small Miss; souri town, but no name was men, toned. They were invariably signed Mary" The only other paper Keith discovered was a brief itinerary of the Santa Fs trail extending as far west as the Raton Mountains, giving the usual camping spots and places where water was accessible. He slipped the papers back into his pocket with distinct feeling of disappointment and lay back staring up at the little strip of blue sky. The silence was profound, even his horse standing mo. tionless, and finally he fell asleep.
 The sun had disappeared, and even the gray of twilight was fading out of . the sky, when Keith returned again to consciousness, aroused by his horse rolling on the soft turf. He awoke thoroughly refreshed, and eager to get away on his long nights ride. A cold lunch, hastily eaten, for a fire would have been dangerous, and he sadd1ed tip and was off, trot- ting out of the narrow ravine and into the broad trail which could be fol- lowed without difficulty under the dull gleam of the stars. Horse and rider were soon at' their best, the animal swinging unurged into the long, easy lope of prairie travel, the fresh air flaming the mans face as he leaned forward Once they halted to drink from narrow stream, and then push- 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 his pony sharply back into rock shadow at the noise of something approach ing from the east. The stage to Santa Fe rattled past, the four mules trot. ting swiftly, squad of troopers rid ing hard behind. It was merely a Jumping shadow sweeping swiftly past; he could perceive the dim out lines of driver and guard. the soldiers swaying in their sadd!es heard the poun ding of hoofs, the crcak of axles. and then the aprarition disappeared into the black void. He had not call ed out-what was the use" Those Deo- pie would never pause to hunt down prairie outlaws. and tNeir guard was sufficient to pTes attack. They Ac-
 Gro be Continued)