Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1902-10-16
A STUDY IN SCARLET

BY A. CONAN DOYLE.

It was as well that his prairie train
ing had given Jefferson Hope the
ears of lynx.
He and his friends had hardly
crouched down before the melan.
choly hooting of mountain owl was
heard within few yards Of them,
which was Immediately answered by
another at a small distance.
At the same moment a vague, shad-
owy figure emerged from the gap for
which they had been making. and ut.
tered the plaintive cry again, on
which second man appeared out Of
the obscurity.
Tomorrow at midnight" said the
first who appeared to be in author
ity. when the whip-poorwill calls
three times"
''It is WELL" returned the other.
Shall | tell Brother Drebber?"
Pass 1t on to him, and from him TO
the others. Nine to seven!"
Seven to fvel" repeated the other.
and the two figures fitted away in
different directions. Their conclud,
ing words had evidently been some
form of sign and countersign. The
instant that their footsteps had died
away in the distance, JEFFERSON Hope
sprang to his feet. and, helping his
companions through the gap, led the
way across the fields at full speed,
supporting and half carrying the
girl when her strength appeared to
fail her.
Hurry on! hurry on," he gasped
from time to time. I'VE are through
the line Of essentials. Everything
depends on speed. Hurry on"
Once on the highroad they made
rapid progress. Only once did they
meet any one, and then they man.
aged to slip into field, and so avoid
recognition.
Before reaching the town the hunt
er branched away into a rugged and
narrow foot path which led to the
mountains.
Two dark. jagged peaks loomed
above them through the darkness,
and the defile which led between
them was the Eagle Ravine, In which
the horses were awaiting them.
With unerring instinct, Jefferson
Hope picked his way among the great
boulders and along the bed of a
dried-up water course until he came
to the retired corner, screened with
rocks. where the faithful animals had
been picketed.
The girl was placed upon the mule.
and old Ferrier upon one of the
horses, with his money-bag, while
Jefferson Hope led the other along
the precipitous and dangerous paths.
1t was bewildering route for any
one who was not accustomed to face
nature in her widest moods.
On the one side great crag tow
cred up a thousand feet or more.
black, stern and menacing. with long
basaltic columns upon his rugged
surface like the ribs of some petri-
fed monster.
On the other hand wild chaos of
powders and debris made all ad-
vance impossible. Between the two
ran the irregular track, so narrow in
places that they had to travel in In
dian file, and so rough that only
practiced riders could have traversed
1t at all.
Yet, in spite of all dangers and diff
f1culties, the hearts of the fugitives
were light within them, for every
step increased the distance between
them and the terrible despotism from
which they were flying.
They soon had a proof, however,
that they were still within the juris-
diction of the Saints.
They had reached the very widest
and most desolate portion of the
pass, when the girl gave startled cry
and pointed upward.
On a rock which overlooked the
track showing out dark and plain
against the sky, there stood a soli-
tary sentinel. He saw them as soon
as they perceived him, and his mill
tary challenge of "who goes there?"
rang through the silent ravine.
Travellers for Nevada" said JEFF
ferson Hope, with his hand upon the
rife which hung by his saddle.
They could see the lonely watcher
lingering his gun, and peerlng down
at them as If dissatisfied at their
reply.
''By whose permission?"
'The Holy Four" answered Fer
IACEs MS mOIuOu SApSIIcuCSS hdu
taught him that that was the highest
authority to which he could refer.
Nine to seven" cried the sentinel
Seven to five," returned Jefferson
Hope, promptly, remembering the
countersign which he had heard in
the garden.
Pass, and the Lord go with you,"
said the voice from above.
Beyond this post the path broad
ened out, and the horses were able
to break into a trot.
Looking back, they could see the
solitary watcher leaning upon his
gun, and knew that they had passed
the outlying post Of the Chosen Peo-
pie, and that freedom lay before
them.