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About Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 16, 1911)
SYNOPSIS. Jack Keith , a Virginian , now a bor der plainsman. Is riding along : the Santa m Fe trail on the lookout for roaming war parties "of savages. He notices a camp fire at a distance and then sees a team Attached to a wagon and at full gallop pursued by men on ponies. When Keith reaches the wagon the raiders have mass IV acred twto men and departed. He searches the victims finding papers and a locket ft with a woman's portrait He resolves to tmnt down the murderers. Keith is ar rested at Carson City , charged with the murder , his accuser being a ruffian named Black Bart He goes to Jail fully realiz ing the peril of swift border justice. A companion in his cell is a negro , who tells him he Is Neb and that he knew the Keith family back in Virginia. Neb says ono of the murdered men was John Sibley , ttre other Gen. "Willis Waite. for merly an officer in the Confederate army. The plainsman and Neb escape from the cell , and later the two fugitives become \ ' \ lost In the sand desert. They come upon 3. cabin and find its lone occupant to be a young girl , whom Keith recognizes as a singer he saw at Carson City. The girl ox-plains that she came there in search of * brother who had deserted from the army. A Mr. Hawley induced her to come to the cabin while he sought to lo- $ ate her brother. Hawley appears , and Keith In hiding recognizes him as Black Bart Hawley tries to make love to the Riri. There Is a terrific battle In the darkened room in which Keith overcomes Black "Bart Horses are appropriated , and "the girl who says that her name is Hope , ioins hi the escape. CHAPTER XII. ( Continued. ) "No ; I have ridden this country for 3f > ears , and there is no ranch pasturing < attle along the Salt Fork , Miss Hope , I want you to comprehend what it is you have escaped from ; what you are novr fleeing from. Within the last two Tears an apparently organized body of outlaws have been operating throughout this entire region. Often times 'disguised as Indians , they have terrorized the Santa Fe trail for two hundred miles , killing travelers in small parties , and driving off stock. There are few ranches as far west as "this , but these have all suffered from raids. These fellows have done more to precipitate the present Indian war than any act of the savages. They have endeavored to make the authori- "ties believe that Indians were guilty their deeds of murder and robbery. Both troops and volunteers have tried "to hold the gang up , but they scatter nd disappear , as though swallowed by the desert. I have been out twice , laard on their trail , only to come back baffled. Now , I think accident has .given me the clue. " 'She straightened up ; glancing questioningly - tioningly at him through the dark ness. "This is what I mean. Miss Hope. .1 suspect that cabin to be the rendezvous - dezvous of those fellows , and I half Relieve Hawley to be their leader. " "Then you will report all this to the authorities ? " He smiled grimly , his lips com pressed. I hardly think so ; at least , not for the present I am not blood-thirsty , or enamored of man-hunting , but I happen to have a personal interest in this particular affair which I should prefer to settle alone. " He paused , swiftly reviewing the circumstances of their short acquaintance , and as suddenly determined to trust her dis cretion. Deep down in his heart he rather wanted her to know. "The fact o the matter isthat Neb and I here were the ones that particular posse were trailing. " "You ! " her voice faltered. "He xaid those men were under arrest for murder , and had broken jail. " "He also said it was easy to con vict men in this country if you only .knew how. It is true we broke jail , ; but only in order to save our lives ; it was the only way. Technically , we are outlaws , and now run the risk of immediate re-arrest by returning north of the Arkansas. We came to ; you fugitives ; I was charged with snurder , the negro with assault. So , you see , Miss Hope , the desperate class of men you are now associating The slight bitterness in his tone stung the girl into resentment She was looking straight at him , but in the gloom he could not discern the expression of her eyes. "I don't believe it , " she exclaimed " decisively , "you you do not look like Chat ! " "My appearance may be sufficient to convince you. " he returned , rather dry ly. "but would weigh little before a "Western court Unfortunately , the evidence was strong against me ; or xeould have been had the case ever come to a trial. The strange thing about it was that both warrants were sworn out by the same complainant , and. apparently for a similar purpose Slack Bart' Hawley. " "What purpose ? " To keep us from telling what we "knew regarding a certain crime , In which either he , or some of his inti- .mate friends , were deeply interested. " "But it would all come out at the -trial , wouldn't it ? " "There was to be no trial ; Judge X.ynch settles the majority of such cases out here at present It is ex tremely simple. Listen , and I will tell you the story. " He reviewed briefly those occur rences leading directly up to his T- srest , sjng little regarding the her- THE IE OF THE PLAINS PAHDAIJL PADPISH AUTHOR Or'Mv LADVOF THE 6ouTH . WHEN WILDERNESS WAS KlMGr ETC.&C . CCopyrlcht. A. C. KoCIurg Jb Co. . 3510. ) "I don't believe it you you do not look like that , " she exclaimed. rors of that scene witnessed near the Cimmaron Crossing , but making suffl ciently clear his very slight connec tion with it , and the reason those who were guilty of the crime were so anx ious to get him out of the way. She listened intently , asking few ques tions , until he ended. Then they both looked up , conscious that dawn was becoming gray in the east Keith's first thought was one of relief the bright sky showed him they were rid ing straight north. CHAPTER XIII. The Ford of the Arkansas. They were still in the midst of the yellow featureless plain , but the weary horses had slowed down to a walk , the heavy sand retarding progress. It was a gloomy , depressing scene in the spectral gray light , a wide circle of intense loneliness , unbroken by either dwarfed shrub or bunch of grass , a barren expanse stretching to the sky. Vague cloud shadows seemed to flit across the level surface , assuming fan tastic shapes , but all of the same dull coloring , imperfect and unfinished. Nothing seemed tangible or real , but rather some grotesque picture of de lirium , ever merging into another yet more hideous. The very silence of those surrounding wastes seemed bur densome , adding immeasurably to the horror. They were but specks crawl ing underneath the sky the only liv ing , moving objects in all that im mense circle of desolation and death. Keith turned in his saddle , looking back past Neb who swayed in his seat , with head lolling on his breast as though asleep , his horse plodding after the others along the slight trail they had made across the desert So far as eye could reach nothing moved , nothing apparently existed. Fronting again to the north he looked upon the same grim barrenness , only that far off , against the lighter background of distant sky , there was visible a faint blur , a bluish haze , which he believed to be the distant sand dunes border ing the Arkansas. The intense drearl- iiess of it all left a feeling of depression. His eyes turned and regarded the girl riding silently beside him. The same look of depression was visible upon her face , and she was gazing off into the dull distance with lack-luster eyes , ber slender form leaning forward , her hands clasped across the pommel. The long weariness of the night had left traces on her young face , robbing it of some of its freshness , yet Keith "ound it more attractive in the grow- ng daylight than amid the lamp shad- ) ws of the evening before. He had lot previously realized the peculiar ilearness of her complexion , the rose : int showing through the olive skin. ) r the soft and silky fineness of her lair , which , disarranged , was strange- y becoming under the broad brim of ; he hat she wore , drawn low until it shadowed her eyes. It was not a face : o be easily associated with frontier concert halls , or any surrender to jvll ; the chin round and firm , the lips lull , yet sufficiently compressed ; the whole expression that of pure and dignified womanhood. She puzzled him. and he scarcely knew what to believe , or exactly how to act toward her. "Our friends back yonder should be turning out from the corral by now. " he said finally , anxious to break the silence , for she had not spoken since he ended his tale. "It will not be long until they discover Hawley's predicament , and perhaps the welkin already rings with profanity. That may even account for the blue haze out yonder. " She turned her eyes toward him , and the slightest trace of a smile ap peared from out of the depths of their weariness. "If they would only remain satisfied with that. Will they follow us , do you think ? And are we far enough away by this time to be safe ? " "It is hardly likely they will let us escape without a chase , " he answered slowly. "We possess too much information mation now that we have their ren dezvous located , and 'Black Bart' will have a private grudge to revenge. I wonder if he suspects who attacked him ! But don't worry , Miss Hope ; we have miles the start , and the wind has been strong enough to cover our trail. Do you see that dark irregular ity ahead ? " "Yes ; is it a cloud ? " "No ; the Arkansas sand dunes. I am going to try to keep the horses moving until we arrive there. Then we will halt and eat whatever Neb has packed behind him , and rest for an hour or two. You look very tired , but I hope you can keep up for that distance. We shall be safely out of sight then. ' " * "Indeed , I am tired ; the strain of waiting alone in that cabin , and all that happened last night , have tried me severely. But but I can go through. " Her voice proved her weakness , al though it was determined enough , and Keith , yielding to sudden impulse , put out his hand , and permitted it to rest upon hers , clasped across the pommel. Her eyes drooped , but there was no change of posture. "Your nerve is all right , " he said , admiringly , "you have shown yourself a brave girl. " "I could not be a coward , and be my father's daughter , " she replied , with an odd accent of pride in her choking voice , "but I have been afraid , and and I am still. " "Of what ? Surely , not that those fellows will ever catch up with us ? " "No. I hardly know what , only there s a dread I cannot seem to shake off , as if some evil impended , the coming of which I can feel , but not see. Have you ever experienced any such pre monition ? " Jie laughed , withdrawing his hand. "I tnink not. I am far too prosaic a mortal to allow dreams to worry me. So far I have discovered sufficient trouble in real life to keep my brain active. Even now I cannot forget how hungry I am. " She did not answer , comprehending how useless it would be to explain and a little ashamed of her own ill- defined fears , and thus they rode on in silence. He did not notice that she glanced aside at him shyly , marking the outline of his clear-cut features. It was a manly face , strong , alive , full of character , the well-shaped head firmly poised , the broad shoulders squared in spite of the long night of weary exertion. The depths of her eyes brightened with appreciation. "I believe your story , Mr. Keith , " she said at last softly. "My story ? " questioningly. and turn ing instantly toward her. "Yes ; all that you have told me about what happened. " "Oh ; I had almost forgotten having told it , but I never felt any doubt but what you would believe. I don't think I could lie to you. " It was no compliment , but spoken with such evident honesty that her eyes met his with frankness. "There could be no necessity ; only I wanted you to know that I trust you , and am grateful. " She extended her hand this time , and he took it within his own , holding it firmly , yet without knowing what to answer. There was strong impulse within him to question her , to learn then and there her own life story. Yet , somehow , the reticence of the girl restrained him ; he could not deliber ately probe beneath the veil she kept lowered between them. Until she chose to lift it herself voluntarily , he possessed no right to intrude. The gentlemanly Instincts of younger years held him silent , realizing clear ly that whatever secret might domi nate her life , it was hers to conceal just so long as she pleased. Out of this swift struggle of repression he managed to say : "I appreciate your confidence , and mean to prove worthy. Perhaps some day I can bring you the proofs. " "I need none other than your own word. " "Oh , but possibly you are too easily convinced ; you believed in Hawley. " She looked at him searchingly , her eyes glowing , her cheeks flushed. "Yes , " she said slowly , convincing ly. "I know I did ; I I was so anx ious to be helped , but but this is dif ferent" ( TO BE CONTINUED. ) ALAS ! THE POOR DUCHESS She Thought Wealthy Couple Wer * Making Sport of Her Wedding Present. Recently , when the wealthy Mile , de R. was to be married , one of our good duchesses had to make her a present , just a little present The duchess thought it would be useless to expend much money for a person so rich. She thought if she would look through her vast mansion she would be able to find something , some trinket , to which the addition of her card would give suffl- cient glory. She finally found in her writing desk an insignificant cameo that she had once worn. The following day she received from ber young friend a letter of enthusi astic thanks : "Oh , you have been very foolish ! This is too , too beautiful. " etc. "She Is making sport of my little present , " thought the good duchess. Then came a second letter , this time from the husband who was to be : 'How can we thank you ? We are de lighted. This will spoil us. " "The Impertinent fellow , " said the iuchess. "he wants me to understand Lhat 1 have been niggardly. " Nevertheless she went to pay a visit : o the R.'s before the marriage. There n the midst of the presents , exposed n a most prominent place , she saw the ittle cameo placed upon her card. An ) ld gentleman approached her. He vas a member of the Academy of In scriptions and Belleslettres. "What a wonderful present you have jiven these children , Madame la duch- ; ss , " he said. For forty years we have > een seeking for this very cameo. It s of the era of Trojan , and this trin- cet is valued at two hundred thousand rancs. " Ah , the poor duchess. Le Crl de 3aris. Primitive Canadian College. A great institution in embryo is the emarkable Emanuel college at Saska- eon , in the diocese of Saskatchewan. Lt the present time sixty young men re being trained there under Princi- lal Lloyd to meet the rapidly grow- ag demand for young clergymen in he vast territory of westeren Canada , L picture of this college shows a lot if wooden huts of the simplest spe- ies , standing on the open prairie , 'wo tutors live in shacks also A Boston Casuist. Mrs. Kawler But how in the world id you manage to hire this flat when he landlord is so set against families rith children ? Mrs. Smart I told him my children rere all underground. Mrs. K. But that was er Mrs. S. Oh , it was quite true. You ee , at the time I told him , I'd sent ie children riding through the sub- 'ay. ' Boston Evening Transcript. I OTHER PART ALL RIGHT. He When we are married we will live on bread and kisses , won't we , darling ? She Oh ! I don't like bread. A Matter of Constitution. "There's no use talking about wom en making themselves the equals of men. They never can do it. It's a mere matter of constitution. 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