Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-08
aching eyes rested on noiMns 81:
what was typical OF death. Even the
heat wavoS caa~,d e.,+.4,

aching eyes rested on noSmns Sus
what was typical Of death. Even the
heat waves seemed fantastic, gro
tesque, assuming spectral forms, as
though ghosts beckoned and danced
in the haze, Turing him on to become
one of themselves Keith was not q
dreamer, nor one to yield easily to
such brain fancies, but the mad deliri-
um of loneliness gripped him, and he
had to struggle back to sanity, beat
Ing his hands upon his breast to stir.
anew the sluggish circulation of his.
blood, and talking to the horse in
strange feverishness.
With every step of advance the
brooding silence seemed more pro-
found. more death.ike. He got to
marking the sand ridges, the slight va
riations giving play 10 the brain Way
on to the left was the mirage of a
lake. apparently so real that he had
to battle with himself to keep from
turning aside. He dropped forward
IN the saddle. his head hanging low.
SO blinded by the incessant sun glare
1
that horrible ocean Of sand. It was
noon now-noon. and he had been rid
ing steadily seven hours. The thought
brought his blurred eyes again to the
horizon. Where could he be, the man
he sought in the heart of this soil
tude? Surely he should be here by
now. If he had left the water-hole at
he ho1
route. south to the Fork? The posi-
b1lity OF such thing scared through
Nun like a hot iron, driving the dull
ness from his brain. the lethargy from
his limbs. God: no! Fate could never
play such scurvy trick as that. The
man must have been delayed; had
tailed to leave camp early-some-
where ahead, yonder where the blue
haze marked the union of sand and
sky, he was surely coming, riding half
dead, and dropping in the saddle.
Again Keith rose in his stirrups,
rubbing the mist out of his eyes that
he might see clearer, and stared
ahead. What was that away out yon-
der? shadow? a spot dancing before
his tortured vision? or a moving, liv-
Ing something which he actually saw?
He could not tell. he could not be
sure. yet he Strengthened up expect
antly. shading his eyes, and never
losing sight OF the object. 1t moved.
grew larger. darker. moro real-yet
how it crawled. crawled. crawled to-
ward him. 1t seemed as If the vague.
shapeless thing would never take
form, never stand out revealed against
the sky SO he could determine the
truth. He had forgotten all else-the
silent desert, the blazing sun. the
burning wind-all his soul concen-
trated on that speck yonder. Sudden
ly 1t disappeared swale in the sand
probably-and, when it rose into view
again. he uttered cry of joy-it was
horse and rider!
Little by little they drew nearer
one another, two black specks In that
vast ocean of sand, the only moving,
living things under the brazen circle
Of the sky. Keith was ready now, his
eyes bright, the cooked revolver
grtpped hard in his hand The space
between them narrowed. and Hawley
saw him. caught glimpse of the face
under the broad hat brim, the burn
ing eyes surveying him. With an oath
he stopped his horse. dragging at his
gun. surprised, dazed. yet instantly
understanding. Keith also halted, and
across the intervening desert the eyes
OF the two men met In grim defiance.
The latter wet his dry lips, and spoke
shortly:
II reckon you know what this
means. Hawley. and why am here.
We're Southerners both of us. and
we settle our own personal affairs.
You've got to fight me now, man to
man"
The gambler glanced about him, and
down at his horse If he thought of
flight 1t was useless. His lip curled
with contempt.
Damn your talking, Keith" he re-
turned savagely. Let's have it over
with and spurred his horse. The
gun of the other came up.
Watt and Hawley paused, drag
SlAS az LIB rein. Oue Oh us mOSC llk6-
ly Is going to die here; perhaps both.
But If either survives he'll need a
horse to get out of this alive. Dis
mount; III do the same; step away
so the horses are out Of range. and
then We'll fight 1t QUITS that
square?"
| Without word. his eyes cleaning
with cunning hatred the gambler
swung down from his saddle onto the
sand. his horse interposed between
him and the other Keith did the
same. his eyes peering across the
back of his animal
Now" he said steadily. when |
count three drive your horse aside.
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