Evening star., 1901-07-13

suddenly as she caught sight of his grave
race and keen, observant eyes. Why
can we go on as We are?
because We are expected to come back
10 the coach-and not to the summit mere
ly. Ihese are the orders and you know
you are a soldiers daughter" He laughed
deliberation in his manner that impressed
her. When he added after a pause, 1--WE
must go back and find where the tracks
turned on she obeyed without a word
Ihey walked for. some time eagerly
searching for signs of the missing vehicle.
A curious interest and new reliance in
boyle Judgment obliterated her previous
annoyance and made her more natural.
She ran ahead of him with youthful eager
ness, examining the ground, following a
Ialse clue with great animation, and con-
iessifg her defeat with charming laugh.
anu II was she who, after retracing their
steps 1or ten minutes, found the dfverging
track with girlish cry of triumph. Boyle,
VINO had followed her movements quite as
interestedly as her discovery, looked lit
tie grave as he noticed the deep ndenta-
tlons made by the struggling horses. Miss
Cahllre detected the change in his face;
zen zen minutes before she would never have.
observed 1t. Il suppose We had better fol-
low the new track she said inquiringy,
as ne seemed to hesitate
Certainly" he said quickly as if coming
10 prompt decision. That is safest"
w nat do you think has happened? The
ground looks very much cut up she said,
IN conhdential tone, as new to her as her
pieslous observation of him.
, "A morse has probably stumbled and
they We taken the old trail as less difficult"
saio Boyle. promptly. In his heart he did
not peneve 1t, yet he knew that if anything
SERIOUS SERIOUS mad threatened them the coach
would nave waited in the road. It's an
easier trall for us, though l suppose it's
llttIe Tue longer he added presently.
0u take everything so good-humoredly,
MI boyie, she said after a pause
Its the way to do business, Miss Can
cultivate it,
She wished he hadn't said that, but never
theiess she returned little archly: But
you haven't any business with the stage
company nor with me, although 1 admit 1
,in,el ,iltena to get my Dunstable hereafter from
your Erm ut the wholesale prices"
Be1ore he could reply the detonation of
Two gunshots. softened by distance, loated
.o y. va from the ridge above them. "There!'
that?' 'N ~
u;5 ms race was turned toward the distant
Iiose; put really that she might not ques-
tion tio MS eyes. She continued with anima-
don't you see?'
ies, he returned with quick laugh
.; ana 1t says hurry up-mighty quick-we're
'iIsd I.Id OF Waiting-so we'd better push on
reovlver?'' she asked.
haven got one,'' he said
haven't got one?" she repeated in gen.
,,h uil,e surprise. Il thought you gentlemen
maps IT Inconsistent with your gospel of
good humor.'
mats Just it, Miss Cantre" he said
WIN laugh; you've hit it,
WY, she said hesitatingly, "even 1
nave plstol-a very little one, you know
@nich :! carry in my reticule. Captain
Illchards gave it to me-" She opened her
retcule and showed a pretty ivory handled
pistol. The look of joyful surprise which
came came INTO his face changed quickly as she
cooked 1t and lifted it into the air. He
seized her arm quickly
NO. please don't. You might want it
l l. mean the report won't carry far enough
II very useful little thing for all that,
put IT. only effective at close auarters''
lie kept the pistol in his hand as they
walked on But Miss Cantire noticed this;
also ms evident satisfaction when she had
at first produced it, and his concern when
sne was about to discharge it uselessly
She was a clever girl and frank one to
those she was inclined to trust. And she
began to trust this stranger
(End of Part I)