Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-18

on your own head unless you clear ny
path"
Patricia got white to the lips. but her
eyes darksned. her hand or the rein did not
shake. She knew H-s. Loudon meant "a
ride her down. trusting to her horses su-
perior weight for her own safety. she
should not DO it-not 10 she herself and
Ruby died for st. In firm going Ruby could
easily beat the brovn-but what Of pillow
land where she sank fetlock deep a. eacA
stride? Cairngorm. bigger. stouter. with
more driving power in quarters and stihes.
had a clear advantage there. But RUBY
had the Ere and stay and spirit Impulsively
Patricia flung her weight forward. lying al
most prone upon the mares neck 10 whistle
in her ear. 1t was hne to feel Ruby an
swer-gsllantly as she had been goirE. she
had something left for that desperate call.
she could not quicken strid-the pillow
land held too hard. But she could and did
lie down to Il. stretching stomach to earth
in long greyhound leaps that devoured space
as fame devours stubble.
Behind came the mad brown stallion.
stil screaming, still dashed by a madder
rider. Dimly through a red. blurrinE mist
she saw her prey. the woman she hated
the woman who had crossed her path. the
woman she yeRrned TO mangle and trample
out Of recognition. Some such purpose.
unshaped, unavowed. had been behind her
purchase. II had taken form quickly while
Rothwell talked. Cairncorms temper
would be excuse enough for any accident
nothing but the bay mare could live the
pace with him-what so natural, therefore.
as that the bay and her rider should be
his victims? 1t was all coming around
beautifully, better, quicker than she had
dared hope in the outset-there was risk
10 herself, Of course-but what was she
not ready TO risk for Vengeance on this
in%terloper7
Patricia's heart sank as looking over her
shoulder she saw the brown had gained
Ruby's lead now Was less than twenty
yards. Patricia felt the laborlnEs OF her
heart, the spasmodic painting breath. Sud
denly the dog music fell to a mad jangle-
as suddenly the pack went out Of sight,
then, all in a twinkle. again struggled into
the field Of vision. Patricia wondered what
Il mesnt-the ground il front, no longer
rising, seemed smooth and level. A dull.
distant roar. heavy and vibrant. enlight-
ened her-the chase had struck the deep
cut by which the railway slipped through
the ~ploughland.
Pack and quarry were safely over it. No
nurse ever loaled OF mare coulu leap the
cut. not even coming TO it fresh-how much
less, then, blown, al the end Of a ringing
run? Patricia refined in so sharply she
brought Ruby to her launches, half turned
In her saddle and waved a warning, crying:
Mrs. Loudon! Stop! Pull up! At once!
Hear the train coming"
The dull roaring was louder, nearer.
Mrs. Loudon's face blanched. but her eyes
held their deadly glitter. She tried to pull
up-to turn and ride down her adversary:
as well might she have tried 10 rein Ere
in wind. Cairngorm had the bit in his
teeth-he was no more angry with Ruby.
but full Of deadly rage against the rider
who had slRshed him so cruelty. He meant
TO run and run until be found something
high enough, stout enough TO crush her.
The cut lay less than 200 yards ahead-he
would try 10 sweep it, fail inevitably-and