The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-21

their loads must have been carried OF,
empty"
Jim received this information with
stolid Indifference: had the Missou-
rian called him there to tell him
that?
Il wonder why they took the trou-
BILE to burn their wagont!" continued
the Missourian. You'd thought II
they had wanted to get shut OF them
they'd just left them"
And now Jim's ill-temper mastered
him.
They was probably figuring on
some damn fool happening along this
way" he began, but the Missourian
cut him short.
They must have had you In mind
then" he said. Hold on, Mr.. Orphan,
can you tell me why these heah
parties pulled up to the top OF this
heah hill?"
ITO burn their wagons retorted
Jim sarcastically Amt that plain?
| And why did they want 10 burn
their OUTFIT
Because their stock had all give
out; that's plain. amt it," said Jim
promptly.
Exactly: and the stock gave out
the minute the wagons was burnt:
but | don't reckon you see anything
curious In that" retorted the Missou-
rian triumphantly.
While they were speaking, he had
been pursuing his investigations In
constantly widening circle. Now ne
stepped quickly toward shallow
ditch the rains had cut In the south
slope OF the hill. Jim was at his side,
and the two men came TO sudden
pause on the bank Of this ditch.
II guess it's bundle OF bedding
or clothes" said Jim nervously,
and with a tremor In his voice.
II reckon there's another guess
coming to you" said the Missourian
as ne cautiously slipped into the ditch.
'Pd be careful II It was me. Maybe
1t was the cholera" cautioned Jim.
Hell. never thought Of that"
and the Missourian sprang back to
the bank There was silence while
they looked into each others eyes.
| Man. there was ave Of them!" said
the Missourian at last in a hoarse,
shocked whisper. and his bearded lips
uuivered. Il noticed a part OF a
shovel and right good pick back
| by where the wagons was burnt;
don't you reckon we could spare the
time TO heave this heah bank In on
top Of them-those damn buzzards-"
LOOK here, pardner, I'm all for
getting out OF this. wouldn't expect
any one to bury me II up and died
~ thu chnlorQ p" aQfd lin
I'm not so doggone sure 1t was
the cholera; hand me that stick, I'm
going to find out" and he slid back
into the ditch. He worked In silence
with the stick for a moment while
Jim watched spellbound. fearing to
stay and yet not daring to leave, for
their discovery had filled that wide
solitude with sudden chilling hor-
ror. mo. this gentleman's got q bull
let hole in his head-that Amt the
cholera There was another pause
while the Missourian was busy w1h
the stick: then perspiring but indie
fatigable he spoke once more.
Look heah, Jim. right through the
heart: you can see where his shirts
all bloody. Me and you have seen
enough of cholera to know that amt
the way II takes a man" The stick
was used again. This heah consump-
tive looking chaps all shot to pieces:
whoever done 1t madea sieve out Of
him" He gained the ditch bank"
II wish I had a good drink OF Ticker
right now" said Jim weakly.
Same here" echoed the Nilsson
rian. Well said he, after . mo-
ment's reflection, 1T Amt q Job
banker for. but I'm going through
their pockets. am going to see who
they was and where they come from.
You go fetch that pick and shovel;
we'll be ready for them In q minute"
But he was white-faced and shak.
ing when his fruitless search was nm.
ished. He had found nothing that
served to throw any light on the iden-
tity OF the dead men.
There amt the scratch OF pen
about any Of them; no letters-no
papers-no nothing. Somebody's been
ahead OF me-"
II wouldn't have did what you just
done for Ave hundred dollars!" de-
clared Jim.
IL wouldn't either-for the money"
said the Missourian. Give me the
pick"
The two men attacked the bank
with feverish energy and their task
was soon fnished then the Nilsson.
rian said:
Now Wen just take one more look
about among those cinders and then
we'll get away from heah just as fast
as the Lord will let us. l seen places
I liked a heap better"
But the search revealed nothing
new
who do you allow done 1t? In
dians?" asked Jim. as they hurried
away In the direction their mules had
taken.
Who else would II be-
"No one else. judging from the way
they'd been used They"
Shut up" cried the Missourian
with sudden ferceness, II amt likely
TO forget how they was used. Good
God. That's going TO stick In my
crop to the end OF my days. l reckon