The news & observer., 1905-05-21
CHAPTER I.
Hello. Colonel, what's up"

"Hello, Colonel, what's up"
Colonel Martin. who was seated on
his horse at the foot of a mountain
trail, nervously tapping his cowhide
boots with a whip, was little startled
at the sound of the voice, turned his
head and recognized the three men
approaching on horseback as settlers.
"What's up he repeated. why
I've lost Helen. She strayed away
this morning and l can't find anything
of her, though I've searched far and
near all the evening. Not even the
slightest word can l hear of my child,
and | fear that something dreadful has
happened to her.,
That the Colonel was deeply affected
was visible to all. Helen Was his only
child and a great joy and pleasure TO
him. The last time he had seen her
she was wandering along trail pick
ing wild flowers that grew in profu-
sion on the hillsides at that season OF
the year He had noticed her going
in that direction many times before,
ard thought nothing of this partlcu-
lar instance, but as she did not return,
as was her custom. he became uneasy
and mounted his horse and began TO
search for her in the direction that she
went.
The sun was now setting, and his
companions drew their horses near IN
an enquiring manner. The Colonel
was the first to speak after some mln-
utes of silence.
Boys" he said, "she's gone, but
we've got to find her either dead or
alive" His voice quivered q little
from excitement but it still retained
that firmness that was characteristic
and caused his companions to feel that
he meant every word he spoke.
They, with enc voice, assured him
that he might depend upon them for
what assistance they could give, ana
after a short talk they made their
way to a nearby mountaineer's cabin
where they were given hearty Wei
come as NSoon as the ColonePs name
was made known.
After supper they formed their
plans and were ready to start by the
break Of day next morning. They
were to travel Ey different routes and
make thorough search on their way
and meet at the stone mansion OIL the
Colonel at night.
The first stars were just peeplns
from their hiding places as the party
collected, one by one, to relate their
experiences. In few minutes the
Colonel rode up and hailed them:
Boys, any neWS?' His expression
showed that he was not disappointed
when they told him that they had
found nothing. Their success was just
as he had expected.
They passed the night under the
ColoneFs roof and the next morning
found them as ready and eager for
the search as ever. They travelled by
different routes as on the previous
day, agreeing to meet at the home
of Frank Morton, a young man of
great skill and courage, whom the
Colonel desired to assist in the search
for his daughter Franks home was
about twelve miles from the ColoneIs
in the direction opposite to that IN
which Helen was last seen going by
her father.
Young Morton, the Colonel remem-
hered. had paid some little attention
to Helen, but he had viewed him as
an unfaYorable Suitor for his daugh-
ter's hand. That he desired her to
do better than marry a young noun
taineer was the only reason, he could
give when Helen asked why he COM
manded her to tell Frank to stay away
from the stone mansion when she told
him of their engagement. Frank was
a man of great ambition and high
aspirations. and when the ColoneFs
wishes were made known to him his
pride was greatly wounded, Though
he loved Helen and knew that she
loved him he could not bear the hu-
initiation and had stayed away from
her home after that.
In his trouble Colonel Martin weigh
ed this incident lightly and hoped to
find in Frank ready and efficient as
sstance. He knew all the trails and
hiding places in the mountains. and
was on the best of terms with old
Saura and his warriors, and. through
Frank, the Colonel also desired to get
assistance from the Indians.
During his Journey that day the
Colonel came atross an Indian trail,
and following it some distance he
came to a place where. from the
marks on the ground. he judged q
fight had occurred between them. A
few bits I of clothing were strewn
around (which he carefully gathered