The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-06-14

is one, at the school house-start from there,
anyway. Well have to leave Sue at Morse's
"All right; best way" Primer responded,
walking toward the group OF men at the
stable, who were talking of the inciden
with hushed voices, as even the toughest in
voluntarily speak in the presence of grief
Warren stepped to the side of his sobbing
sweetheart, and raised her dropping head in
a mans clumsy attempt 20 comfort. He
feared the worst, yethe could not tell her so !;
neither could he bid her hope while despair
ing himself.
my darling" he said, we're going now to
search. and | think you had better stay at
Mrs. Morse's until we return"
Cant | so with you, Charlie, please? |
can't sit still and wait. Please let me co."
as the young man shook his head while
stroklng the golden hair that had escaped
from its confinement and fallen in tumbled
rolling waves to the door stone.
mo, DEAR" he replied. "We may have a
long, hard ride, and, perhaps, be out all night.
You will he much better off with Mrs. Morse
You shall have any news there may be just
as soon as can get 1t to you. You know,
dear" as he knelt on the steps and passed
his strong arms around her, his cheek close
to her own, II would give my life to spare
you this grief Don't despair yet; there may
be hope"
.Hope!'' she interrupted. "How can
hope when read despair in the faces Of all
of your"
Warren had no reply but soothing words
and loving caresses. and, as she grew calm
again. he arose and saying that they would
start as soon as he had given necessary in
structions to the negro who stood by the
corner of the house looking with staring eyes
ON scene so unfamiliar. He was the cook
of the establishment and was the only man
to be left there. Warren's orders were
quickly given, and after securing his revolt
yer from the house he rejoined Sue, buckling
his belt as he stepped forth. She sat where
ho had loft bar "a foir had droanad
her hands, her lovely hair falling like veil
to conceal her tears. Charlie stroked the
fair head moment in silence, and as she
raised her eyes to his he stopped and kissed
the red lips, saying:
BE brave little woman, now that you
know that we will do all we can do"
"Charlie," she interrupted, do you"-des-
perately-"is there any hope?"
MY darling. he answered, Il do not
know" his voice broke, and he looked in
silence down at the white face and pleading
eyes. He could not find voice to tell her
what he feared; but she read in his face and
sympathizing eyes the answer which he
could not speak. The blue eyes closed
tightly, and the ani,y,sering lips moaned, "0hl
she ran toward her waiting pony, saying:
Come, let us get started at once. Twill
stay at Mrs. Morse's only" as he lifted her
to the saddle, Charlie, you must let me
know just as soon as YOU with culver in
the sweet voice-"just as soon as you are
sure =
"Yes, dear, you shall know" answered
Warren, "as soon as / can get you word"
Then, placing the bridle-rein in her hand,
and waving his hand to Primer and the men
waiting by the barn, he mounted his own
horse, and the search-party dashed down
the valley.
The trail lay along the river-bottom for
several miles, leaving it for the prairie at a
point called Indian Buttes," where the
river-bank rose abrupt and sheer to height
of hundred feet or more The buttes were
about halfway between the ranches of
Warren and "0ld Prit." Here they met Mr..
Morse ane three neighbors, on their way to
Warren's, from which place, they had been
told at Primers, the search-party would
start. Sue eagerly greeted the foremost
rider with
"Mr. Morse, have you heard anything?"
NO. he replied, SADLY: nothing as yet.
I've just come from the house. The doctor
is there with the little one. You'll stay with
my wife, won't you, Sue, until we return ?''
flash of hope, SO sson over. had left her
without power of speech: ayes, we're a
the way there now. Sue will stay at your
house while we make the search. We start
at the Sch0ol-hOuse."
Then, dropping behind, alongside Jake,
who rode next him, for they had been NOV
ing ahead all the time, he said, in low
tone:
Jake pass the word to the boys to spread
little, and keep sharp eye out; but take
care Miss Ady does not notice you."
Jake, quickly comprehending, nodded, and
drew rein. Warren joined the two riding
ahead; and, save for an occasional re-
mark between the two men, the balance of
the ride was made in silence. Warren's
glance turned often to the pale face of the
girl at his side, noting, with q feeling of
uneasiness, the set features and wide, dry
eyes, upon which the dazzling glare from
the snow seemed to have no effect. She had
noted the long line of horsemen reaching to
the right and left of the trail, and knew full
well what it all meant. The terror and
suspense of the preceding day and night,
which still had held an element of hope, the
wild grief of the morning, when the answers
to her anxious inquiries had robbed her Of
that hope, had given place to stony despair.
She read the fate of her loved and loving
sister in the sympathizing eyes of her lover
and the averted glances of her old friend and
neighbor, who could not trust himself to
meet the misery in the blue eyes always so
full of happiness and so free from care.
Mrs. Morse had seen the long line coming
and was waiting at the door, and as the
three dashed up, she ran quickly to the side
of Sue, and lifting her from the saddle, with
kind words and mOtherly careSseS, drew the
half-fainting girl into the house. Here. in
the sympathetic arms of good Mrs Morse,
Warren left her., and spurred off toward the
school-house, where the men were assemb-
ling rapidly. Here they were Joined by two
neighbors of the missing girl, who had
children in the school. Warren rode at once
to the side of swarthy half-breed, one of
Primers men, who was some distance out
on the prairie, cTouching along like setter
dog hunting game. The man was one of
the best trailers in the country, and Warren
hoped for much from his skill.
Find anything, Joe?" he asked.
The man Strengthened up, and shook his
head. mo can find good. To much blow"
Warren understood. The sweeping wind
had covered the faint footprints which were
made so early in the storm, and is was only
on the bare spots of hard ground that the
To proceed in this way would be long and
tedious task, even if ultimately successful,
and be concluded that it would be best to
to continue the search as 1t had been begun
when they left the river.
Well, Joe," he said, turning his pony
wen spread, and use our eyes You need
not take any place in the line, but work
your own way. If you strike any trace.
follow 1t up. Ii you want Pritner or me,
fire shot. If ou"-hesitating-" you
md her, fire twice-understand?
The man nodded, with a grunt and re-
sumed his search for the trail Warren
s shook his bridlerein,. and galloped back to
the school-house, to give few last instruct
ions before the start.
Boys" he said. as he drew up beside
Prltner, Il don't think you need the offer of
any reward to stimulate you to do your very
best searching to-day. All the same, the
man that hnds the girl will be remembered
Now We'll spread out keeping about a
hundred !. yards apart. Pritner, you take the
right OF the line: Jake, you the left, and I'll
take the center. Fire one shot il you want
me, two If you find her. Now spread out,
and move slowly. We go SOUTH" Then to
Pritner, Joe seems to be trailing that way"
YES" answered Primer, ''the storm
moved south, and she prob'1y went WI it,
lore she got great ways. They allus do,
yer knows" then he wheeled and rode out to
his place on the right of the line.
All day the long line moved over the drift
covered prairie, the men leaning from their
saddles, and now and then dismOunting to
kick into drift that might cover the lost
girl. About noon Pritner rode up to Warren
and said:
Cap, nights well e. over ter my place N
git suthen t eat"
"All right" Warren had replied "you
and the men go. don't want ANYTHING
Get back as soon as you cam" And thew
had ridden off to Primers ranch, only three
miles or so away, leaving himself and Joe to
continue the search, for Joe never left trail
to eat or sleep until driven to it. And when
the men returned the two trailers were far
ahead ne moving toward the southeast. Joe
mad given up trailing, for there was no trail,
but looked only for evidences of the direc-
tion taken by the girl. The line soon over
TOOK them, and Warren resumed his place
In the center. Joe dropped behind and was
soon left far in the rear.
AS the sun was slowly dropping toward
the bluffs on the western side of the river.
the men were startled by two shots, fired in
rapid succession, coming from the direction