The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-07-17


over the level plain he vas going over
his recent experience; going back ia
the moment when the girl entered
upon his vision and looked at him
with that clear, direct gaze that trust
ed him; thinking owe every detail OF
his finding her In the darkness and
peril; the miracle that he and not some
other should have found and saved
her; recalling every incident Of the
beautiful wearisome way by which
they had gone home together; and the
wonder of the girls faith in him, her
love for ,him--his love for her.
Any one watching the. absorbed 81
lent man sitting alone, his head
dropped back against the seat, his hat
drawn down over his eyes, the lines
of gravity deep upon brow and lip
and chin, would have judged him for a
much older man than he was, SO ma
turing had life thus far been to him.
And now, the task that was before
him was to find Scathlin--if, indeed. he
were still In the land Of the 1iving-or
some evidence that he was dead; and
to know beyond q question Of doubt
what had become OF those paper, and
Just how far Harrington had been re
sponsible for the theft.
He loathed his task, yet felt com.
PEELED by some inner urging to finish
1t. Almost his soul revolted to the ex'
tent Of giving al the case and letting
his enemies triumph over him. What
to him now was his silver mine, since
ne had found her-and lost her for
ever? Why not let his property go and
leave Hawk Valley forever, where his
reputation had undone him in his
greatest opportunity? Why not 60 to
some new land where he vas unknown
and begin all over again?s
Put his soul was too strong and true
for that. He must face his mistakes in
the place where he had made them
and undo. II might be, some of the
harm he had done. He had to do
this whether he would Oh no. 1t was
rightSthat he should find his papers
and make good his claim. It was a
part of the true living he had set him
self from this time forth. He had
promised to let people see that he
was, trustworthy and this was the
first step. II Harrington and his men
got their way he would be branded as
a thief and a liar again and the old
Reputation only fixed the firmer.
II was toward evening when they
passed the scene OF the late disaster
and the long rays Of the sui rested
over the river and valley where peril
and death had brooded. A temporary
way had been made for the tracks, all
signe Of death and disaster swept
hastily out Of sight by the wrecking
train. and the tide of travel was al,
ready rolling calmly on again. A
swarm Of workmen. like ants carrying
grains OF sand over a wall, were at
work on the broken bridge, and the
passing traveller Slooked Scheerfully
across and got no hint OF fire and fear
and sudden death Even the trainmen
had had their orders and answered
g.nfly in brief sentences, when
questioned about the wreck, turning 1t
off lightly as a small thing, until they
heard that here was one Of the almost
victims OF the accident. Then they
looked sharply a second time and stole
back to talk in low tones with guarded
sentences about where the blame
should lie. But no, n know much
aboge the details, after all. The con-
ductor reluctantly admitted that the
victims, those who had been saved,
had been taken to the nearest city and
distributed among the hospitals. That
-y-as all. He implied that there-were
mari victims who had not even that
comfort.
So, on to the nearest city went Jas
per Holt, arriving shortly after" sun
down, and began his search among the
hospitals at once. having visited the
railroad office and got all the infor'
nation they could give him.
Three days and two night Jasper
Holt searched, in hospitals and NOR
cue. and even private homes. Where
ever he could learn Of a person who
had been through the accident he
wert to see if they knew any clue &c
the mar he sought, but not a hint did
he find. .
II was entirely reasonable - cup
pos that Scathlin had lost his life In
the fire or the river, and TO feel tina,
further search was unnecessary. Blu,
Jasper Holt, standing at the window OF
his hotel room and looking out on
the busy streets Of that western city
toward evening Of the third day
could not feel it SO. More and more
1t became necessary to find that man
or. be sure of his death, The three
days Of visiting hospitals and viewing
suffering and death had craven the
sad lines even deeper in his fine
strong face. ItsbsganEt to seem now ia
him that he might even have~a duty
towardthat ioathsone creature Scath
Din, though heaven knows why any
such thought should have entered his
head, seeing he was the, injured, no,
the injuring. But the more he thought
about 1t the more he felt that he must
search. further.
To look any longer In the city wal
absurd. He had already covered every
clue that he had found. and the railroad
uptborities wds beginning TO grow