The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-05-29

Thets just bout the whole story. as I
make 1t. Nuthin' fer us to do but
snatch a bite an go on. Our bosses
re esher theirs. No sense our
stoppin' to bury Connors: he amt
worth 1t. an the birdsIl take care o
him. The outfit was still a headin'
south-see!"
There could be no doubt of this, as
the shelter of the sand ridge had pre-
served a plain trail. although a few
yards beyond, the sweeping wind had
already almost obliterated every sign
OF passage. The four men ate heartily
of their cold provender, discussing the
situation in a few brief sentences.
WATSON argued that Dupont was head
ing for some Indian winter
ment, thinking to shift responsibility
for the crime upon the avages thus
permitting him to return once more
to civilization, but Hamlin chung to his
original theory of a hide-out upon Du-
points old cattle-range, and that a pur-
pose other than the mere robbery OF
Mcdonald was in view. All alike. how
ever, were convinced that the fugi-
tives were seeking the wild bluffs of
the Canadian river for ~concealment.
1t was not yet dark when they again
picked up the trail, rode around the
dead body of Connors, and pushed for
ward into the maze of sand. For an
hour the advance was without incl
dent, the scout in the lead not even
d~ismounting, his keen eyes picking up
the faint sign" unerringly. Then
darkness shut down, the lowering bank
of clouds completely blotting the stars.
although the white glisten Of the sand
under foot yielded a slight guidance.
Up to this time there had been no de-
Walton in direction, and now when the
trail could be no longer distinguished,
the little party decided on riding
straight southwark until they struck
the Cimarron. An hour or two later
the moon arose, hardly visible and yet
Frightening the cloud canopy, so that
the riders could see each other and
proceed more rapidly. Suddenly Was
son lifted his hand, and turned his
face up to the sky.
Snow" he announced soberly.
Thought / felt it afore, and the winds
changed"
Hamlin turned In the saddle, feeling
already the sharp sting of snow pei
lets on his face. Before he could even
answer the air was full of w~hiteness,
a fierce gust of wilma hurting the fly
ing particles against them. In an
other instant they were In the very
heart of the storm, almost hurled for
ward by the force Of the wind, and
blinded by the icy deluge. The pelting
of the hail startled the horses, and in
spite of every effort Of the riders, they
drifted to the right, tails to the storm.
The swift change was magical. The
sharp particles Of icy snow seemed to
swirl upon them from every direction,
sucking their very breath, bewilder-
ing them, robbing them Of all sense OF
direction. Within two minutes the
men found 1t impossible to penetrate
the wintry shroud except for a few
feet ahead Of them.
The Sergeant knew what it meant.
for he had had experience Of these
plains storms before.
Halt" he cried, his voice barely
audible in the blast. "Close up, men;
come here to me-lively now! That
you, Wade? WATSON; oh, all right,
Sam. Here, pass that lariat back;
now get a grip on it, every n OF you.
and hold to it for your lives. Let me
take the lead, Sam; we'll have to run
by compass. Now, then, are you
The lariat rope, tied to Hamlin's
Strengthened out and was
grasped desperately by the gloved
hands Of the men behind. The Ser.
geant, shading his eyes, half smoth-
cred in the blast, could see merely i'll.
defined shadows.
"All caught?"
The answers were inaubible.
"For the Lords sake, speak up; an
now-Wasson."
Here"
"Wade."
"Here."
Carroll"
Here"
Good; now come on after me-"
He drove his horse forward, head
bent low over the compass, one arm
flung up across his mouth to prevent
inhaling the icy air. He felt the tug
of the line; heard the labcred breath
Ing of the next horse behind, but saw
nothing except that wall Of swirling
snow pellets hurled against him by q
pitiless wind, fairly decorating the
flesh. 1t was freezing cold; already
he felt numb, exhausted, h~eavy-eyed.
The air seemed to penetrate his cloth
ing, and prick the skin as with a thou
sand needles. The thought came that
II he remained in the saddle he would
freeze stiff. Again he turned, and sent
the voice of command down the strug-