The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-02-16
SYNOPSIS.

CHAPTER Jack Keith a typical siSf. bor, Fe trail the lookout for roaming war parties of saxages Reith Mhshss had rssdent won f during the civil war. He had left the service to find his old southern home hon e in cination of wild western life had sllured him. He notices camp fire at dls- taNce and then sees a team attached to . wagon and at full gallop pursued by men on ponies.
 CHAPTER I-when Keith reaches the wagon the raiders have massacred He searches the victims finding papers and a locket with a womans portrait lie resolves to hunt down the murderers. CHAPTER III-Keith reaches Carson City and is arrested there charged with His accuser Is given as Black Bart. notorious rufhan.,
 CHAPTER Iv.-They can readily swear the grim crime on Keith i The az,, latter M gGes 5or 5o der justice. companion in his cell IF negro, who tells him he is Neb and that he knew the Keith family back in Vir- gtnia.
 CHAPTER V-Neb knows about the two murdered men from. the description by Keith. He says one was John Sibley, efs officer erhfn in % tSe confederate s .s army n
 CHAPTER vI-The pIainsman and his O~---
 CHAPTER VII.
 In the Sand Desert.
 Suddenly Keith halted, bringing his pony's head sharply about, so that the two faced one another. The wind was rising, hurling clouds of sand into their eyes, and the plainsman held one hand before his face.
 There's no need of keeping up a water trail any longer" he said quiet Iy. By all the signs we're in for a sand storm by daylight, and that will cover our tracks so the devil himself couldn't follow them. Got water bag ion your saddle.
 q reck'n dis am one, sah.'
 Keith felt of the object Neb held forth.
 "Yes, and big one. too; fill 1t and strap it on tight; we've got long, dry ride ahead"
 "Whar yo' propose goin', Massa Jack?"
 "To the Bar K on the Canadian. I've worked with that outfit. They'll give us whatever we need, and ask no questions; I don't know of anything in between. It's going to be a hard ride, boy, and mighty little to eat ex- ~scept what I saved from supper"
 How far am it to dis yere Bar X?' '
 "A hundred and fifty miles as the crow flies, and sand all the way, ex cept for the valley of Salt Fork. Come on now, and keep close, for it's easy to get lost in these sand hills"
 Keith had ridden that hundred ano fifty miles of sandy desolation before but had never been called upon t' make such journey as this proved I' be. He knew there was little to fea from human enemies, for they Wer' riding far enough east of the santa r' trail to be out of the path Of raldlni parties, while this desert country wa summed by Indian hunters. It con sisted of sand hill after sand hill, drear waterless waste, where nothln grew, and mid the dread sameness O which a traveller could only find pass age by the guidance of stars at nlgn or the blazing sun by day. To th eye mile after mile appeared exactl alike. with nothing whatever to d1' tinguish either distance or direction the same drifting ridges of san stretching forth in every direction. n summit higher than another, no sen blance of green shrubbery, or s1lve sheen of running water anywhere break the dull monotony-a val sandy plain, devoid of life, extendin to the horizon, overhung by barre sky.
 They had covered ten miles of 1t daybreak, their ponies travelling heaN ly, fetlock deep, but could advance further With the first tint of rose the east the breeding storm bur upon them in wild desert fury. u