:
; J
Jy
l !
s
T TRUST
|
You'll ba de
lighted with the re
sults of Calumet Baking
Powder. . No disappoints
no flat , heavy , soggy biscuits ,
cake , or pastry.
Jast the lightest , daintiest , most
uniformly raised and most deli
cious food you ever ate *
Reoettttf highest reward World's
Pure Food Exposition ,
AWFUL SURPRISE.
Magistrate This ofllcer says you approached
preached your wife , spoke to her and
she fainted.
Rastus Dat's right , Jedge.
Magistrate What did you say to
ler ?
Rastus Jes' tole her dat I loved
"her , sah.
Not Knocking Slattery.
Mrs. Coogan An' the little thing Is
the divll's own image of his father.
Mrs. Slattery Yis , but I don't moind
that so long as he kapes hilthy.
Puck.
Two of a Kind.
"Going abroad this summer , Mrs.
Leeder ? "
"Why ah "
"Isn't that a coincidence ? I'm not ,
either. "
A man never gets too old to remem
ber some of the things that never oc
curred when he was a boy.
Saves Worry
Time
and Trouble
PostToasties
Toasties
Can be served in
stantly with creamer
or milK.
It maKes a breaKfast -
fast or lunch so supe
rior to the ordinary ,
that it has become
a welcome pantry
necessity in thou
sands of homes , and
adds to the comfort
and pleasure of life.
"The Memory Lingers"
Sold by Grocers
Postum Cereal Co. , Ltd. ,
Battle Creek , Mich.
THE
LE OF THE PLAINS
. .
AUTHOR OF'MY LADY OF THE SOUTH"vl \
> WHEM WILDERNESS WAS Kiricf ETC.CTC .
BY DEARBORN MeiviLir.
( Copyright , A. C. McClurg Jk Co. . 19ia )
SYNOPSIS.
Jack Keith , a Virginian , now a bor
der plainsman. Is riding along the Sants
Fe trail on the lookout for roaming wai
parties of savages. He notices a camj
fire at a distance and then sees a tearr
attached to a wagon and at full galloj
pursued by men on ponies. When Keitl
reaches the wajron the raiders have massacred -
acred two men and departed. He searches
the victims finding papers and a lockel
with a woman's portrait. He resolves tc
hunt down the murderers. Keith is ar
rested at Carson City , charged with the
murder , his accuser being a ruffian namec
Black Bart. . He goes to Jail fully realiz
ing the peril of swift border justice. A
companion in his cell is a negro , whc
tells him he is Neb and that he knew the
Keith family back in Virginia. Neb says
one of the murdered men was Johr
Slbley , the other Gen. Willis Waite , for
merly an officer in the Confederate army ,
The plainsman and Neb escape from the
celL
CHAPTER VI. ( Continued. )
It was the quiet , confident voice oi
assured command , of one satisfied
with his plans , and the obedient negro ,
breathing hard , never dreamed of op
position ; all instinct of slavery held
him to the dominion of this white mas
ter. Keith leaned forward , staring at
the string of deserted ponies tied to
the rail. Success depended on his
choice , and he could judge very little
in that darkness. Men were strag
gling in along the street to their right ,
on foot and horseback , and the sa
loon on the corner was being well pat
ronized. A glow of light streamed
forth from its windows , and there was
the sound of many voices. But this
narrow alley was deserted , and black.
The fugitive stepped boldly forward ,
afraid that otherwise he might startle
the ponies and thus create an alarm.
Guided by a horseman's instinct he
swiftly ran his hands over the animals
and made quick selection.
"Here , Neb , take this fellow ; lead
him quietly down the bank , " and he
thrust the loosened rein into the
black's hand.
An instant later lie had chosen his
own mount , and was silently moving
in the same direction , although the
night there was so black that the
obedient negro had already entirely
vanished. The slope of the land not
only helped cover their movements ,
but also rendered it easy for them to
find one another. Fully a hundred yards
westward they met , where a gully led
directly down toward the river. There
was no longer need for remaining on
foot , as they were a sufficient distance
away from the little town to feel no
fear of being discovered , unless by
some drunken straggler. At Keith's
command the negro climbed into his
saddle. Both ponies were restive , but
not vicious , and after a plunge or two ,
to test their new masters , came easily
under control. Keith led the way ,
moving straight down the gully , which
gradually deepened , burying them in
its black heart , until it finally de
bouched onto the river sands. The
riotous noises of the drunken town
died slowly away behind , the night
silent and dark. The two riders could
scarcely distinguish one another as
they drew rein at the edge of the wa
ter. To the southward there gleamed
a cluster of lights , marking the posi
tion of the camp of regulars. Keith ,
drove his horse deeper into the stream
and headed northward , the negro fol
lowing like a shadow.
There was a ford directly opposite
the cantonment , and another , more
dangerous , and known to only a few ,
three miles farther up stream. KeepIng -
Ing well within the water's edge , seas
as to thus completely obscure their
trail , yet not daring to venture deep for
fear of striking quicksand , the plains
man set his pony struggling forward ,
until the dim outline of the bank at
his right rendered him confident that
they had attained the proper point for
crossing. He had been that way only
once before , and realized the danger of
attempting passage in such darkness ,
but urgent need drove him forward.
"Follow me just as close as you can ,
boy , " he said sternly , "and keep both
your feet out of the stirrups. If your
horse goes down hang to his tail , and
let him swim out. "
There was little enough to guide by ,
merely a single faint star peering out
from a rift of the clouds , but Keith's
remembrance was that the ford led
straight out to the center of the
stream , and then veered slightly to
ward the right. He knew the sand
ridge was only used by horsemen , not
being wide enough for the safe pass
age of wagons , but the depth of the
water on either side was entirely
problematical. He was taking a big
chance , yet dare not wait for daylight.
Summoning all his nerve and alert
ness , he urged his horse slowly for
ward , the intelligent animal seeming
ly comprehending the situation , and
feeling carefully for footing. The ac
tions of the animal gave the rider
greater confidence , and he loosened
his grip on the rein , leaving the pony's
instinct to control. * The latter fairly
crept forward , testing the sand before
resting any weight upon the hoof , the
negro's mount following closely. The
water was unusually high , and as they
advanced it bore down against them
in considerable volume ; then , as they
veered to the right , they were com
pelled to push directly against its
weight in struggling toward shore.
The men could see nothing but this
solid sheet of water rushing down
toward them from out the black void ,
and then vanishing below. Once
Keith's horse half fell , plunging nose
under , yet gaining foothold again be
fore the rider had deserted his saddle.
A dim darkness ahead already re
vealed the nearness of the southern
bank , when Neb's pony went down
suddenly , swept fairly off its legs by
some fierce eddy in the stream. Keith
heard the negro's guttural cry , and
caught a glimpse of him as the two
were sent whirling down. The coiled
rope of the lariat , grasped in his right
hand , was hurled forth like a shot ,
but came back empty. Not another
sound reached him ; his own horse
went steadily on , feeling his way , un
til he was nose against the bank , with
water merely rippling about his ankles.
Keith driving feet again Into the stir
rups headed him down stream , wading
close In toward the shore , leaning for
ward over the pommel striving to see
through the gloom.
He had no doubt about Neb's pony
making land , unless struck by some
driftwood , or borne to the center of
the stream by the shifting force of the
current. But if Neb had failed to re
tain his grip he might have been
sucked under by the surge of waters.
A hundred yards below he found them ,
dripping and weak from the "struggle ,
yet othejsytalUMAprt. There were no
"A hundred and fifty miles as the
crow flies , and sand all the way , ex
cept for the valley of Salt Fork. Come
on now , and keep close , for it's easy
to get lost in these sand hills. "
Keith had ridden that hundred and
fifty miles of sandy desolation before ,
but had never been called upon to
make such a journey as this proved to
be. He knew there was little to fear
from human enemies , for they were
riding far enough east of the Santa Fe
trail to be out of the path of raiding
parties , while this desert country was
shunned by Indian hunters. It con
sisted of sand hill after sand hill , a
drear waterless waste , where nothing
grew , and mid the dread sameness of
no"A a traveler could only find pass
age by the guidance of stars at night
or the blazing sun by day.
They had covered ten miles of it by
daybreak , their ponies traveling heavi
ly , fetlock deep , but could advance no
further. With the first tint of rose in
the east the brooding storm burst
upon them in wild desert fury , the
fierce wind buffeting them back , lash
ing their faces with sharp grit until
they were unable to bear the pain.
The flying sand smote them In clouds ,
driven with the speed of bullets. la
vain they lay flat , urging their ponies
forward ; the beasts , maddened and
blinded by the merciless lashing of the
sand , refused to face the storm. Keith ,
all sense of direction long since lost ,
"Do You See That Straight Ahead of You ? "
words spoken , but the black and white
hands clasped silently , and then Neb
crept back into the saddle , shivering
n his wet clothes as the cool night
wind swept against him. Keeping
close in toward shore , yet far enough
out so that the water would hide their
trail , the fugitives toiled steadily up
stream , guided only by the black out-
ine of the low bank upon their left.
CHAPTER VII.
In the Sand Desert.
Suddenly Keith halted , bringing his
pony's head sharply about , so that the
two faced one another. The wind was
rising , hurling clouds of sand Into
their eyes , and the plainsman held one
hand before his face.
"There's no need of keeping up a
water trail any longer , " he said quiet
ly. "By all the signs we're in for a
sand storm by daylight , and that will
cover our tracks so the devil himself
couldn't follow them. Got a water bag
on your saddle.
"I reck'n dis am one , sah. "
Keith felt of the object Neb held
forth.
"Yes , and a big one , too ; fill It and
strap it on tight ; we've got a long ,
dry ride ahead. "
"Whar' yof propose goln' , Massa
Jack ? "
" ' * the Canadian.
"To the 'Bar X on
I've worked with that outfit. They'll
give us whatever we need , and ask
no questions ; I don't know of anything
in between. It's going to be a hard
ride , boy , and mighty little to eat ex
cept what I saved from supper. "
"How far am it to dis yere 'BarX ? ' "
rolled wearily from the saddle , bur
rowed under the partial shelter of a
sand dune , and called upon Neb to
follow him. With their hands and feet
they made a slight wind-break , drag
ging the struggling ponies into its
protection , and burrowed themselves
there , the clouds of sand skurrying
over them so thick as to obscure the
sky , and rapidly burying them alto
gether as though in a jgrave. Within
an hour they were compelled to dig
themselves out , yet it proved partial
escape from the pitiless lashing. The
wind howled like unloosed demons ,
and the air grew cold , adding to the
sting of the grit , when some sudden
eddy hurled it into their hiding place.
To endeavor further travel would
mean certain death , for no one coula
have guided a course for a hundred
feet through the tempest
It was three o'clock before It died
sufficiently down for them to venture
out. Even then the air remained full
of sand , while constantly shifting
ridges made travel difficult. Only
grim necessity the suffering of the
ponies for water , and their own need
for soon reaching the habitation of
man and acquiring food drove them
to the early venture. They must at
tain the valley of the Salt Fork that
night , or else perish in the desert
there remained no other choice. Ty
ing neckerchiefs over their horses'
eyes , and lying flat themselves , they
succeeded in pressing slowly forward ,
winding in and out among the shift
ing dunes , with only the wind to guide
them. It was an awful trail , the hoofs
sinking deep In drifting sand , the
struggling ponies becoming so e-
hausted that their riders finally dia
mounted , and staggered forward 01
foot , leading them stumbling blindl ;
after. Once the negro's hors <
dropped , and had to be lashed to ifc
feet again ; once Keith's pony stum
bled and fell on him , hurling him fac <
down Into the sand , and he wouh
have died there , lacking sufficlen
strength to lift the dead weight , bu
for Neb's assistance. As it was h <
went staggering blindly forward
bruised , and faint from hunger am
fatigue.
About them night finally closed In
black and starless , yet fortunately
with a gradual dying away of th <
storm. For an hour past they hac
been struggling on , doubting their di
rection , wondering dully if they wen
not lost and merely drifting about ir
a circle. They had debated thii
fiercely once , the ponies standing de
jectedly , tails to the storm , Neb argu
Ing that the wind still blew from the
south , and Keith contending it ha < !
shifted into the westward. The white
man won his way , and they staggered
on uncertain , the negro grasping tht
first pony's tall to keep from being
separated from his companion. Some
instinct of the plains must have guld
ed them , for at last they dragged
themselves out from the desert , the
crunching sand under foot changing
into rock , and then to short brittle
grass , at which the ponies nibbled eag
erly. The slope led gradually down
ward , the animals scenting water , and
struggling to break away. Swaying
In their saddles , the riders let them
go , and they never stopped until bells
deep In the stream , their noses burled ,
The men shivered in their saddles ,
until , at last satisfied , the ponies con
sented to be forced back up the bank ,
where they nibbled at the short tufts
of herbage , but in a manner expres
sive of weariness. Keith flung him
self on the ground , every muscle ol
his body aching , h'ls exposed flesh still
smarting from the hall of sand.
He had not the slightest conception
as to where they were , except he
knew this must be the Suit Fork. Ut
terly confused by the maze of shifting
dunes , through whose intricacies they
had somehow found passage , the black
ness of the night yielded no clue as tc
their point of emergence. The vol
ume of water in the stream alone
suggested that In their wanderings
they must have drifted to the east
ward , and come out much lower down
than had been originally Intended. II
so , then they might be almost directly
south of Carson City , and in a section
with which he was totally unacquaint
ed. One thing was , however , certain
they would be compelled to wait for
daylight to ascertain the truth , and
decide upon their future movements.
Keith arose reluctantly , and remov
ed the saddles from the animals , hob
bling them so they could graze at
will. Neb was propped up beneath an
out-cropping of the bank , which partly
protected him from the wind , a mere
hulk of a shadow. Keith could not
tell whether he slept or not , but made
no effort to disturb him. A moment
he stared vacantly about into the
black silence , and then lay down , pil
lowing his head upon a saddle. He
found it impossible to sleep , the chill
of the wind causing him to turn and
twist , in vain search after comfort ,
while unappeased hunger gnawed in
cessantly. His eyes ranged about over
the dull gloom of the skies until they
fell again to the earth level , and then
he suddenly sat up , half believing him
self in a dream down the stream , how
far away he could not judge , there
gleamed a steady , yellowish light. It
was no flicker of a camp fire , yet re
mained stationary. Surely no star
could be so low and large ; nor did he
recall any with that peculiar * } ; ol
color. If such a miracle was possible
in the heart of that sandy desert he
would have sworn it was a lamp shin
ing through a window. But he had
never heard of any settler on the Salt
Fork , and almost laughed at the
thought , believing for the instant his
brain played him some elfish trick.
Yet that light was no illusion ; he rub
bed his eyes , only to see it more clear
ly , convinced now of its reality. He
strode hastily across , and shook Neb
into semi-consciousness , dragging him
bodily up the bank and pointing down
the stream.
"Do you see that ? " he inquired anx
iously. "There , straight ahead ol
you ? "
The negro stared , shaking with cold ,
and scarcely able to stand alone.
"Maybe it am de moon , Massa Jack , "
he muttered , thickly , "or a goblin's
lantern. Lawd , I don't jest like de
looks ob dat ting. "
"Well , I do , " and Keith laughed un
easily at the negro's fears. "All I
wanted to know was If you saw what
[ saw. That's a lamp shining through
a window. Neb. What in heaven's
name it can be doing here I am un
able to guess , but I'm going to find out.
[ t means shelter and food , boy , even If
we have to fight for it. Come on , the
horses are safe , and we'll discover
what Is behind that light yonder. "
( TO BE CONTINUED. *
Overpoliteness is the surest indica
tion one is not to the manner born.
GUARANTEED
TO BE PURE ,
Best for
COUGHS 5 COLDS
SEEMS EASIER TO REMEMBER
Remarks of Writer in Cleveland Plain
Dealer Appear to Contain
Much Sense.
There is a new science called mne
monics , which Is trying to get itself
introduced Into our public schools. We
have no knock on this science only it
seems to us to be a roundabout way
of arriving at facts that you ought to
remember right off the bat It ap
pears to work something in this man
ner :
"When was Lincoln born ? " asks the
teacher.
"I f-f-forget , " whines the pupil.
"Naturally you do. Go at It right.
How many Muses are there In mythol
ogy ? "
"Nine. "
"Right. Now double that number. "
"Twice-nine's-eighteen. " \ ;
"Right again. Multiply it by 100. "
" 1800. "
"Good. Add the number of Muses
to that. "
" 1809. "
"Aha ! That's when Lincoln was
born. Why don't you learn the scien
tific way of getting at these things ? "
As we said in the first place , it's a
noble science , but we'd rather remem
ber dates. Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Two of a Kind.
"I find that my husband has been
having the office boy call me up every
day and mumble terms of endearment.
That's a nice way to fool his wife.
He's been going to the ball game. "
"How is it that you didn't catch on
to the voice ? "
"Well , I'm busy at bridge every day ,
and I've been having the cook answer
the telephone. "
The Climatic Autocrat.
"What I should like , " said the self-
indulgent person , "would be to have
wealth enough to permit me to live
in a cool place in summer , and regu
late the temperature according to my
own fancy in winter. "
"You don't need wealth. What your
want is the job of janitor. "
A Paraphrase.
"You take close notice of the places
to which people are invited. "
"Yes , " replied Mrs. Cumrox ; "in
our circle invitations are the sincerest
flattery. "
Be sure your sorrow Is not giving-
you its best , unless it makes you a
more thoughtful person than you have
ever been before. Phillips Brooks.
A FINt NIGHT-CAP
The Best Thing in the V/orld to Go tc
Bed and Sleep On.
"My wife and I find that 4 teaspoonfuls -
fuls of Grape-Nuts and a cup of hot
milk , or some cream , with it , makes
the finest night-cap in the world , " says
an Alleghany , Pa. , man.
"We go to sleep as soon as we strike
the bed , and slumber like babies till
rising time in the morning.
"It is about 3 years now since we be
gan to use Grape-Nuts food , and we i
always have it for breakfast and be i
fore retiring and sometimes for lunch.
I was so siclsr from what the doctors-
called acute indigestion and brain fag
before I began to use Grape-Nuts that I
could neither eat , sleep nor work with
any comfort.
"I was afflicted at the same time
with the most intense pains , accompan
ied by a racking headache and back
ache , every time I tried to eat any
thing. Notwithstanding an unusual
pressure from my professional duties ,
I was compelled for a time to give up
my work altogether.
"Then I put myself on a diet of
Grape-Nuts and cream alone , with an
occasional cup of Postum as a runner-
Ji
up , and sometimes a little dry toast. I
assure you that in less than a week I
felt like a new man ; I had gained six
pounds in weight , could sleep well
and think well.
"The good work went on , and I was
soon ready to return to business , and
have been hard at it , and enjoying it
ever since.
"Command me at any time any one
enquires as to the merits of Grape-
Nuts. You will find me always ready
to testify. " Name given by Postum
Co. , Battle Creek , Mich.
Read the little book , "The Road to
Wellville , " In pkgs. "There's a reason. "
Ever read the above letter ? A new
one nppenru from time to time. They
are genuine , true , and foil of bunuut
Interest.
