Evening star., 1901-07-13

lowed for some miles through tangled
trough-like bottom of low trees and under
Drush. The Indian, trOtting still doggedly
on, paused only to examine a trail the
smooth, inward-tOed track of moccasins
The thicket grew more dense and difficult
as ne went on, yet he seemed to glide
through its density and darkness-an OBJ
security that now seemed to be stirred nv
other moving objects, dimly seen and as
uncertain and intangible as sunlit leaves
thrilled by the wind, yet bearing A strange
resemblance to human fgures The woods
ana underbrush were full of them; all NOV
ing on, as he had moved, in a line parallel
with the vanishing coach Sometimes
through the openings barred, painted Iimb
d a. crest OF ieathers or a strip of gaudy blan-
ket was visible. but nothing more And
Yet only a few hundred Yards away
stretched the dusky, silent plain-vacant
OF sound or motion!
Meanwhile the Sage Wood and Pine par
ren stage coach, profoundly OhIfvionsNaf
Ter the manner of all human inventiopNof
everything but it's regular function toiIed
uustlIy oy out Of the higher plain and began
the grateful descent of A wooded o.n,s sai
which was, in fact, the culminatfnp noint
OF the depression just described along
Whlch the shadoWy procession was sInWi1,
adVdhclng, hardly mile in the rear and
Hank of the vehicle. Miss JuIja Ca,tino
who had faced the dust vOllevs NJ ~ 80
uiIhlnchlngly, as became a soldiers daueb
ter, here stood upright and shook bersa1f
her pretty mead and figure emerging like q
goddess from the envelopfne siIvep nIoud
AT least, Mr.. Boyle, relegated to tho hsnL
seat, thought so-although her conversa
ton and attentions had been chiefly di-
ltcteu TO the driver and mail agent. Once
When he had light-heartedly addressed a
remark to her it had been received with
alstlhct but unpromisng politeness that
had made him desist from further at
ttmpts, yet without abatement of his
cheerfulness, or resentment of the evident
amusement his two male companions cot
out OF his "snub." Indeed it is to he fe. re6
that Miss Julia had certain preiudices of
9S, position, ana may have thought that
drummer was no more fitting company for
the daughter of a major than an ordinarv
peddler.
So Dick Boyle was obliged to amuse him.
sell alone on the back seat with those
liberal powers of observation which nature
had given him. On entering the canyon he
mad noticed the devious route the coach
had taken to reach 1t, and had already in
vented an improved route which should
enter the depression at the point where the
Indians had already unknown to him)
plunged into it. and had conceived a road
through the tangled brush that would
shorten the distance by some miles He
mad figured it out. and believed that 1t
would pay. But by this time they were
beginning the somewhat steep and difficult
ascent OF the canyon on the other side.
before 1t stopped. Dick Boyle glanced
around. Miss Cantire was getting down:
she had expressed a wish to walk the rest
of the ascent. and the coach was to wait
for her at the top. Foster had effusiveIy
begged her to take her own time-"there
was no hurry Boyle glanced a little
longingly after her graceful figure. re.
leased from her cramped position on the
box, as it fitted youthfully in and out of
the wayside trees; he would like to have
Joined her in the woodland ramble but
even his good nature was not proof against
her indifference. At a turn in the road
they lost sight of her. and as the driver
and mail agent We're deep in discussion
about the indistinct track Boyle lapsed
into his silent study of the country Sud-
denly he uttered slight exclamation, and
quietly slipped from the back Of the toiling
coach to the ground. The action was. how.
ever, quickly noted by the driver, who
promptly put his foot on the brake and
pulled up. ''Wot's up now?" he growled,
Boyle did not reply, but ran back a few
steps and began searching eagerly on the
ground.
Lost suthin'?" asked Foster.
Found something" said Boyle, picking
up small object. Look at that! D-d II
1t isn't the card l gave that Indian four
hours ago at the station!' He held up the
card.
Look yer. sonny" retorted Foster grave
ly, "ef yer wantin to get out and hang