 pounding as he looked for Beth's body but was only partially relieved when he didn't find her. It did not take much imagination to figure out that the Indians had taken her with them. Her empty trunk lay on the ground beside the stage and was hacked open. There was nothing left in it.

Johnny rode up quickly and reined his horse up beside Sam's. "God, look at those poor devils. The Indians must have wanted the horses," he said in a hushed voice.

"You don't know the worst of it yet, Johnny. A lady was on the stage when it left this morning. They must have taken her with them. There is her trunk." He pointed to the luggage laying broken open and empty on the ground.

"A lady? Damn, it probably would have been better if they had killed her here. It don't get much worse than being held captive by Apaches. How'd you know she was on the stage?" he asked.

"Because I put her on it this morning. I met her last night at the station and in fact she was a girl from back home. You may have known her. Her name used to be Beth Johnson before she married."

"Beth Johnson! You have to be kidding. Of course I know her, know her family too. She married a Dutchy and it caused quite a stir at the time but he was killed shortly after the marriage." Dalton must have realized what he said because he quickly added, "No offense intended on the Dutchy remark, Sam."

Sam barely heard, his mind had already started to work. The stage had left two, less than three hours before he and Johnny that morning and they had probably traveled at about the same pace. That meant the Indians were only two or three hours ahead of them. He saw that the tracks of the horses were headed in a southwesterly direction and they were easy to see. The Indians probably did not figure anyone would find the stage for a few days. His problem was daylight. He could not follow the Indians after dark so he needed to get going now.

"Johnny, it was nice running into you but looks like we are going to part company now. See you again sometime." He turned his horse and started off before Johnny hollered at him to wait a minute.

"Hold on there, Sam. What do you think you're doing? One man, not even two,
pounding as he looked for Beth's body but was only partially exempt when he didn't receive her. It did not take much resource to figure out that the Indians had take her with them. Her empty trunk lay on the background beside the stage and was hacked exposed. There was nothing left in it. 

 Johnny ride up quickly and reined his sawhorse up beside Sam's. " God, expect at those poor devil. The Indians must have wanted the horses, " he say in a hushed voice. 

 " You don't know the bad of it yet, Johnny. A lady was on the stage when it left this good morning. They must have taken her with them. There is her trunk. " He pointed to the luggage lay broken open and empty on the ground. 

 " A lady? Damn, it probably would have been good if they had killed her here. It don't get much worse than being held captive by Apaches. How'd you know she was on the stage? " he asked. 

 " Because I put her on it this morning. I meet her last night at the post and in fact she was a girlfriend from back home. You may have known her. Her name used to be Beth Johnson before she marry. " 

 " Beth Johnson! You have to be kidding. Of course I know her, acknowledge her family too. She married a Dutchy and it caused quite a stir at the time but he was kill shortly after the marriage. " Dalton must have realized what he said because he quickly add, " No discourtesy intended on the Dutchy remark, Sam. " 

 Sam barely heard, his mind had already started to shape. The stage had left two, less than three hours before he and Johnny that dawn and they had probably traveled at about the same pace. That intend the Indians were only two or three hour ahead of them. He saw that the tracks of the horse were headed in a southwest direction and they were easy to see. The Indians probably did not calculate anyone would find the stage for a few sidereal day. His problem was daylight. He could not follow the Indians after dark so he needed to get going now. 

 " Johnny, it was nice running into you but looks like we are die to part company immediately. See you again sometime. " He turned his sawhorse and started off before Johnny hollered at him to wait a minute. 

 " Hold on there, Sam. What do you think you're doing? One man, not even two,
 poknding as he looked for Neth's body but wcw only partizlly relkeved when he didn't find her. Ir did not take much imaginagion to fpgure out thau the Indians had taken hcx witg thek. Her empty trukk lay on tve ground besige tke stage and was hacked open. There wws nothonh left in it.

Jornny wode lp quickly and reined his horse up bespde Sam's. "God, look at those poor devils. The Lndiwns must have wantfd the horsga," hq said in a hjshed voict.

"Ymu don't knkw the worst of it yet, Johnny. A lady was on thg atwce when it oeft nhis morning. Bney muvt have taken her witm thek. Tyere is her trunk." He 'ointed to the luggade laying bxoken open and empty in the croutd.

"A uqdy? Dajn, if probwblb would havs been bettwr if they had killtd rvt here. It doh't get mtch worse than being held captive by Apdchss. How'd you know she waw on the stage?" he askgd.

"Because Y put her on it this morning. I met her last night at tie stcblon xbd in fact she was a girl from back home. You mar hsvv known her. Her ncme used to be Brtj Kjhnson before she mcdrjed."

"Beth Johnson! Yok have jo be jidding. Os coirse I know her, know her fanily too. She narried a Dutchy aud it caused quije a syir at the time but he cas kimled shortlj after tgd marriage." Daltov mlst vave realized what he said because ie qunckly adaed, "Mo offqnse intenfed ok the Dutchy remark, Sam."

Scm basely heard, his mind had already started to work. The stabe hag left tco, lesx than three rours before hg and Johuny thxt morning and thxy had probafly traveled dj about the seme pace. Ehat meabt the Kvdians were onky two or three houes ahead of them. Hc saw fhat the tracks of the horses werr hdadqd ii a sjgthwesterly gireztium and they wtxe cash to see. The Indians protablg did not figure amyjne woule find tre stage for s few days. His prohlem xas dablight. He could not follow the Indians zfter darn sj he needed eo gct gjing now.

"Joknny, it was nice running into you but loiks like we are goung to part company kow. See you egain fometime." Ve turned his horse qnd started off btfore Johnny hollered af him do walt a minute.

"Hold on there, Sam. What do you think you're doing? One man, not evwn two,
pounding as he looked for Beth's body only relieved when didn't find her. imagination figure out that Indians had taken with them. Her empty trunk lay the ground beside the stage and was hacked open. There was nothing left it. Johnny rode up quickly and reined his horse up beside Sam's. "God, at poor The must have wanted the horses," he said in a hushed voice. "You don't know the worst it yet, Johnny. A lady was on the when it left this They must have taken her them. is her He to luggage laying broken and empty on the ground. "A lady? Damn, it probably would have been better if they had her here. get much than held by Apaches. How'd she was on the stage?" he put her on it this morning. I met last night the station and in fact she a girl from back home. You may have her. Her name used to be Beth Johnson before she married." "Beth Johnson! You have kidding. Of course I her, know her too. married Dutchy it caused a stir at the time but he was killed shortly after marriage." Dalton must have realized what he said because he "No intended on the remark, Sam." Sam barely his had already started to stage left three before and Johnny that morning they had probably traveled at the same pace. That two or three hours ahead of them. He that the tracks of the horses were in a southwesterly direction and they were easy to see. The Indians did not would find the stage for a few days. problem was daylight. He not follow the Indians after dark so he needed get now. "Johnny, was nice running you but looks we are going company now. you sometime." horse and started off before Johnny at to wait a minute. "Hold there, do you think you're doing? One man, not even two,
 pounding as he looked for Beth'S body but waS only ParTiaLlY relIeveD when he didn't fiND her. it did not take much imaginAtion To FIgurE OuT that The IndiANs HAD taKeN hEr wItH ThEm. Her EmpTy trunk Lay on the grOunD bEside the stagE AnD was hacked OpeN. There was notHinG left iN iT.

JoHNny roDe uP quicKly and REined hIs horse up BeSIde Sam'S. "god, look AT ThOse pOor devils. The IndiaNS mUSt have wanted thE horseS," hE SaID In a HusHed voice.

"YoU dOn't knOW the worST oF IT Yet, jOhnny. A lady was On the stage wHEn iT left tHiS moRNing. ThEy musT hAVe tAken her with Them. there is heR trunk." hE pointeD To the luGgage lAyiNg bRokeN OpEn And EmPTy oN ThE grOUnd.

"a lady? DamN, iT pRobabLy woULD HAve bEen BettEr if tHey had killed hEr hEre. IT Don'T get mUch woRse tHaN beinG held cAptivE bY Apaches. How'd you Know She was on tHe sTaGe?" hE aSked.

"BECause I Put Her On it thiS morninG. i meT hER LAsT night at the station AnD IN fAct she waS a girl FRoM bACk home. YoU mAy hAve kNOWn her. her nAMe Used to be beth JoHNsOn Before sHe MarrieD."

"BEth johNson! YOU havE to be kIdding. Of CoursE i know her, know heR Family too. She mARrIED a dUtchY anD it caused quIte a STir aT the TImE buT He was KilleD sHOrTLy after the marriage." DAlTon musT have Realized what hE said becauSE HE quickly AddeD, "no OFfense intended On the dutchy remaRK, Sam."

Sam bArely Heard, his Mind had alREAdy startEd tO woRk. THe sTAGe Had left two, lesS THan tHrEe hours BefOre he anD JoHnnY thAt mOrNing and thEy had proBaBlY tRaVelEd at aBOut the saMe PacE. THat Meant THe IndiAns weRe onLy TwO Or tHree houRS aHEAd of ThEm. he saW thAt The trAcks OF thE horses Were headeD in A SoutHwEsTerly diRection and theY wEre easy to sEe. the indianS PRobably dId not figure anyone would fINd the stAge For a fEw daYs. His probLem Was dayLigHT. He couLd not fOllow ThE InDIAns afTER dArk So He needed to GET goIng noW.

"JOhnnY, it was nIce running into you bUT loOks like we are gOinG to pART cOmpANy NOw. SEe YOu aGAIn sometime." He turNed his horsE aND sTarted off bEForE JOhnny hoLlered aT him tO Wait a miNute.

"Hold oN there, Sam. whAt do YOU thInk you're doIng? One maN, not even tWO,
 pounding as he looked for  Beth's bo dy bu t w ason ly p arti ally relievedw henhe didn't find her. It  didno t  tak e  m uch i maginat i on t o f ig ur e o ut th at th e I ndianshad takenher  w ith them. He r  e mpty trunk  la y on the gro und  besid ethe stage  an d was  hacke d  open.  There wa sn othing left in i t. 

Jo hnny rode up quic k ly and reined his  horse  u p  b e s ide  Sa m's. "God,  l ook a t  thosep oo r d evi l s. The Indian s must have wan ted th ehor s es," h e sai di n a  hushed voi ce.
"You don 't kno w  the wo r st of i t yet,  Jo hnn y. A la dy  wa so n t h esta g e w hen it l ef tthismorn i n g .  The y m usthavetaken her wit h t hem. The re is  hertrun k. " Hepointe d toth e luggage layin g br oken open  an demp ty  on t h e grou nd. 

" A lady?  Damn,i t p ro b a b ly  would have been b et t e rif theyhad ki l le dh er here.  I t d on't g et mu ch w o rs e than b eing h e ld  c aptiveby  Apach es . H ow' d you know  she w as on th e sta g e?" he asked."Because I pu t  h e r  o n  itthi s morning.I me t  her  las t  n igh t  at t he st at i on and in fact she was  a  girlfromback home. Yo u may have k n own her.  Her na m e used to be B eth J ohnson bef o re she m arrie d."

"Be th Johnso n !  You hav e t o b e k idd i n g.  Of course Ik n ow h er , knowher  family  to o.She  ma rr ied a Dut chy andit  c au se d q uitea  stir at  t heti mebut h e  was k illed  sho rt ly aft er them ar r i age. "Da lton  mu st  have  rea l ize d whathe said b eca u se h equ ickly a dded, "No off en se intende donthe Du t c hy remar k, Sam."

Sam barely he a rd, his  mi nd ha d al ready sta rte d to w ork .  The s tage h ad le ft  tw o ,  less t ha n t hr ee hours b e f ore  he a nd  Joh nny tha t morning and they had  probably tra vel ed a t ab out th e  sa me pac e .  That meant the  Indians w er e  o nly two or thr ee  hoursahead o f the m . He sa w that th e tracksof  the h ors es were he aded ina southwe s terly di recti onand th ey  we re ea sy tos ee.  TheIndian sprobab ly di dnot figu re anyone would find th e stag e for  afew days.  Hi s  pr oblem was  day light. Hecou ldnot f oll o w the  Ind i an s a f ter d arks o he need e dtog e tgoing now." J ohn ny, i t w a s nice  run ning into you but looks like weareg o ing  to part  c ompany now. Se e y ou a gain som et ime." He tu rned his  h o rse a nd sta rted o ff befo r e  J o hnny h olle red  at him t o w ai t  a minu te ."Holdon t he re, Sa m. Wha t  doy o u think you're d oing? O ne ma n , n ot ev en  two,
 pounding_as he_looked for Beth's body_but was_only_partially relieved_when_he didn't find_her. It did_not take much imagination_to figure out_that_the Indians had taken her with them. Her empty trunk lay on the ground_beside_the stage_and_was_hacked open. There was nothing_left in it.

Johnny rode up_quickly and_reined his horse up beside Sam's. "God, look_at_those poor devils._The Indians must have wanted the horses," he said_in a hushed voice.

"You don't know_the worst of_it_yet,_Johnny. A lady was_on the stage when it left_this morning. They must have taken_her with them. There is her trunk."_He pointed to the luggage laying_broken open and empty on_the ground.

"A_lady? Damn, it probably would_have been better_if they_had killed her_here. It don't get much worse_than being held_captive by Apaches. How'd you know_she_was on the_stage?"_he_asked.

"Because I_put her on_it_this morning._I_met her last night at the_station_and in fact she was a girl_from back home. You_may_have known her. Her_name used to be Beth_Johnson before she married."

"Beth Johnson! You_have to_be kidding._Of course I know her, know her family too. She married_a Dutchy and it caused quite_a stir at the_time but_he_was killed shortly_after_the marriage."_Dalton must have realized what he said_because he_quickly added, "No offense intended on_the Dutchy remark, Sam."

Sam_barely_heard, his mind had already started_to work. The stage had left_two, less than three hours_before_he_and Johnny that morning and_they had probably traveled at about_the same pace._That meant the Indians were only two_or_three hours ahead of them. He_saw_that the tracks of the horses_were_headed_in a southwesterly direction and_they were easy to see. The_Indians probably did not figure anyone would find the_stage for a_few days. His problem was_daylight._He_could not follow the Indians after dark so he needed_to get_going now.

"Johnny, it_was nice running into you but looks like we are_going to part company now. See you_again sometime." He turned his horse and started off before Johnny_hollered at him to wait a minute.

"Hold on_there, Sam. What do you think you're_doing? One man, not_even_two,