The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-01-15
CHAPTER XIV (continued).

CHAPTER XIV (Continued).
II suppose she knew best what to do
he told himself Il would only compile
cate matters. The judge Is her friend.
and she will have the motherly care
of Mrs. Gordon. If I was III the field
and she held to me, they might turn
her adrift
He, of course, had no means Of know
ing the actual state of affairs. He did
not know that Nellie had been virtually
q prisoner in Gordon's house, and had
escaped at night only through love for
him CayrighD and a determination to
get him away before Gavin came TO
make his search
Nellie had said her brother was at the
house, and this assured Cayrisht that
she needed no protection at his hands
Its good thing she has a brother,
he said -.She needs relative now
more than she does lover. I'll get out
to camp and give Armstrong a story.
and when we get the thing Strengthened
out I'll come back and see the brother
ard thank Nellie as she deserves She
is a noble girl
ECayright knew Big Elk Creek well. 1t
ran from the south to the northward,
having its source in some ranges con-
siderable distance from McCaSSatt.
Fifty miles from Hubbicks it joined
Little Elk Creek, and this junction was
called Elk Forks.
From the region of Hubbicks north
ward for ten or fifteen miles the creek
ran through a valley which increased
gradually in depth as it decreased in
width.
Along lis banks grew two strips Of
trees, through which Big Elk trail had
been marked out by the Indians long
before the road makers had got to work
TO make ways for wagons to travel
from the raches to the towns.
Fifteen miles from Hubbicks, the trail
took a sudden descent into a deep ra-
vine. the sides of which were in most
places absolutely unscalable-
One branch of the trail led down into
this ravine and wound along over fallen
trees or under them. round jagged
points following always the bsak CT
the tumbiing, rushing stream.
The other branch kept along at the
top of the bluff, 3ea feet above the rush
ing waters, bare of trees, a hot and
thirsty ride in summer. dangerous one
in winter, but one which was better for
speed than the winding and difficult path
at the bottom
The sides of the ravine We're clothed
with a growth of various shrubs and
trees, most of them dwarfed by the
scantiness of soil. but all combining te
hide from view the Intercourse below
Cayright had rs.she3 his horse for the
first mile ~ ls.c had made the
discovery east was not
capable ~ = e9eee s,ithout a rest
He re ore L zen it rather easy
phi he reaeas me division Of the
- no. which way?" he asked
Down in the depths there
-e- and water, but who knows the
culties?''
Even while he stood at the dividing
of the way he heard shout Turning
In the saddle he saw three galooine
horses.
THAT must be Gavin" he told him.
self
There was tightening Of the lips. {
suffering of his muscles, and his fingers
gripped his rifle
No." he muttered, as he relinquishec
the weapon. 81 have committed nc
crime. and will not kill even to say.
myself from arrest But run I viii
q long as this tired horse can carr,
me-"
He applied the spurs and the ANNA
made a gallant dash forward
The race led along the upper trail
close to the verge of the abyss. TIL
ever deepening rayine was on one side
the wild lands on the other
He could have turned off to the Ief
at any point But few miles woult
have. taken him into rough and un
broken country, a desert. where thirs
and hunger would have done the worl
that Gavin wished to do, had his hors
fallen under the strain.
It was losing race whichever way n
went. Desert or beaten trail. ii was al
the same.
The horse was blowing and could no
go much farther
Shall I halt and give myself up, O
wait for the horse to drop dead?" askel
Cayright of himself.
The horse did falter. Cayright pulle
him in and turned in the saddle to Loo
at his advancing pursuers.
Instinctievly he placed his hand OF
the rife he had previously scorned Z
use.
AT this there came shout from Cav
ina shetland Cayright, stunned by
bullet that dug its way into his seal
and along the bones of his skull, fel
from his seat and went headlong int
the ravine. crashing through branches
and bringing a. shout Of victory fror
the exultant Gavin and his crony Mel
son
Grimes. who was riding third. sal
nothing.
But the look IN his eyes. as he peere
into the ravine for some trace of til
fallen man, showed that somewhere. 4
his weatherbeaten frame. he had
heart.
CHAPTER XVI