The Parker post., 1915-05-01
k CONSCIENCE FUND
How an Apparition Followed a
Victim Into the Desert and
"DeIivered the Goods"
By LYLE L. COLE.

left the railroad track and turned into
the tawny desert.
He walked ten or dozen miles far'
ther, straight across the shimmering
sand, lashed by the thousand Whips OF
the sun, and then stopped to think the
/ matter over
Looking backward over the path he
had followed, he was pleased to see
that even the faint, blush, perpendlcu-
lar lines that had marked the location
of the telegraph poles were no longer
visible. There was nothing in sight to
remind him of human beings.
The sun was still high and the heat
which had made the morning almost
uncomfortable was yet oppressive.
After satisfying himself that he was.
indeed, beyond the probable reach OF
human eyes, Oakley stood for few
minutes, meditating.
Il don't really believe that they have
any idea where | am, and | doubt II
they are still trying to find me-, he
said But can't stay in town two
days without getting nervous. Every
policeman l see appears to have diff
ficulty in keeping his hands off from
me, and just have to dig. feel safer
out in the open, where there isn't any
thing but animals-Where everything
skulks, the same as me-
He sat down in partially shaded
niche in one Of the rain-gaShed butteS,
and famed himself with his frayed
hat.
Somebody says guilty conscience
doeth us up like a patent medicine" "
he mused ''Wonder why consciences
aren't more appropriately distributed.
Some men, like me, who have out
grown the need of one, have enough
to bother four men, and some who
need one badly are turned loose with
out any.
One would suppose that when fel-
low gets to the point where he can
kill another man his conscience would
give him little trouble.
What was that?"
He sprang up suddenly.
"Oh, l see. Go it, you long-eared
collection of legs" he said, with relief,
as a jack-rabbit hastened toward a
line of bushes across the valley.
Oakley followed slowly along the
path taken by the rabbit. He knew
the bushes were greasewoods, and
thought there must be stream near.
Upon approaching nearer he thought
he saw a man. standing mOtionless
near bush. Therefore he turned
quickly and skunk back along the
ragged edge of dry run.
There was something suspicious, he
told himself, in the fact that man
was doing nothing. or anything, in
such a wilderness, and he could not
afford to take any chances He crept
to the top of the butte and cautiously
took a position where he, could watch
the row Of greasewOOds.
Lying fiat on his stomach under the
hot sun was trying work. He thought
of something he had learned at school
something about earning bread by
the sweat of his brow.
Seems 10 me I've paid for abou:
five good loaves already" he remarked
after half an hour had passed. But
where are they? l never did believe
half of those copy-book tales"
He shifted to one side and continued
his reverie.
Nov, | can't see why that fellow
Mt fn in he hot
like an imitation Of Lots wife. 'Tain't
natural, nor even sensible. Oh! You're
coming over here, are you? All right,
mister My latch-string's hanging out,
and there's only one of you so receiv-
ing callers is not going to be at all
tedious"
Oakley laid an old revolver in a de
preston in the sand
you aren't much like the gun the
horse thief stole from me- he said,
addressing it meditatively. TT aint
at all likely you'd shoot if ] was to
hitch wild horses to your trigger but
as far as looks go you're a sight more
impressive than none"
Several times the man struggling
across the cleaning sand stopped and
shaded his eyes with his hand, scan
ming the horizon in all directions but
always completing the search with a
glance at the butte where Oakley lay
sweltering.
Oakley watched him curiously.
There was something familiar about
him. Was it his manner of walking?
Oakley could not determine. Suddenly
the man vanished from sight.
Oakley rubbed his eyes and stared
out across the vibrating heat waves
No one was in sight. Absolutely no
living thing could be seen anywhere
And yet Oakley could have sworn that
a moment before a man was coming
slowly toward him. He stood up and
peered eagerly into the desert. The
look OF wonder on his face changed
quickly to one of alarm All! Now he
had it. 1t had suddenly dawned upon
him that the one he imagined he had
seen was French. No one else walked