The state herald., 1912-01-26
CHAPTER xxv.-(continued.)

Was that all?"
DE oil gin'ral he didn't seem ter
know what ter say: he done set dar
lookin' on ober de prairie like he was
clar fumegasted. He sho' did look
like dat black debble he'd hit him
mighty hard. Den he says slow like.
turnin' his hoss round: Bartlett, yo'
am putin up good bluf. but. by
Gawd. I'm goin' ter call yo' Yo' don't
get cent OBJ dat money less yo' put
up de proof. I'll meet yo' whar yo'
say. but ef can git hor OBJ some pa
pers dat's missin' I'll take dat grin on
20 face De odder one laughed. an
de oil gin'ral started TO ter ride away.
den he pull up he's boss, an look
back. 'Yo' sorter herd wild dat kind
OBJ cattle. Bartlett he say. sharp like.
maybe 20 know gambler roun'
yere called Hawleyr De black debbie
nebber eben lose he's grin. DO yo'
mean Black Bart HawleyT Oats the
man. where is her 'Dealin' faro To-
Mike Kenna In Topeka u week ago-
friend OBJ yoursT OATS none OBJ yo'
damned business snorted de OIL
sin'ral. gtvin' his hoss de spur. Sho'.
Massa Jack. he nebber knowed he was
talkin' ter dat same Hawley. an dat
black debble Jest laughed as he rode
OF"
When was all this. Neb,"
Bout de time yo' all went up on
de hill. ! reck'n. I done come right
yere. and waited"
Keith walked across the room. So
.scted cigar. and came back. his
mind busy with the problem. Hawley
Rad In some manner. then. got into
Communication with Waite. and was
threatening him. But Waite evidently
knew the man under another name
his given name-and the gambler had
sent him OF on = false trail. The lost
papers apparently contained the solu-
ton TO all this mystery. Waite be.
heved Hawley possessed them. but
did not suspect that Bartlett and Haw.
ley were the same person. What
would hc most naturally do now,
Seek Hawley In Topeka probably:
seize the frst opportunity OF getting
there Keith turned impatiently to
the clerk.
ANY train running enstr"
We'll. they generally start ono out
every day" with glance toward tho
clock. :" long bout this time Maybe
It's gone. and maybe II hasn't"
II was already nearly dark outside
- tho two men hastcned toward tho
depot. They arrived there barely In
time TO sec the red lights on tho last
car disappear No Inquiries made OF
those iounsing about brought results
they had been Interested In n lot OF
drunken graders loaded on tho nat
cars By force. and sent out under
gunrd-and not one could toll whether
any man answering waitc's dcserip.
ton was In tho single passenger
coach. Convinced. however. that tho
General would was,c no time IN prose.
cutting his search. Keith believed him
already ON his way east, and after dis.
missing Ncb. with instructions to
watch out closely for Hawlcy, hc
made his own way back to tho hotel
II seemed strange enough how com.
pletcly he was blocked each time. Just
M he thought the whole baiillng mys-
terry wna about to be made clear iiaw.
ley wns playing In raro luck. all tho
chrdn running easily to his hand. thus.
Al least. gaining time. and strengthen
Ing HIS position There could no long
cr be- any doubt that tho gambler pos
rcssed some knowledge which made
him formidable adversary. From
Waite'a statement Il was the loss OF
tho papers which left him helpless TO
openly reniat the claim being made
ypon him ON behalf Of tho mysterious
sbyllls Ills ouly hope. therefore. lay