Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-03-02

that time Hall felt quite convinced that
he had done a very unwise thing to harbor
the men and was willing to do almost
ANYTHING TO rectify his mistake. Halle,
however. thought that it was the very
best thing that could have happened be.
cause otherwise they themselves would
have known nothing about the proposed
act Of the highwaymen.
"You will not be afraid to stay2" Hall
asked, as he made his preparation for an
early start. perhaps you had better go
with me.n
s'No, I'll stay, so that they may suspect
nothing. They'll hang around until
about Friday before they set off for the
trail"
At daylight Hall saddled Padre, 'just
to have day of hunting, he said 10 Man
uel who was watching him. Halle ner-
vously saw him disappear, but began TO
busy herself helping Garcia, SO that the
day would not seem so long Hall would
reach the ranch by noon, and the two
would be back by night; there would be
no danger before that she was sure.
But at noon another man rode up from
the mountain road and was taken into
the adobe part by the Others. Halle
hurried to Phil's room with forebodings.
What she gathered from their talk not
only surprised but terrified her. The
last conner had been spy upon her
fathers movements. He reported that
they had already left Pueblo-much ear
lier than they had expected-and with the
stop of one night, which they always
made, they would reach the upper canyon
about an hour after midnight.
Halle saw it all. They always pre-
ferred to travel in the evening when the
weather was warm and there was moon
light. 1t was Aunt GATHERINGS health
which had probably caused the change
of time for return as well as the night
travel in September. What should she
do2 If Phil would only come, there
would be time, or perhaps the boys could
see some plan to prevent the men from
leaving. The last idea proved itself i'm
possible, as at noon the three men rode
off upon the upper road.
Ali the long afternoon she watched
for sign of Phil or Hall, but night
cana and neither had reached home.
Manuel had noticed her uneasiness and
had carelessly remarked that Hall might
get on the track of the mountain lion,
TOO. This did not not allay hel
fears. 1t only reminded her OF
what she had lost sight of-that possibly
Hall might not find Phil, and there wa
no telling when the two could get back
1t caused her to reach determination
Manuel slept in the far end of the adobe
part. and Garcia would hear nothing a
any time So she set about her prepare
tions.
"There is really nothing else to b.
DONE" she murmured to herself, as sh
put on the short suit that she wore whel
hunting with the boys. Father mus
be warned by somebody before those me-
meet him.
She knew just where the attack wa
planned TO take place--at the bend, afte
the party had lett the lower canyon.
she could only reach the canyon befor
they crossed and took the long WACO
road to the upper one. She believed sh
could. They would leave Hunts
their nights stopping place--at sun
down. She remembered so wildly tn
ride, as she had taken it three years bt
forc-when they passed into the lowe
canyon and stopped the bronchos to Sc
the grand sight under the pale light of tn
moon which brought out all the beautie
of the Mace with wierd effect jul
midnight, so she remembered.
She was certain that she could reac
it. She had thought of the old trai
abandoned now that the wagon road ha
been made. 1t was steep and rough
but it cut off full six miles and led o
from the upper canyon so far that thel
was no danger of meeting those men.
She was glad enough to find that MAJ
uel had left her own broncho out
the corral at the left, and on the opp
site side of the house from where
slept. She was nervous; but Phiste
, the broncho, was never unwilling to
| caught, so she was on his back in sho
time and walked him slowly away. r.
t a minute she sat, as she reached the o
a trail which turned SO sharply down Il
mountain, and looked back.
I There was no sign of the boys and s.
looked ahead with little culver of fea
a Never mind, it's for Papa and MANN
g and nothing will hurt me, 2" she reassur
{ herself, and turned into the gloon
path.
1t was rough indeed, so rough that ev
q Phister's well-trained feet found footi
!. difficult at times; but she chung to
}. back and pushed on. She grew feverist
excited though as she advanced. If 8
y should fail, after all, to intercept the
1t made her almost frantic to think of
'e and Phister was urged to the immine
danger of both. Still the beast was W
It enough to refuse stubbornly to make I
due haste. She did not know the tin
., and minutes seemed hours. She col
only roughly guess as, at times, the moo
a light struggled into the path.
1T Now she was at the spring. twas h
IS choked by gravel and underbrush;
a Phister would stop to drink. AS he drar
3. there came to her ears prolonged C
Ia low and mournful, at first, but as Phis
ny uneasily started on, rose to crescen
: wall. Again and again, at intervals,
I'd came to her ears, and it seemed to sou
nearer. Phister showed signs Of N
id vousness. too. Suddenly it flashed up
all her that it might be the mountain lior
Could it be following her she }
by heard of such things--or was it possi
e- upon the other trail2 She drew
Phister sharply. This was an unlook
Us for terror. For q moment she question
is what she should do. She laid her ha
on the holster with glad remembra'
Iy. that she had brought her own revoly
l." She had learned to use it quite well,
nd could she do anything il she should IN
l." an animal like that2
III She must 60 on though, she quic
lid decided, and If the worst came, wei
"a IL. 4,