Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-08-28
,OpyRsosu ssss sv A.c.wciuso q CO

rlapcinp back "rbe moor 5ev,l'"
Had ouite n row hero" re,urned
TIE scout "rh., s,,in ov.r ,har 10
blood. an Il never come from him fer
he died wbsr he fell Most likely he
shot furst or used n knife The girls
with 'em anyhow. racLon THO yora
was her ribbon that footprint is
sure"
lie stirred I'M the scattered ashes.
and then passed over and looked nj
the dead man
What do yer think Sergeant"
"They STONED here ,o eat uavbe
fve hours ago" nusbinr the ashes
about with bis toe "Tbe fre bos been
out that long Then tbev ,o, into n
quarrel-Connors and Dulont-for he
was shot with a Colt 49, no indian
ever did that Then they struck ont
again with two led horses should
say they were three or four hours
ahead. travelling slow"
Good enough" and WATSON matted
his arm. You're a plaipsman all
right, Brick: You kin sure read signs
Thets Just bout the whole story. as
make II. Nuthin' fer us tn do hut
snatch a bite an 20 on Our hosses
re fresher'n theirs No sepse our
stoppin' to bury Connors. no mint
! worth Il. an the birdsu take care n
him. The outfit was still n headin'
souih-see!"
There could be no doubt OF this as
the shelter OF the send ridge had pre.
served a plain trail. although n few
yards beyond. the sweeping wind had
already almos. 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 encamn
ment. thinking TO shift responsibility
for the crime upon the savaees TINS
permitting him to return once more
to civilization, but HamlIn clung TO his
original theory OF n hide.out upon I'm.
points old cattle.ranxe. and that n nur.
pose other than the mere robberv n,
Mcdonald was I'm view All alike how.
ever, we're convinced that tho fupt.
tives were seeking the wild bluffs of
the Canadian river for concea,men,
II was not yet dark when tbev apo,r
picked up the trail. rode around the
dead body OF Connors. and pusbed for.
ward into the maze of sand For n,
hour the advance was without Incl.
dent. the scout in the lead not evep
dismounting, his keen ewes pickjnp I'm
the faint Sign" unerringly Then
darkness shut down. the lowering bapl
OF clouds completely blotting the stars
although the white glisten OF tho sand
under foot yielded slight guidance
Up to this time there had been M do
Walton in direction. ana now when tho
trail could be no longer DISTINGUISHED
the little party decided on r,dIpr
straight southward until tbey strucl
the Cimarron. An hour or two late,
the moon arose. hardly visible and va,
Frightening the cloud cauopv ,o ,h.,
the riders could see each other ord
proceed more rapidly SudderIv W..
son lifted his hand and tprnaa h,s
face up to the sky.
"Snow" he announced .o.,,,
Thought I felt IL afore and ,bs u,na,,
changed"
; Hamlin turned in the saddle ,oo,,,,
already the sharp sting Of snou nal
. lets on his face. Before he couId eyo,
answer the air was full OF vbi,e,oss
fierce gust OF wind hurting Tho 40
ing particles against them In an
other instant they were In tho rar,
heart of the storm almos, hnr,a, o..
: ward by the force of tho uin, 49,.
blinded nv the lev den,e rho no,,,n,
; N, tho bail startled tho hor.aa ', a.