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. "
"How do you make that out ? It has
been demonstrated that women can
endure hardships even more stoically
than men. "
"Oh , I don't mean it that way. They
will always wait for the change , even
if it doesn't amount to more than a
cent. "
A Failure.
"Has he had a successful career ? "
"No. He doesn't owe anybody any
money. "
There are still a few legitimate
ways of acquiring wealth.
DANGER SIGNALS.
Sick kidneys give unmistakable sig
nals of distress. Too frequent or scanty
urinary passages , backache , headache
and dizzy spells tell of disordered kid
neys. Neglect of
Ihcse warnings
may prove fatal.
Begin using Doan's
Ividney Pills. They
cure sick kidneys.
Mrs. M. A. Gam-
blin , Russellville ,
Ark. , says : "I was
in such bad shape
from kidney dis
ease that I gave
up hope of recovery. There were de
cided dropsical symptoms , my heart
palpitated violently and the pains in my
back almost drove me frantic. After
doctoring without benefit , I began tak
ing Doan's Kidney Pills and when I
had used two boxes , I was as well as
ever. "
"When Your Back Is Lame , Remem-
berthe Name DOAN'S. " 50callstores
Foster-Milburn Co. , Buffalo , N. Y.
Insulted.
A strapping German \vith big beads
of perspiration streaming down his
face was darting in and out of the
aisles of a Philadelphia department
store.
His excited actions attracted the at
tention of all salespersons , and they
hardly knew what to make of it. A
hustling young man of the c.Iothing
department walked up to him and
asked , "Are you looking for something
in men's clothing ? "
"Xo ! " he roared ; "not men's cloth
ing ; vimen's clothing. I can't find my
wife ! " Lippincotts.
A practical joke is never what iff
cracked up to he.
CASTORIA
9 oo DROPS
For Infants and Children.
" ' " imnuiiiiiiiimiiiiniiiiiliiiiiiimiiiiiiiimiiiini .
\
The Kind You Have
Always Bought
ALCOHOL-3 PER CENT
AVcgctable Preparation for As -
similatingiheFoodandReula-
Promotes DigesHonCheerful-
fi ness and Resl.Con tains neither
Opium.Morphine nor Mineral
NOT NAR c OTIC
fftcyjf
Sfd -
sflxJtnna *
JfoeheUt Salts -
Anist Seed *
53 fkppenninl -
Harm Seed -
Clarfied Suyar
Winttrgreen flavor
A perfect Remedy forConstipa-
tion , Sour StomachDiarrhoea ,
Worms .Convulsions .Feverish-
ness and LOSS OF SLEEP
Facsimile Signature of
Thirty Years
* THE CENTAUR COMPANY\
NEW YORK.
35 Ate DOSES mont
CASTORUt
[ Guaranteed under the Foodarj
Exact Copy of Wrapper. . .
TH CINTAUR COMPANY" NEW YORK CITY.
i
TO EVERYONE INTERESTED IN
who will cut out this advertisement and mail it to us with your name and
address plainly written on coupon below , together with 2c for postage , we
will tend absolutely Free a set of Animal Tracks in Snow or Mud
showing the foot prints of Rabbits , Deer , Muskrat , Skunk , Mink , Squirrel ,
Fox , Coon and Otter ; running , walking or leaping , and also pattern sheet
* f sfaa for Mink and Skunk. For 4 cents we will tend you the above articla and
* our 40 pace Trappers Book. For 6 cents we will send you all these articles and
picture of 46 Wild Animals in natural colors with Key. Trap cataloa and
* Pries lit t&Hidi and Tun. We pay the highest market price for Jlidtt and
Fun and make prompt settlement for each shipment. We also sell lluntm - < V
and fraffer , suppiies cheap. Write your name and address plainly
* o these articles may be sure to reach you.
Yours always for a Square Deal , the Old Reliable
Northwestern Hide & Fur Co.
ESTB. 1800
MINNEAPOLIS. MINN.
W. L. DOUGLAS
S2,50S3.00$3.50&S4.00 SHOES
W9MEN wear W. L. Douglas stylish , perfect
fittinjy.easy walking boots , because they give
lonjj wear , same as W.L.DougIas Men's shoes.
THE ENORMOUS INCREASE
in the sale ofV. . L. Douglas shoes proves
their superiority over all other makes for
the price. h
The workmanship which has made W.
L. Douglas shoes famous the world over is
maintained in every pair.
If I could take you into my large factories
at Brockton , Mass. , and show you how
carefully W.L.DougIas shoes are made , you
would then understand why they are war
ranted to hold their shape , fit better and
wear longer than any other make for the price \i
CAUTION The Senuine have W. L. Douglas
% 0nil lUiv
nAmft &Yid nrJco ft AmnAf1 on fmitrim
If you cannot obtain W. L. Douglas shoos in ONE
jour town , write tor catalog. Shoes sent direct 3.S > SHOES
from factory to wearer , all charges prepaid. W.r , . TWO PAIRS 2f
DOUGLAS. 145 Spark St. . LoSktou , Mass :
-vU
- . * A
