The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-01-30
What do yer think, Sergeant?"

What do yer think, Sergeant?"
They stopped here to eat, maybe
! five hours ago." pushing the ashes
| about with his toe The fire has beer
out that long Then they got into A.:
quarrel-Connors and Dulont-for HI
was shot with a Colt AS; no 1nidar
ever did that. Then they struck ou
again with two led horses. SHOULD
say they were three or four hour:
ahead, travelling slow
Good enough" and WATSON pattee
his arm. You're plainsman al
right, Brick: You kin sure read signs
Thets just bout the whole story, as
make it. Nuthin' fer us to do but
snatch bite an go on. Our bosses
re fresher'n theirs. No sense oul
stoppin' to bury Connors; he Amt
worth it, an the birds'll take care c
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 few
yards beyond, the sweeping wind had
already almost obliterated every sign
Of passage. The four men ate heartily
of their cold provender, discussing this
situation in a few brief sentences
WATSON argued that Dupont was head
ing for some Indian winter encamp
ment, thinking to shift responsibility
FOR the crime upon the savages, 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 pur
pose other than the mere robbery OF
Mcdonald was in view. All alike, how.
ever, we're convinced that the fugi
tives We're 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
dismounting, 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 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"
already the sharp sting of snow pei
lets on his face. Before he could even
answer the air was full of whiteness,
a fierce gust of wind hurting the fly.
ing particles against them. In an.
other instant they were in the very
heart of the storm, almost hurled for
wavd by che 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. Inc
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 or
direction. Within two minutes the
men found it 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.
Haiti he cried, his voice barely
audible in the blast. CLOSE up, men;
come here to me-lively now! That
YOU, Wade? Wasson; oh, all right,
Sam. Here, pass that lariat back;
row get grip On it, every one 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
ready?"
The lariat rope, tied to Hamlin's
pommel, 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 ILL.,
defined shadows.
"All caught:'' "-
The answers were inaubible.
For the Lords sake, speak up; an
swer 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 labored breath
ing OF the next horse behind, but saw