I Desert Dust
I By €dwin L Sabin
Author of “How Are You Feeling?" eta
Now the dismounted warriors
Vaulted ahorse; at a gesture
;from the chief two men rode
Inside, farther to the east, seeking
:otber sign. They found none,
‘and to his shrill hail they return
ed.
! There was another command.
The company had strung bows,
Stripped their rifles of the buck
skin sheaths, had dropped robe
and blanket about their loins;
they spread out to right and left
|in close skirmish order; they ad
vanced three scouts, one on the
trail, one on either flank; and in
a broadened front they followed
"With a discipline, an earnestness,
a precision of purpose and a
doadly anticipation that drowned
every fleeting hope.
This was .unbearable: to lie
here awaiting an inevitable end.
“Shall we make a break for
Itf’' I proposed. “Ride and
fight? We might reach the train,
or a stage station. Quick!”
In my wild desire for action I
half arose. Her hand restrained
me.
“It would be madness Mr.
Beeson. We'd stand no show at
all in the open; not on these poor
mules.” She murmured to her
self. “Yes, they’re Sioux. That's
not so had. Were they Cheyennes
■—nog-souiiers-ijct me uumk.
I must talk with them.”
“But, they’re coming,” I rasp
ed, “They’re getting in range.
We’ve the gun, and twenty
cartridges. Maybe if I kill the
chief--”
She spoke, positive, under
breath
“Don’t shoot! Don’t! They
know we’re bore—know it per
fectly well. I shall talk with
them.”
“You? How? Why? Can
you persuade them? Would they
let, us go?”
“I’ll do what. T can. T have a
few words of Sioux; and there’s
the sign language. See/’ she
Raid. “They’ve discovered our
mutes. They know’ we’re only
two.”
The scouts on either flanks had
galloped outward and onward,
in swift circle, peering at our de
fenses. Lying low they scoured
at full speed; with mutual whoop
they crisscrossed beyond and
turned back for the main body
halted two hundred yards out
upon t.he flat plain.
There was a consultation; on
a sudden a great chorus of ex
ultant cries rang, the force
scattered, shaking fists and
weapons, preparing for a tenta
tive charge; and ere I could stop
her My Lady had sprung upright,
to mount upon a rock and all in
view to hold open hand above
her head. The sunshine glinted
upon her hair; a fugitive little
breezo bound her shabby gown
closer about her slim figure.
They had seen her instantly.
Another chorus burst, this time
in astonishment; a dozen guns
were leveled, covering her and
our nest white every visage
stared. But no shot belched;
thank Clod, no shot, with me
powerless to prevent, just as I
was powerless to intercept her.
The chief rode forward, at a
walk, his hand likewise lifted.
“Keep down! Keep down,
please,” she directed to me, white
she stood motionless. “Let me
try.”
#t The chief neared until w’e
might, sec his every lineament—
every item of his trappings, even
to tne black-tipped eagle feather
erect at the part in his braids.
And be rode carelessly, fearless
ly, to halt within easy speaking
distance; sat a moment, rifle
across his leggined thighs and
the folds of his scarlet blanket -
a splendid man, naked from the
waist up, his coppery chest pig
ment-daubed, his slender arms
braeeleted with metal, his eyes
'devouring her so covetously
that I felt the gloating thoughts
behkid them.
He called inquiringly: a greet
ing and a demand in one, it
sounded. She replied. And what
they two said, in woiy) and sign,
I could not know, but all the time
1 held my revolver upon him, un
til to my relief he abruptly
wheeled his horse and cantered
back to his men, leaving me with
wrist aching and heart pound
ing rrtadly.
She stepped lightly down;
answered my querying look.”
“It's all right. I’m going, and
Bo are you,” she said, with a
faint smile, oddly subtle—a
tremulous Smile in a white face.
, About her there was a mystery
27
which alarmed me; made me sit
up, chilled, to eye her and accuse.
“Where? We arc free, you
mean? What’s the bargain?”
“1 go to them. You go where
you choose—to the stage road, of
course. 1 have his promise.”
This brought me to my feet,
rigid; more than scandalized,
for no word can express the
shock.
“You go to them? And then
where?”
She answered calmly, flush
ing a little, smiling a little, her
eyes sincere.
“It’s the best way and the
only way. The chief will provide
for me and you yourself are free.
No, no,” she said, checking my
first indignant cry. “Really I
don’t mind. The Indians are
about the only persons left to me.
I'll be safe with them.” She
laughed rather sadly, but bright
ened. “I don’t know but that I
prefer them to the whites. I told
you 1 had no place. And this
saves you also, you see. I got
you into it—I’ve felt that you
blamed me, almost hated me.
Things have been breaking badly
for me ever since we met again
in Benton. So it’s up to me to
make good. You can go home,
and L shall not In* unhappy, I
think. I Iease believe that. The
wife if a great chief is quite a
personage—he won’t inquire
into my past. But if we try to
stay here you will certainly he
killed, and I shall suffer, and we
shall gain nothing. You must
take my money. Please do. Then
good-bye. I told him I would
come out, under his promise.”
She and the rocks reeled to
gether. That was my eyes, giddy
with a rush of blood, surging and
hot.
“Never, never, never!” I was
shouting, igiioimg her hand.
How she had misjudged me!
What a shame she had put upon
me! I could not credit. “You
shall not—I tell you, you shan’t.
I won't have it—it's monstrous,
preposterous. You shan’t go, l
shan’t, go. But wherever we go
we’ll go together. We’ll stand
them off. Then if they can take
us, let ’em. You make a coward
of me—a dastard. You’ve no
right to. I’d rather die.”
“Listen,” she chided, her
hand grasping my sleeve. “They
would take me anyway—don't
you see? After they had killed
.von. It would he the worse for
both of us. What oan you do,
with one arm. and a revolver,
and an unlucky woman? No,
Mr. Beeson (she was firm and
strangely formal); the cards are
faced up. I have closed a good
bargain for both of us. When
you are out, you need say noth
ing. Perhaps some day 1 may he
ransomed, should I wish to he.
But we can talk no further now.
He is impatient. The money—
you will need the money, and I
shall not. Please turn your hack
and I 'll get at my belt. Why,”
she laughed, “how well every
thing is coming. You are dispos
ed of, I am disposed of-”
“Money!” 1 roared. “God in
. Heaven! You disposed of? 1 dis
posed of? And my honor, madam!
What of that ?”
“And what of mine, Mr.
Beeson?’’ She stamped her foot,
coloring. “Will you turn your
hack, or-f Oh, we’ve talked
too long. But the belt you shall
have. Here-” She fumbled
within her gown. “And now,
udios and good luck. You shall
not despise me.”
ino cmer was advancing ac
companied by a warrior. Belli ml
him his men waited expectant,
gathered as an ugly blotch upon
the dun desert. Iler honor? The
word had double meaning.
Should she Sacrifice the one
honor in this crude essay to main
tain the other which she had not
i lost, to my now opened eyes?
1 could not deliver her tender
body over to that painted swag
gerer—any more than I could
have delivered it over to Daniel
himself. At last 1 knew, 1 knew.
History had written me a fool,
mid a cad, but it should not write
me a dastard. We were together,
and together we should always
be, come weal or woe, life or
deat h.
The money belt had been
; dropped at my feet. She had
| turned—1 leaped before her.
thrust her to rear, answered the
hail of the pausing chief.
‘‘No!” I squalled. And 1 add
ed for emphasis: ‘‘You go to
hell.”
He understood. The phrase
might have been familiar English
to him. I saw him stiffen in his
saddle; he called loudly, and
raised his rifle, threatening;
with a gasp—a choked “Good
bye”—she darted by me, running
on for the open and for him. She
and he filled all my landscape.
In a stark blinding rage of fear,
chagrin, rancorous jealously, I
leveled revolver and pulled trig
ger, but not at her, though even
that was not beyond me in the
crisis.
The bullet thwacked smartly;
the chief uttered terrible cry,
his rifle was tossed high, he bow
ed, swayed downward, his com
rade grabbed him, and they were
racing back closely side by side
and she was running back to me
and the warriors were shrieking
and brandishing their weapons
and bullets spatted the rocks—
all this while yet my hand shook
to the recoil of the revolver and
the smoke was still wafting from
the poised muzzle.
What had l done? But done
it was.
CHAPTER XX
The Queen Wins
She arrived breathless, dis
traught, instantly to drag me
down beside her, from where I
stood stupidly defiant.
“Keep out of sight,” she pant
ed. And—“Oh, why did you do
it? Why did you? I think you
killed him—they’ll never forgive.
They’ll call it treachery. You're
lost, lost.”
“But he shan’t have you,” I
gabbled. “Let them kill me if
they can. Till thou you’re mine.
Mine! Don’t you understand?
i want you.
“I don't understand,” she
faltered. She turned frightened
face upon me. “ You should have
let me go. Nothing can save you
now; not even f. You’ve ruined
the one chance you had. I
wonder why. It was my own
choice—you had no hand in it,
and it was my chance, too.” Her
voice broke, her eyes welled
piteously. “But you fired ou
him.” * ' *
“That was the only answer
left me,” I entreated. “You mis
judged me, you shamed me. I
tell you-”
Her lips slightly curled.
“Misjudged you? Shamed
you? Was that all? You’ve mis
judged and shamed me for so
long-” A hurst of savage
hoots renewed interrupted.
“They’re coming!” She knelt
up, to peer; I peered. The
Indians had deployed, leaving
the chief lying upon the ground,
their fierce countenances glaring
at our asylum. How clear their
figures were, in the sunshine,
limned against the lazy yellowish
sand, under the peaceful blue!
“They’ll surround us. I might
parley for myself, but I can do
nothing for you.”
“Parley, then,’’ 1 hade. “Save
yourself, any way you can.”
She drew in whitening as if
I had struck her.
“And you accuse me of having
misjudged you! 1 save myself—
merely myself? What do you in
tend to do? Fight?
“As long as you are with me;
and after. They’ll never take
me alive ; and take you they shall
not if 1 can prevent it. Damn
them, if they get you 1 mean to
make them pay for you. You’re
all I have.”
“You’d rather I’d stay? You
need me? Could 1 help?”
“Need you!” I groaned. “I’m
just finding out, too late.”
“And help? How? Quick!
Could I?”
“ By staying: by not surrender
ing yourself—your honor , my
honor. By saving that you’d
rather stay with me, for life, for
death, here, anywhere—after
I’ve said that I’m not deaf, blind,
dumb, ungrateful. I love you;
I’d rather die for you than live
without you.”
omen a glory glowed in her
haggard face and shone from her
brimming eyes.
“ We will fight, we will fight!”
she chanted. “Now 1 shall not
leave you. Oh, my man! Had
you kissed me last night we
would have known this longer.
We have so little time.” Slit*
turned from my lips. “Not now.
They’re coming Fight first;
and at the end, then kiss me,
please, and we’ll go together.”
The furious jells from that
! world outside vibrated among
our rocks. The Sioux all were
in motion, except the prostrate
figure of the chief. Straight on
ward they charged, at headlong
gallop, to ride over us like a
grotesquely tinted wave, and the
dull drumming of their ponies’
hoofs beat a diapason to th<* shrill
clamor of their voices. It was
enough to cow, but she spoke
steadily.
“You must fire,” she said.
“Hurry! Fire once, maybe
twice, to split them. I don’t think
they’ll rush us, yret.”
So I rose farther on my knees
and fired once—and again, point
blank at them with the heavy
Colt’s. It worked a miracle.
Every mother’s son of them
fell flat upon his pony; they all
swooped to right and to left as
if the bullets had cleaved them
apart in the center; and while I
gaped, wondering, they swept
past at long range, half on either
flank, pelting in bullet and near
spent arrow.
She forced me down.
“Low, low,” she warned.
“They’ll circle. They hold their
scalps dearly. We can only
wait. That was three. You have
fifteen shots left, for them; then,
one for me, one for you. You
understand?”
“I understand,” I replied.
“And if I’m disabled-?”
She answered quietly.
“It will be the same. One for
you, one for me.”
The circle had been formed:
a double circle, to move in two
directions, scudding ring revers
ed within scuding ring, the bow
men outermost. Around and
’round and ’round they galloped,
yelling gibing, taunting, shooting
so malignantly that the air was
in a constant hum and swish.
The lead whined and smacked,
the shafts streaked and clatter
ed
“Are you sorry I shot the
chief?” I asked. Amid the con
fusion my blood was coursing
evenly, and L was not afraid. Or
what avail was fear?
“I’m glad, glad,” she pro
claimed. But with sudden move
ment she was gone, bending low,
then crawling, then whisking
from sight. Had slic abandoned
me, after all? Had she—no!
God be thanked, here she came
back, flushed and triumphant, a
canteen in her hand.
“The mules might break,” she
explained, short of breath. “This
canteen is full. We’ll need it.
The other mule is frantic. 1
couldn’t touch her.”
At the moment I thought
how wise and brave and -beauti
ful she was! Mine for the hour,
here—and after? Montoyo should
never have her; not in life nor in
death.
“You must stop some of those
fiends from sneaking closer,'' she
counseled. “See? They're try
ing us out.”
More and more frequently
some one of the scurrying enemy
veered sharply, tore in toward
us, hanging upon the farther
side of his horse; boldly jerked
erect and shot, and with demi
volt of bis mount was away,
whooping.
(To he Continued.)
This is the land of glorious equality.
T.et him who dares, deny it. But
money and fame do make a difference,
in Pennsylvania a man, who had
nine dogs, was much attached to
them. But he is an alien, aliens are
not allowed to have dogs in Pennsyl
vania. The authorities killed all his
dogs.
--
SALT
"Ye are the salt of the Earth.”—
Matt. 5:13.
This figure of speech is plain and
pungent.
Salt is savory, purifying, preserva
tive.
It is one of those superfluities
which the great French wit defined
as “things that are very neseccary.”
From the very beginning of hu
man history men have set a high
value upon it and sought for it in
caves and by the seashore.
The nation that had a good supply
of It was counted rich.
A bag of salt, among the bar
barous tribes, was worth more than
a man.
The Jews prized it especially be
j cause they lived in a warm climate
where food was difficult to keep,
and because their religion laid par
ticular emphasis on cleanliness, and
because salt was largely used in
their sacrifices.
Christ chose an imag« which was
familiar when He said to His dis
ciples;
"Ye are the salt of the earth.”
This was His conception of their
mission, their influence.
They were to cleanse and sweeten
the world in which they lived, to
keep it from decay. \n give a new
and more wholesome flavor to hu
man existence.
Their character was not to he
passive, but active.
The sphere of its action was to be
) this present life.
There is no use in saving salt for
heaven.
It will not be needed there.
Its mission is to permeate, season,
and purify things on earth.
Let Penalty Be Swift and Sure.
From the St. Is>uis Post-Dispatch.
The United States is by way of
becoming the criminal's millen
nium. The man who commits a crime
in the United States can. if be have
the means or influence to invoke all
the resources which legal practice
has placed at his disposal, almost
surely escape full punishment; not
Infrequently he goes seot free. • « •
The solution of the problem, seem
ingly, is a system of court practice
by which tiie man accused of crime j
cun have a prompt and fair trial. 1
When convicted at such a trial he I
should pay the penalty imposed. It
should not be possible for him to
postpone the reckoning endlessly by I
the numerous devices by which he .
now evades settlement.
FAMED '2-GUN'
MAN DIES. 92
Led the Law a Merry Chase
For Many Years; “Shot
Up” Whole Towns
Denver—Active and spry to the
last, Newton Vorce. picturesque
frontiersman and a real gun fighter
of the early days when the west was
really wild and woolly, Is dead at his
home here at the age of 92.
Vorce was a veteran of the Civil
war, having been service with the
famous 'Moseby guerrillas.
He came to Colorado In the middle
sixties and soon became known far
and wide for his daring ‘‘gun play."
Moat of Vorce’s life was spent In
the country near Deer Trail and
Byers, on the prairie east of Denver.
The first few years of his career In
Colorado were confined to Indian
fighting, but later he became Involved
with the minions of the law and gave
many a peace officer sleepless
nights.
In 1887 Vorce was arrested for a
minor offense and was locked up
la the Arapahoe county jail. Tiring
of the drab surroundings, he kicked a
hole through the jail wail, helped
himself to pltols from the sheriff's
office, mounted a horse and rode
away. The sheriff immediately
organized a posse, and in a running
battle that followed Vorce had two
horses shot from under him. He was
finally cornered in a prairie dugout.
For hours he stood off his pursuers
until a stick of dynamite was hurled
onto the roof of the dugout. Vorce
then emerged, with a gun in each
hand spitting fire. He was over
powered a#d recaptured.
Several years later Vorce "shot
up" the town of Evans. Galloping
through the marin street on horse
back, he smashed, with bullets, every
one o-f the town’s acetylene street
lamps and defied the populace, who
poured out of their homes, with
pistols and rifles.
Later Vorce displayed his dislike
for immigrant labor when he shot up
a railroad car housing a score of
Greek laborers, near Byers.
Vorce’s gunwlelding escapades con
tinued Intermittently. At La Salle
he forced a prominent Greeley busi
ness mSfi to dance a jig In the main
street, to the tune of blazing revol
vers. When he was pursued by a
posse, after this out break, Vorce
was surrounded in the "Bad Lands.”
in eastern Colorado. He took refuge
in a sheep-herder’s dugout, and when
the posse located him he forced the
sheep herder to put on Vorce’s wear
ing apparel and leave the dugout.
While the posse was chasing the
sheepman, Vorce made good his
escape.
Despite his will career. Vorce was
a favorite with the old-time cattle
kings and worked as a cowpuncher
on numerous ranches, being employed
on a ranch near Roggen, Colo., up to
within a month of his death.
Vorce Is survived by his wife, to
whom he was married only 12 years
ago, when he waJ 80 years old.
Automobiles In Japan
Spell Doom of Rikisha
Tokyo.—The invasion of the motor
car into Japan has meant a steady
decline in one of the tourist at
tractions of the Empire, namely the
rikisha. Police reports in Tokyo
put the number of men who earn
their own livelihod by pulling the
two-wheeled vehicles around the
streets of the cpital at 14,000, a de
crease of about 6,000 In the last
five years.
Because of the certainty of good
tips nd an assured Income, Japa
nese youths have for years taken
up the rikisha business when they
were as young as 17. To protect
the public from decrepld rikisha
men, the police have heretofore pro
hibited any Japanese from pulling a
rikisha after they have reached the
age of 50. Recently the age limit
was raised to 55, so now a larger
number of jibless Japanese may
earn their living in this manner.
Predictions in Tokyo are that within
a few years the riklsha-man will be
a relic of the past In this city, due
to the ever increasing number of
motor car dealers, the arrival of
good roads. movement throughout
Japan and the general rise In the
standard of living.
New Color Process to
Bare Bogus Canvasses
New York.—French chemists have
perfected new methods of identifying
pictures, according to the American
Chemical Society. They use groups
of red, blue, green, or white to light
the picture, and they examine the
suspected canvas with the spectro
meter.
Employment of these various col
ors puts In relief the retouchings,
scrapings and changed signatures
which constitute a false picture. By
employing the ultra-violet ray they
make the zinc-white and certain
varnishes stand out by fluorescence.
Finally, by scraping off very small
amounts of paint, they have made
spectroscopic anna lyses of them, and
have been able thus to determine, for
example, in a false Renoir, the pre
sence of a cadmium yellow, when
Renoir only used chrome yellow.
Pall Bearers’ Union
Has Been Organized
San Francisco.—The undertakers
have their association, the embalm
•rs their union, and last but not
least the pallbearers have their as
sociation. it was learned today.
The association had its inception
to relieve the relatives of the dead
calling upon friends and in same
cases total strahgers to act In Urn
capacity of pallbearers.
It Builds
Strength
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functional organs, restore*
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the perfect balance.
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which we all feel at this
season of the year. j
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The Usual Arrangement
“Who’s the boss at your home—you
or your wife?’’ “Oh, we split it up—I
say I am, but she really Is.”
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