Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-10-02
CHAPTER XVIII.
Snowbound.


The CLEAN in Hamlin's ewes i'm
peiled the other to go on. and explain
fully
Lord, ! know how yer feel strang-
ed an, reckon. If yer was to plug
me right yere II wouldn't more'n even
matters up. But yer listen furst afore
yer shoot Tibet Kiowa Klack Smoke
WIS sent on ahead. an got yere afore
the storm. He said them other wus
bout four hours behind. an headin'
fer this we're cabin to make camp.
They want hurryin' none, fer they
didn't suspect they wus bein' tracked.
Well. tibet was my chance; what I'd
been campin' out we're months await
In Ter. ] didn't expect ter git nuthin'
back y understand; all wanted was
Ter XIII that damn skunk. an squar
accounts, II looked ter me then like
J he'd him on the hip He didn't know
was in the kintry; all he'd to do
was lay out In the hills. an take pot
shot al him afore he saw me-"
And get the girl and the money"
AS God is my witness, never
plug him. ! know IT sounds sorter cow
ardly. but that fellow s gun.hghter.
an he he'd two Injuns with him Any
how that wus my notion, an as soon
as Black Smoke went lopin' up the
valley. loaded up, an climbed them
bluffs, to whar he'd a good lookout
erlong the north trail laid out thar
all night The storm come up, an
mighty nigh froze. but snuggled down
inter ther snow an stuck When yer
onct get KILN freak on, yer goln'
through bell an high water ter get
yer man. Thet's how ] felt Well,
Just long bout daylight an outfit
showed up. With my eyes half froze
over. an Their storm BLOWN the snow
in my face. couldn't see much-nuth-
IN but outlines O. bosses ar men.
But thar was four o 'em, an a big
fellow ahead breakin' trail. Course
thought II was lie Fevre; want
iookip' fer no one else. an soon as I
dared. let drive He Topped over
dead as door nail an then ! popped
away q couple o times at the others
One fell down, an thought ! got
him. but didnf wait to make sure:
Just turned and hoofed 1t fer cover,
known the storm would hide my
trail. I'D got the men | went after,
an just match ally didn't give er whoop
what became O. the rest. As went
down the bank heard 'em shootin' so
.knowed some wus alive yet an It
would be better fer me to crawl inter
my hole an lie still"
Hamlin sat motionless, staring at
the man, not quite able to compre-
bend his character. Killing was part
OF the western code. and he could ap
rreciate Hughes eagerness for re.
venge. but the underlying cowardice
in the man was almost bewildering.
finally he got up. swept the revolver
on the bench into his pocket. walked
over and picked up the gun.
s'Now, Hughes" he said quietly,
I'll talk, and you listen. In my judg-
ment you are miserable sneaking
cdr. and I am going to trust you just
so far as ] can watch you. suppose
J ought to shoot you where you are.
2uQ nave uOuc Will Ou hlutu Que
of the best men who ever lived. a
friend Of mine. Sam WATSON"
"Who?"
Sam WATSON. government scout"
Hughes dropped his face into bis
bands.
Good Lord! knew him!"
The Sergeant drew a deep breath,
and into his face there came a look
almost Of sympathy.
Then you begin to realize the sort
OF fool you are" he went on soberly.
They don't make better men out here:
MS little finger was worth more than
your whole body. But killing you
won't bring Sam back, and besides
reckon you've told me the straight
story, an his shooting was an acct
dent In a way. Then you're more use
full to me Just now alive than Won
would be dead. My name is Hamlin.
sergeant Seventh Cavalry, and I am
here after that man lie Feyre w.