The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-05-22

no panic. awaken no alarm, and yet
the place was small, and there was
Gttle likelihood that any deed Of vio-
lence would pass long unnoticed. With
a few words Of instruction, and hasty
descriptions of both Dupont and Con.
nors. Hamlin sent his men down the
struggling street to drag out the oc.
cupants Of shack and tent, riding him.
self to the blazing front of the Poodle
Dog"
Late as the hour was, the saloon
and the gambling rooms above were
all crowded. Hamlin plunged into the
mass of men, pressing passage back
and forth, his eyes searching the faces.
while he eagerly questioned those with
whom he had any acquaintance. Few
among these could recall to mind
either "Reb" or his boon companion,
and even those who did retained no
recollection Of having seer the two
lately. The bartenders asserted that
neither man had been there that night,
and the dealers above were equally
positive. The city marshal, encoun-
tered outside, remembered Dupont,
and had seen him at the hotel three
hours before, but was positive the fell.
low had not been on the streets since.
Connors he did not know, but II the
man was Major McDonald's driver,
then he was missing all right, for Cap
tain Barrett had to employ a livery
man to drive Mrs. Dupont back to the
fort. No, there was no lady with her;
he was sure. for he had watched them
get into the carriage.
The troopers were no more fortu-
nate In their results, but had succeed
ed In stirring up greater excitement
during their exploration, several irate
individuals, roughly aroused from
sleep, exhibiting fighting propensities,
which had cost one a blackened eye,
and the other the loss of a tooth. Both,
however. had enjoyed the occasion,
and appeared anxious for more. Hav-
ing exhausted the possibilities Of the
town. the soldiers procured lanterns,
and, leaving the horses behind, began
a. piuil III tulb ldDOT
they were assisted by the marshal,
and a few aroused citizens hastily i'm
pressed into a posse. The search was
a thorough one, but the ground near.
by was so cut up by hoofs and wheels
as to yield no definite results. Hamlin,
obsessed with the belief that whatever
had occurred had been engineered by
Dupont, and recalling the fact that the
man was once a ranchman somewhere
to the southwark, jumped to the con
clusion that the fellow would natural
ly head in that direction, seeking ia.
miliar country in which to hide. With
the two troopers he pushed on toward
the river. choosing the upper ford as
being the most likely choice of the
fugitives. The trampled mud Of the
north bank exhibited fresh tracks, but
none he could positively identify
However, a party on horseback had
crossed within a few hours, and, with.
out hesitation, he waded out into the
stream.
The gray Of dawn was in the sky az
the three troopers, soaked to the waist
crept up the south bank and studied
the trail. Behind them the yellow Ian,
terms still bobbed about between the
river and town, but there was already
sufficient light to make visible the
signs underfoot. Horsemen had
climbed the bank, the hoof marks yet
damp where water had drained from
dripping fetlocks, and had instantly
broken into a lope. A moments glance
proved this to Hamlin as he crept
back and forth, scrutinizing each hoof
mark intently.
Five in the party" he said sober.
ly. Three mustangs and two Ameri-
can horses, cavalry shod. About three
hours ahead of u.s." He Strengthened
up, his glance peering into the gray
mists. 81 reckon it's likely our outfit,
but we'll never catch them on foot.
They'll be behind the sand-dunes be-
fore this. Before we go back. boys,
we'll see II they left the trail where
1t turns west"
The three ran forward, paying little
need until they reached the edge of
the ravine. Here the beaten trail
swerved sharply to the right. Fifty
feet beyond, the marks Of horses
hoofs appeared on the sloping bank,
Hamlin sprang down to where the
marks disappeared around the edge of
a large bowlder. His hand on the
stone, he stopped suddenly with quick
indrawing of breath, staring down at
a motionless figure lying almost at
his feet. The man, roughly dressed,
lay on his face, a bullet wound show
Ing above one ear, the back of his
neck caked with blood. The Sergeant,
mastering his first sense of horror,
turned him over and gazed upon the
CHASTITY face Of Major Mcdonald.
my God, they've murdered him
here!" he exclaimed. "Shot him down