The Oklahoma miner. [volume] (Krebs, Okla.) 1912-192?, 1913-08-07

the scout THAT stain over thar is
blood, an ii never come from him, fer
he died whar he fell Most likely he
shot furst. or used a knife The girls
with EN- anyhow; l reckon this yere
was her ribbon; that footprint is
sure"
He stirred up the scattered ashes,
and then passed over and looked at
the dead man.
What do yer think, Sergeant"
They stopped here to eat, maybe
five hours ago" pushing the ashes
about with his toe. The fire has been
out that long. Then they Got into a
quarrel-Connors and DuIont-for he
was shot with a Colt As; no Indian
ever did that Thsn they struck out
again with two led horses. / should
say they were three or four hours
ahead, travelling slow"
Good enough" and Wasson patted
his arm. You're a plainsman all
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 hosses
re fresher'n theirs. No sense our
stoppin' to bury Connors: he amt
worth 1t, an the birds1l 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.
Wasson 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 clung to his
original theory Of a hide-out upon Du-
points old cattle-range, and that a DUR
pose other than the mere robbery of
Mcdonald was in view. All alike. how
ever we're convinced that the fugi-
tiyes were seeking the wild bluffs Of
the Canadian river for concealment.
IL 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
dlsmounting. 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
und&r 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 vet
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 soberlv
Thought felt It afore, and the winds
/ changed"
Hamlin turned in the saddle, feeling
already the sharp sting Of snow mel.
! lets on his face. Before he could even
answer the air was full of whiteness
a fierce gust Of wind hurlIng the fy
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 peltina
! 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 tc
swirl upon them from every direction
sucking their very breath, bewilder
ing them, robbing them Of all sense O
direction. Within two minutes tn,
men found it impossible to penetrat,
the wintry shroud except for few
feet ahead of them.
The Sergeant knew what Il 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-liyely now! Tha
you, Wade? Wasson; oh, all right
Sam. Here, pass that lariat back
now get a grip on il, every one of YOU
and hold to II for your lives. Let m,
take the lead. Sam, wen have to run
by compass. Now. then. are yol
ready?"
The lariat rope, tied to Hamlint
pommel, straightened out and vat
grasped desperately by the gloyeC