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About Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 7, 1911)
THE LE OF THE PLAINS _ , AUTHOR Or'My LAjvOf THE SOUTH" JJl WHEM WILDERNESS WAS Kind CTC.ETC . ' ItLUSTRATISMS By ( Copyright , 'A. C. McClur * & Co. . 19J0. ) 14 SYNOPSIS. Jack Keith , a Virginian , now a bor der plainsman , Is riding : alone : the Santa 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 acred two men and departed. He searches the victims finding paoers and a locket with a woman's portrait He resolves to hunt down the murderers. Keith Is ar rested at Carson City , charged with the murder , his accuser being a ruffian named Black BarL 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 one of the murdered men was John Slbley. the other Gen. Willis Walte. 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 a cabin and find its lone occupant to be a young girl , whom Keith recognizes as a singer he saw at Carson City. The girl explains that she came there In search of a brother who had deserted from the. army. A Mr. Hawley induced her to come to the cabin while he sought to lo cate her brother. Hawley appears , and Keith In hiding recognizes him as Black Bart. Hawley tries to make love to the Klrl. 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 , joins In the escape. Keith explains his situation and the fugitives make for Fort learned , where the girl is left with the hotel landlady. Miss Hope tells that she 1s the daughter of General Waite. CHAPTER XVI. ( Continued. ) It was a grim picture of depravity and desolation , the environment dull , gloomy , forlorn ; all Miat was worthy the eye or thought L3ing the pulsing human element. All about extended the barren plains , except where on one side a ravine cut through an over hanging ridge. From the sePthing street one could look up to the sum mit , and see there the graves of the many who had died deaths of violence , and been borne thither In "their fooots. " Amid all this surrounding desolation was Sheridan the child of B , few brief months of existence , and destined to perish almost as quickly the center of the grim picture , a mere cluster of rude , unpainted houses , poorly erected shacks , grimy tents flapping in the never ceasing wind swirling across the treeless waste , the ugly red station , the rough cowpens -filled with lowing cattle , the huge , ungainly - gainly stores , their false fronts decorated - rated by amateur wielders of the 'paint brush , and the garish dens o'f vice tucked in everywhere. The pendulum - -dulum of life never ceased swinging. : Society was mixed ; no man cared who 1 his neighbor was , or dared to question. * Of women worthy the name there ; were few , yet there were flitting fe male forms in plenty , the saloon lights revealing powdered cheeks ana paint ed eyebrows. It was a strange , rest- fless populace , the majority here to- 'day. disappearing tomorrow cow- toys , half-breeds , trackmen , graders , desperadoes , gamblers , saloon-keepers , merchants , generally Jewish , petty of ficials , and a riff-raff no one could ac count for , mere floating debris. The town was an eddy catching odd bits -of driftwood such as only the frontier ever knew. Queer characters were everywhere , wrecks of dissipation , de relicts of the East , seeking nothing save oblivion. Everything was primitive passion : and pleasure ruled. To spend easily made money noisily , brazenly , was the ideal. From dawn to dawn the search -after joy continued. The bagnios and dance halls were ablaze ; the barrooms -rooms crowded with hilarious or quarrelsome humanity , the gambling tables alive with excitement Men swaggered along the streets looking for trouble , and generally finding It ; cowboys rode into open saloon doors and drank in the saddle ; troops of congenial spirits , frenzied with liquor , -spurred recklessly through the street firing into the air , or the crowd , as their whim led ; bands played popular airs on balconies , and innumerable "ba " : ers" added their honeyed invi tations to the perpetual din. From end to end it was a saturnalia of vice , a babel of sound , a glimpse of the in ferno. Money flowed like water ; every man was his own law , and the gun the arbiter of destiny. The town marshal , and a few cool-headed depu ties moved here and there amid the chaos , patient , tireless , undaunted , seeking merely to exercise some slight restraint This was Sheridan. Into the one long street just at dusk rode Keith and Neb , the third horse trailing behind. Already lights were beginning to gleam in the crowded saloons , and they were obliged to proceed slowly. Leaving the negro at the corral to find some purchaser for the animals , and such accommoda tions for himself as he could achieve , .Keith shouldered his way on foot through the heterogeneous mass to- vrard the only hotel , a long two-storied wooden structure , unpainted , fronting the glitter of the Pinoeer Dance Hall opposite. A noisy band was splitting the air with discordant notes , a loud- -voiced "barker" yelling through the mproar , but Keith , accustomed to similar - ; lar scenes and sounds elsewhere , retrode through the open door of the feotel , and guided by the noisy , contin uous clatter of dishes , easily found his tv > the dining-room. It was crowd- with men , a few women scattered here and there , most of the former In shirt-sleeves , all eating silently. A few smaller tables at the back of the room were distinguished from the oth ers by white coverings in place of oil cloth , evidently reserved for the more distinguished guests. Disdaining cere mony , the new comer wormed his way through , finally discovering a vacant seat where his back would be to the wall , thus enabling him to survey the entire apartment. It was not of great Interest , save for its constant change and the primi tive manner in which the majority at tacked their food supply , which was piled helter-skelter upon the long tables , yet he ran his eyes searchlngly over the numerous faces , seeking im partially for either friend or enemy. No countenance present , as revealed in the dim light of the few swinging lamps , appeared familiar , and satis fied that he remained unknown , Keith began devoting his attention to the dishes before him , mentally express ing his opinion as to their attractive ness. Chancing.finally to again lift his eyes , he met the gaze of a man sitting directly opposite , a man who somehow did not seem exactly in har mony with his surroundings. He was short and stockily built , with round rosy face , and a perfect shock of wiry hair brushed back from a broad fore- Puzzled at the unexpected recogni tion , yet realizing the friendliness of the man , Keith grasped the pudgy fin gers extended with some cordiality. "Don't remember me I s'pose don't think you ever saw me delirious when I came hate to tell you what you was talking about gave you hypodermic first thing behaved well enough though when I dug out the lead Minie bullet , badly blunted hitting the rib thought you might die with blood poison couldn't stay to see to damn much to do evident ly didn't though remember me now ? " "No , only from what you say. You must have been at General Waite's headquarters. " "That's It charge of Stonewall's field hospital just happened to ride Into Waite's camp that night damn lucky for you I did young snip there wanted to saw the bone I stopped that liked your face Imagined you might be worth saving ain't so sure of It now , or you wouldn't be out in this God forsaken country , eating such grub my name's Fairbaln Jo seph Wright Fairbain , M. D. contract surgeon for the railroad working on the line ? " Keith shook his head , feeling awak ening interest in his peculiar com panion. "No ; just drifted in here from down Keith Elbowed His Way Through the Heterogenous Crowd. head ; his nose .wide but stubby , and chin massive. Apparently he was he tween forty and fifty years or age , ex ceedingly well dressed , his gray eyes shrewd and full of a grim humor. Keith observed all this in a glance , becoming aware at the same time that his neighbor was apparently studying him also. The latter broke silence with a quick , jerky utterance , which seemed to peculiarly fit his personal appearance. Damn It all know you , sir sure I do but for life of me can't tell where. " Keith stared across ate him more searchlngly , and replied , rather In differently : "Probably a mistake then , as I have no recollection of your face. " "Never made a mistake , sir never forget a face , " the other snapped with some show of Indignation , his hands now. clasped on the table , one stubby forefinger pointed , as he leaned for ward. "Don't tell me I've seen you somewhere no , not a word don't even tell me your name I'm going to think of it" Keith smiled , not unwilling to humor the man's eccentricity , and returned to his meal , with only an occasional in quiring glance across the table. The other sat and stared at him , his heavy eyebrows wrinkled as he strug gled to awaken memory. The younger man had begun on his pie when the face opposite suddenly cleared. "Damn me , I've got it hell , yes ; hospital tent Shenandoah bullet im bedded under third rib ordinary case that's why 1 forgot clear as mud now get the name In a minute Cap tain Captain Keith that's it shake hands. " on the Arkansas , " he explained brief ly. "Did you know General Walte was dead ? " The doctor's ruddy face whitened. "Dead ? Willis Waite dead ? " he re peated. "What do you mean , sir ? Are you sure ? When ? " "I ought'to be sure ; I burled him just this side the Cimmaron Crossing out on the Santa Fe trail. " "But do you know it was General Walte ? " the man's insistent tone full of doubt "I have no question about It , " re turned Keith , conclusively. "The man was Waite's size and general appear ance , with gray beard , similar to the one I remember he wore during the war. He had been scalped , and his face beaten beyond recognition , but papers in his pockets were sufficient to prove his identity. Besides , he and his companion a young fellow named Sibley were known to have pulled out two days before from Carson City. " "When was this ? " "Ten days ago. " Fairbain's lips smiled , the ruddj coloring sweeping back into his cheeks. "Damn me , Keith , you came near giving me a shock , " he said , jerkily. "Shouldn't be so careless not sure my heart's just right tendency to apoplexy , too got to be guarded against Now , let me tell you some thing maybe you buried some poor devil out at Cimmaron Crossing but it wasn't Willis Waite. How do I know ? Because I saw him , and talked with him yesterday damn me , if 1 didn't , right here in this town. " CHAPTER XVII. In the Next Room. Keith , his eyes filled with undis guised doubt , studied the face of the man opposite , almost convinced that he was , In some way , connected with the puzzling mystery. But the hon esty of the rugged face only added to his perplexity. "Are you certain your are not mis taken ? " "Of course I am , Keith. I've known Waite for fifteen years a bit intimate ly have met him frequently since the war and I certainly talked with him. He told me enough to partially confirm your story. He said he had started for Santa Fe light , because he couldn't get enough men to run a caravan afraid of Indians , you know. So , he determined to take money buy Mexican - | can goods and risk himself. Old , fighting cock wouldn't turn back for , all the Indians on the plains once he ! got an idga in his head he was that kind Lord , you ought to seen the fight he put up at Spottsylvania ! He got to Carson City with two wagons , a driver and a cook had eight thou sand dollars with him. too , the damn fool. Cook got Into row , gambling , cut a man , and was jugged. Old Waite wouldn't leave even a nigger In that sort of fix natural fighter likes any kind of row. So. he hung on there at Carson , but had sense enough Lord knows where he got it to put all but a few hundred dollars in Ben Levy's safe. Then , he went out one night to play poker with his driver and a friend had a drink or two doped , probaoly , and never woke up for forty-eight hours lost clothes , money , papers , and whole outfit was just naturally cleaned out couldn't get a trace worth following after. You ought to have heard him cuss when he told me it seemed to be the papers that bothered him most them , and the mules. " ( TO BE CONTINUED. ) The Test. Madge I refused Jack eight times before finally saying "yes. " Ethel Why did you change your mind ? Madge I didn't I was merely seeIng - Ing if he would change his. The Worst. He I shouldn't marry unless the woman was my exact opposite. She You'll never find so perfect a being as that ! Caricatures on the Stage Appeal to Playwrights to Make Their Characters a Little More True to Nature. At the anniversary festival of the Royal General Theatrical Fund J. L. Griffiths , United States consul gen eral , spoke a word of appeal for some improvements in the drama. He would like , he said , to see a play in which there was a really spiritual clergyman , an honest barrister , a straightforward diplomatist and an American gentleman. Mr. Griffiths' views have been generally indorsed by the press. It is acknowledged that diplomatists are presented on the stage too con sistently as creatures of preternatural cunning , never as men with human limitations. The popular dramatic type of clergyman , the muscular , is more tiring still ; every curate is not the physical equal of a prizefighter. An American gentleman would be very welcome on the English stage. The type almost invariably presented is like nothing on earth. He Is neither a gentleman nor an American. It is true he no longer ejaculates "By gosh ! " or "I calculate , " but he con tinues to be a caricature , and a bad caricature at that. Classified Mail. "Good morning , " the young woman said as she stepped to the window at the post office. "Is there a letter for me today ? ' "I'll look , " the clerk answered. The young woman blutied a little , and she added , "It's a business fctter. " The man Inside the window took up a handful of letters and looked them over hastily. Then he informed the customer that there was nothing for her ; and with great disappointment depicted on her lovely features , she went away. In five minutes she was back again this time blushing more furiously than before. "I I deceived you , " she stammered. "It-T-it wasn't a business letter I was expecting. Will you please see if there is something for me among the love letters ? " 1 Your grocer is authorized to give you a free MOTHER'S OATS Fireless Cooker How to get the cooker free Let us tell you This advertisement our plan of distributing is good for 10 coupons tributing these pens cut it out and you have a big start. cookers , Mr. Then in every package ' Grocer. You age of Mother's Oats you will find a cou will be inter pon. Save the coupons pens and get the ested. Send a cooker free in a hurry. Only one ad postal to vertisement will be " ' " "Mother's Oats" accepted from each cus tomer as 10 coupons. Chicago Buy a package of Mother's Oats TODAY , and send a postal for complete premium book. Address "MOTHER'S OATS , " CHICAGO A SURE SIGN. Bronson Is there any doubt about our prosperity ? Woodson None whatever. If you don't believe we have money to burn , look at the way we celebrate the Fourth of July. IT WEARS YOU OUT. Kidney Troubles Lower the Vitality of the Whole Body. Don't wait for serious illness ; begin using Doan's Kidney Pills when you first feel backache or notice urinary disorders. John L. Perry , Columbus , Texas , says : "I was taken sick about a year ago. My limbs and feet began to swell and my doctor said I had Bright's disease. I then con sulted a doctor who said I had dropsy and could not live. Doan's Kidney Pills relieved me promptly and I owe my life to them. " "When Your Back Is Lame , Remenr- berthe Name DOAN'S. " 50c , all stores. Foster-Milburn Co. , Buffalo , N. Y. Practical Suggestion. A new association proposes to have all American railroads lined with flowers and hedges , but what our railroad rights of way really need is to be lined with feather beds. What good would it do anybody to fall on a pansy when trains collide ? Detroit Free Press. Accurately Informed. "How is it that woman eeems to know so much more about Europe than most of us ? " said the frank and out spoken lady. "Because , " replied Miss Cayenne , "she stayed at home and read guide books instead of squandering her time In travel. " Fore. Jones Do you think the horse will survive the automobile ? Brown Not if he gets in its way. Woman's fLome Companion. Stiff neck ! Doesn't amount' to much , but mighty disagreeable. You will be sur prised to see how quickly Hamlins Wizard Oil will drive that stiffness out. One aight , that's all. If thought photography ever be comes practical the world will learn some astonishing secrets. Mrs. Wrnsiow's Soothing : Syrup for Children teething , softens the sums , reduces inflamma tion , allays pain , cures wind colic , 25c a bottle. Notice to inventors A device for squeezing water out of stocks and the milk supply would fill a long felt want Is a heavy yield , bnt that's what John Kennedy of Edmonton , Alberta , Western Canada , cot from 40 acres of Sprint Wheat In 191U Reports from other districts in that pror- Ince showed other excel lent results such as 4- 000 bushels of wheat from 120 acres , or 331-2 bu. per aero. 25.80 and 41 bushelyi elds were nnm- erons. As high as 132 bushels of oats to the acre were threshed from Alberu fields In 1910. The Silver Gup at the recent Spokane Fair was awarded to the Alberta Govemmentfor its exhibit of Rralns.grasses and vegetables. Reports of excellent yields for 1910 come also from Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Western Canada. Free homesteads of 10O acres , and adjoininjj pre emptions of 1UO acres ( at S3 per aero ) are to lie bad In tne choicest districts * Schools convenient , cli mate excellent , soil the very best , railways close at hand , bulldiner lumber cheap , fnel easy to jjet and reasonable In price , water easily procured , mixed f armlnar a success. Write as to bcstpluco for set tlement , settlers' low railway rates , descriptive illustrated "Last Best West' ( sent free on application ) and other Informa tion , to Bnp't of Immigration , Ottawa , Can.ortothe Canadian Government Agent. (36) ( IT. Hcfae. 315 Jadaon SI , SL ? m1 , MM. J. M. Hadatfiba , Drawer ISI.Wattrtowa , S. D. Please write to the agent nearest yon TRAPPER'S GUiDE FREE 110 W r > WBTI r uu raa res MOK. WHO eauHM- Ow mouu inguunu. IT u rut. THE LARGEST KECQVZRS.OF FUKS M THE WOT T I MBflWN CUD fifl * MMH n mw I. J. BailnH run U'J. KAHIA * crrr. wio. 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