Keith of the Border

whom he felt confident were still watching his movements from across the river. How much they might already suspicion his discoveries he possessed no means of knowing, ye

ing. This tragedy which he had accidentally stumbled upon must have had a cause other than blind chance. It was the culmination of a plot, with some reason behind more important than ordinary robbery. Apparently the wagons contained noth

had been addressed. The single document found in the pocket of the other was a memorandum of account at the Pioneer Store at Topeka, charged to John Sibley, and marked paid. This then must have been the younger man's name, as the letters to the other began occasionally "Dear Will." They were missives such as a wife might write to a husband long absent, yet upon a mission of deep interest to both. Keith could not fully determine what this mission might be, as the persons evidently understood each other so thoroughly that mere allusion took the place of detail. Twice the name Phyllis was mentioned, and once a "Fred" was also referred to, but in neither instance clearly

g, easy lope of prairie travel, the fresh air fanning the man's face as he leaned forward. Once they halted to drink from a narrow stream, and then pushed on, hour after hour, through the deserted night. Keith had little fear of Indian raiders in that darkness, and every stride of his horse brought him closer to the settlements and further removed from danger. Yet eyes and ears were alert to every shadow and sound. Once, it must have been after midnight, he drew his pony sharply back into a rock shadow at the noise of something approaching from the east. The stag

swifter stride, but the man seemed tireless. The sun was an hour high when they climbed the long hill, and loped into Carson City. The cantonment was to the righ

almost a shock-the miserable shacks, the gaudy saloon fronts, the littered streets, the dingy, unpainted hotel, the dirty flap of canvas, the unoccupied road, the dull prairie sweeping away to the horizon, all composed a hideous picture beneath the sun glare. He could

beyond over a bone; a movers' wagon was slowly coming in across the open through a cloud of yellow dust. That was all within the radius of vision. For the first time in years the East called him-the old life of cleanliness and respectability. He swore to himself as he tossed the Chinaman pay for

ly; "they must have routed y

avily, his companion stopping below. "The boys raise hell all night, an' t

the 'chink' up to get an

eyes to wander up the silent street, but instantly bringing th

hand rested on the butt of a revolver.

voice, "an' that I draw 'bout as quick as any o' the boys. They tell me yo're a gun-fighter,

nishment, but not a muscle of his body moved. "

re," and he tapped the breast o

of the other, his lips grew set an

id sternly, "you've got me roped

bout so as to face them, one hand thrust out

p his hands, Bob,

genially, yet with no relaxation of attention. "Keith knows me, an' expe

uation and endeavoring to see some way of escape; then his li

said, coolly. "And now I've unlimbered,

n yer do

orn babe. I have bee

no trouble. Yo're wanted for killin' a couple o' m

tely astounded for the instant

, Hicks, do you

m like ye'd do it, but the evidence is straight 'nough, an' thar ain

ordinary sense, an' you'v

t good man I've seen do it. Anyhow, the evidence is dead agin you,

idence i

e haulin' the bodies about

over those sand dunes to have reached Carson City and sworn out this warrant. It was a good trick, likely enough to hang him, if the fellows only stuck to their story. All this flashed through his brain, yet somehow he could not clearly comprehend the full meaning, his mind confused and dazed by this sudden realization of danger. His eyes wandered fr

e out tha

smile revealing a gleam of white teeth, "o

are

called 'Bl

." He straightened up so quickly, his eyes b

"are yer goin' to raise a

im from a bad dream, Keith turned

Bob," he said, quietl