The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-08-25

Key, quickly forgetting himself in his
eagerness.
But Collinson only shook his head.
''Then she'd have been here he said,
gravely.
Key moved towards the door still alb
stractedly, held out his hand, shook
his companions warmly, and, saying
he would saddle his horse himself, de-
parted. A sense of disappointment, in
which a vague dissatisfaction with
himself was mingled, was all that mad
come of his interview. He took himself
severely to task for following his ro-
mantle quest so far. 1t was unworthy
of the president of the Sylvan Silver
Hollow company, and he was not quite
sure but that his condolences with Col
linson might have imperilled even the
interests of the company. To atone for
his momentary alteration and correct
his dismal fancies, he resolved to at
tend to some business at SINNERS be-
fore returning, and branched off on a
long detour that would intersect the
travelled stage road. But here singu-
lar incident overlook him. AS he
wheeled into the turnpike he heard
the trampIing of hoof beats and jung
ling harness of the oncoming coach
behind him. He had barely time to
draw UP against the bank before the
six galloping horses and swinging We
hicle swept heavily by. He had a quick
impression of the heat and steam of
sweating horsehide, the reek of var
nish and leather, and the momentary
vision of a female face silhouetted
against the glass window of the coach!
But even in that flash of perception
he recognized the profile that he had
seen at the window of the mysterious
hut!
He sat for an instant dazed and be-
wildered in the dust of the departing
wheels. Then, as the bulk of the We
hicle re-appeared, already narrowing
in the distance, without a second
thought he dashed after it, His dis
appointment, his self-critieism, his
practical resolutions were forgotten.
He had but one idea now-the vision
was providentiall The clue to the mys-
terry was before him-he must follow
it,
Yet he had sense enough to realize
that the coach would not stop to take
up passenger between stations, and
that the next station was the one
three miles below SINNERS. It would
not be difficult to reach this by a, cut
OF in time, and although the vehicle
had appeared to be crowded, he could
no doubt obtain a seat on top.
His eager curiosity, however, led him
to put spurs to his horse, and range
up alongside Of the coach, as if pass
ing 1T, while he examined the stranger
more closely. Her face was bent list
iessly over book; there was unnnis-
takably the same profile that he had
seen, but the full face was different in
outline and expression. A strange sense
OF disappointment that was almost a
reVulsion of feeling came over hin,
ne fingered, he glanced again: she was
certainty a very pretty woman; there
was the beautifully rounded chin
the snort straight nose, and delicatelv
curved upper lip that he had seen in
the prohle-and yet-yet it was NOT
the same face he had dreamnt of
with an odd provoking sense Of de-
luslon, ne swept ahead of the coach
ana again slackened his speed to LET II
pass. This time the fair unlsnoyn
raised her long lashes and gazed sud
cenly at this persistent horseman at
her sac, and an odd expression-it
seemed TO him almost a glance of
lecosnltlon and expectation-came into
hef dark, languid eyes. The nunils
concentrated upon him with a. necuiiar
slgnaficance-that was almost, he even
tnought reply to his gllance-and VET
IL was as utterly unintelEgibIe. mo
ment later, however, it was explained
he mad fallen slightly behind in new
confusion of hesitation, wonder and
embarrassment, when, from a wooded
trail to the right. another horseman
suddenly swept into the road before
him. He was powerfully built man.
mounted on thoroughbred horse of a
quallfy Tar superior to the ordinary
roadster. Without looking at Kew he
easily ranged up beside the coach as
If to pass it, but Key, with a sudden
resolution, put spurs to his own horse
and ranged also abreast of him, in
time to see his fair unknown start at
the apparition of this second horse
man and Enthusiastically convey some
signal to him-a signal that to Keys
fancy now betrayed some warning of
himself. He was the more convinced
as the stranger, after continuing a few
PAGES ahead of the coach, allowed it to
pass him at a curve of the road, and
slackened his pace. to permit Key to do
the same. Instinctively conscious that
the strangers object was to scrutinize
or identify him, he determined to take
the initiative, and fixed his eyes upon
Lhim as they approached. But the