Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-05
CHATTER XXI.


3d. scan the trail, and, having no
means Of knowing that the fresh tracks
he found were not those Of the two
riders he followed, he urged his lather.
ed horse ahead till he became suddenly
conscious that he was very tired and
had not slept for two days and nights.
The recollection did not reassure the
young man, for his body was n weapon
which must not fail in the slightest
measure now that there was work to
do Even the unwclcomc speculation
upon his physical handicap offered re-
lief, however, from the agony which
fed upon him whenever he thought Of
Helen In the gamblers hands. Mean
while the horse, grooming at his mas
ters violence, plunged onward toward
the roofs Of Nome, now growing gray
inthe first dawn.
It seemed years since Roy had seen
the sunlight for this night, burdened
with suspense, had been endlessly long.
His body was faint beneath the strain,
md yet be rode on and on, tired, dog
ged, stony, his eyes set toward the sea,
his mind storm Of formless, whirlinS
thoughts, beneath which was an unde
waiting, lmpacablc determination.
He knew now that he had sacrificed
MI hope of the alidas, and likewise the
hope of Helen was gone; in fact, he
began 10 realiG2 dimly that from the
beginning he had never had the posi-
billty Of winning her. that she had
never been destined for him and that
his love for her had been sent as 4
light by which he was 10 find himself.
lie had failed everywhere; he had be-
come an OUTLAW: lie had fought and
gone down, certain only Of his recti-
tude and the mastery of his unruly
spirit. Now the hour had come when
ne would perform his last mission, de-
irving therefrom that satisfaction
which the gods could not deny. He
would have his vengeance.
The scheme took form without con-
two things-the death Of the gambler
and meeting with Mcnamara. Of
the former, he had no more doubt than
that the sun rising there would sink
In the west So we'll confirmed was
this belief nat The details did not en-
raro his thought but on the result Of
fhe other encounter he speculated with
tome interest From the first McNa-
mara had been n riddle to him and
mvsterv hrecas curiosity. Ills blind
instructive hatred Of the man had as
sumed the proportions Of n mania; but
as to what the outcome would be when
,hev met face Ia face fate alone could
tell. Anyway. Mcnamara should never
have Belep-Pov believed his mission
covered that point as we'll as her de.
liyerance from the Bronco Kid. When
he had finished. he would pay the
price. IF he bad the luck to escape,
he would 20 raol; 70 his hills and his
solitude; &c he Gil not. his future would
be in the hands Of his enemies.
He entered the silent streets unob-
served for the mists were heavy and
low. Smoke columns arose vertically
in the still air. The rain had ceased,
having beaten down the waves which
rumbed agairrt the beach filing the
streets with their subdued thunder. A
ship anchored in the of1ng. had run
in from the Ice of Slc1gc island with
the first lull. while midway TO the
shore tender was rising and falling,
its oars flashing like The silyered
feelers of Il Goa insect crawling upon
the surface of the ocean
He rode down Front street needless
of danger. needless Of the comment his
appearance might create. and. unseen,
entered his cnemY's stronghold He
passed a gambling hall, through the
windows Of which came sickly vel
low CLEAN. \ man came out IN
steadily ana stared Mt tho horseman
then passed on.
Glenister's plan was to 60 straight ia
the Northern and from There to track
down its owner relentlcSSly, but IN
order TO reach the place his course led
him past the Office Of Durham &
Strive. This brought back to his mind
the man dying out there ten miles Al
his back. The scantiest humanity de
mandcd that assistance be sent n
once. Yet he dared not give WORD
openly, thus betraNing his presence, fol-
1t was necessary that he maintain his
liberty during the next hour at all haz
ards. lie suddenly thought OF an ex
pedient and refined In his horse which
stopped with wide spread legs and de
1ected head while he disnounted ant
climbed the stairs TO leave note upor
inc door some one would see the
oh Al,V a.