The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1894-12-12
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE OLD HERMIT.


you here?"
"The Fawn will tell her friend and
rescuer all; but they must not remain
here"
aThere is danger?"
ayes; the renegades will soon be on
our trail. Come"
She led the scout from the spot to Sc
cluded portion OF the valley. Ranger
Ralph noticed that near by there was a
horse bridled and saddled.
In rapid tones the Modoc princess re-
lated how she had rescued Darrell Grey
and had led him hither
She explained, that when she left him
to reconnoiter the stronghold of the
bandits, he must have wandered into
the valley and later had been captured.
The scout listened interestedly to her
graphic recital, and noticed the fierce, re-
vengeful light in her dark eyes when she
spoke the name Of her relentless foe,
Dyke Despard, -
"You have seen him-you penetrated
to his haunts tonight" he asked.
Eyes"
aAnd you know his plans?"
II know that with the morning he in
tends visiting the old hermit they call
Walford."
Ranger Ralph started
aYou are sure of this?" he asked.
ayes; White Fawn is not mistaken.
'@Then the outlaws have located the
recluse?"
@One Of their men has, and ne will
lead the crowd there with the morning.
This information disturbed the scout
not a little The reader already knows
that this man Walford was the friend to
whom Inez Tracey's father had intrusted
the charge of the fortune intended for
his orphan daughter.
The old scout knew Walford, but he
had not seen him for years. -
He did not know his place Of resi-.
dence, however, except that it was To-
Gated somewhere in the vicinity.
Now that Despard had discovered it,
the scout readily saw that unless WAL
ford was warned the former would sue
ceed in his plans to secure the fortune.
"Do you know where Walford lives?"
he asked anxiously OF the Indian girl
mo. White FawD only knows that
it is about ten miles down the canyon. !"
The old scout reflected deeply. In
evitable disaster seemed imminent to all
his plans for rescuing Incz Tracey.
The Modoc princess watched his face
impressively. Finally she asked:
"What will my friend do?"
II do not know. Greysand the girl are
captives, and the cave is well guarded.
We can do nothing to rescue them.
@White Fawn will"
There was determined look in the
dusky face. ..,... So. ... ..
"How?"
@By going back to my father. Shame,
disgrace at my misery, caused me to
fear to return to my tribe For the
sake OF the friends who saved her lite,
the Fawn will 60 to the Modocs. They
shall know all, and q terrible vengeance
shall be brought against the Crow and
his renegades. ~
"You will 60 at once?" 49,.
Eyes stole horse from the OUT
laws. I can reach my tribe IN a few
hours" e.
GYou must make haste. Once Despard
has seen the man named Walford, he
will fly the country"
Fear not The Modoc warriors shall
be on his trail with the earliest morning
light" ~
aThey will rescue my friends-they
will not include them in their venge-
ance?"
sFear not The Fawn will plead with
her fathers braves for the safety OF her
friends"
White Fawn sprang to the saddle OF
the horse near by as she spoke. Ranger
Ralph saw her disappear rapidly down
the canyon. He knew that he must re-
main inactive, so far as the outlaws were
concerned, until the morning.
He realized that it would be folly to
again attempt TO penetrate to their
stronghold. The thought of Walford,
however, caused him to determine to
endeavor to find the recluse, If pos
sible.
He made wide detour of the cave
and started down the canyon in the d.
rection where he supposed the mountain
home of the recluse to be.
1t proved to be q proftless journey.
All the long night through he wandered
up and down the valley. Not trace of
human habitatiDn could he find.
The morning light did not materially
change the situation of affairs. He
6na,ly determined to keep close watch
for DespaId, theorizing that the outlaw
leader would set out Oh his journey that
morning for Walford's place of abode.
He ensconced himself in thicket at
the side Of the canyon, and watched and
waited patiently. 1t was nearly noon
when his vigilance was rewarded. Com
ing down the canyon, he. saw finally a
dozen or more persons.
AS they neared him he made out Des-
pard, Danton and Vance on horseback.
On another steed was Inez Tracey, sur
rounded by several of the bandits on
foot.
They had evidently left Darrell Grey a
prisoner at the cave with the remainder
of the band.
They passed so near to the scout that
he could almost hear their conversation.
A look Of utter despair peryaded the
countenance Of Inez Tracey. Apparently
the threats of the heartless Despard had
induced Inez TO agree to his schemes.
To save her lovers life she had consent
ed to sacrifice her fortune.
The scout waited for some time after
the cavalcade had passed by. Then,
cautiously and stealthily, he took up
their trail.
The bandits proceeded straight down
the canyon, and Ranger Ralph followed
-, l,r4 a. 11,y