The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-06-29
TheKeeDer of the KeYc
CHAPTER II.
(C0ntinIIed)

| ~ NJ
CHAPTER II.
1 (Continued)
She did not stir, or uttre nather
sound. Rand stood over her with
his arms akimbo and a great won
: der surging in his brain; he thought
her the most beautiful thing he had
ever laid eyes upon.
Why he said, breathlessly,
"she's-she's mighty like a flow
err"
But he remembered that there
was a duty owing the girl higher
than an appreciation of her beauty;
and resolutely he took his eyes
from her face and considered ways
and means. His experience in the
reviving Of unconscious females was
somewhat limited, but he was try
hard to recall the methods en-
ployed by novilists to bring back
to consciousness their maltreated
heroines.
Something drew him back to the
horse. He bent over the animal,
touching tentatively the still tanks.
1t was quite lifeless, "Strange!"
thought Rand. Uncommonly
strange!" And he fumbeled in his
pockets for the match which he
presently drew along his thigh.
There was stink of sulphur and
splitting, blue light Rand shield
ed 1t with his cupped hands, though
the air was so motionless that
. when he held the little flame aloft,
bending over the body, it f1ared up
ward without flicker.
The light was quite insufficient
for a prolonged examination, yet
Rand found that which made him
put his teeth together firmly, bit
Ing on a savage curse. "The filthy
hound!" he cried-meaning the
man who had done this thing.
A small, round hole was in the
horses head; thick blood welled
from it verydeliberately. The horse
had been shot, either with a re.
vOlver or with 8 rifle of small cali
ber
The match burned low and
scorched the mans fingers. He
dropped it and stood erect, smitten
with great amazement. at can't
have been long since" he unused.
"Why didn't hear the shot? But
that girl-what about herr"
A slow, persistent drip-drip of
water caught his ear. 1t seemed to
come from the side of the road.
Rand followed the sound, and stun
| No tot -
.. the great water pipe. The hand
that he rested upon it to save him.
self a fall came away moist and
sticky, and when he stopped and
felt the surface of the ground
Whereabouts, he dabbled his fingers
in little pool of water. This is
.. luck he observed; and soused his
handkerchief in it.
Returning to the girl, he laid the
sodden linen on her forehead for a
moment, and then very gently
moistened the rest Of her face.
She sighed deeply, and moved.
Her lips, which were full and
tempting, parted ever so slightly.
The long, upcurling lashes trem-
bled on the wonderful oval Of her
cheek; and she was looking up at
him with a serene, steadfast per-
plexity that took his breath away.
The moonlight that sank into her
eyes glowed in their depths like a
slow fire that needed but the breath
of romance to quicken 1t to fame
Rand heard himself stammering:
|"YOu-I beg your pardon-you
tainted"
Under his gaze a deep color
burned in her cheeks. She sat up
right suddenly and her quick. fem
mime fingers-they were brown, but
slender and tapering, he noted
began to arrange the disorder of
her hair.
Thank YOU" she told him, a bit
TREMENDOUSLY. 81 must have tainted,
as you say. My mare fell without
warning, and I was caught"
She turned her gaze to his with
an impulsive movement Of her
head. But how she demand
ed, breathlessly. you must have
lifted that mare bodily!"
at was nothing" he told her,
gravely "Im glad that came
along in time to be Of assistance.
. Permit me-"
Seeing that she wished to rise,
he offered his hand; she put her
fingers for an instant into his
broad palm, and was on her feet
but only to utter little cry of
pain, and to cling to his arm, when
she had rested her weight upon the
bruised foot.
"Oh!" she said. "Oh!"
Tell me what l can do" Rand
begged.
The girl smiled bravely. I'm
afraid | can't walk" she said. But
there-it feels better already. Only
the shoe hurts. Have you knife?"
She sat down by the roadside
again, extending a hand for the
knife. But Rand, with an ''If you
don't mind, I'll be very careful"
bent upon one knee and began dex-
terously to slit the leather of the
little riding boot. Because of his
care and the dellcacy of 1t, it was
rather a prolonged operation; the
girl set her teeth and bore the
slight pain of the unavoidable