The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-02-07
CHAPTER XXI.

CdAIIEh AL.
IN AY was breaking as Glenlster
came down the mountain. With
the first light he halted to
- 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 weapon
which must not fail In the slightest
measure now that there was work to
do. Even the unwelcome 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 ut his mas
ter's violence, plunged onward toward
the roofs Of Nome, now growing gray
in the first dawn.
1t 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,
and yet he rode on and on, tired, dog
ged, stony, his eyes set toward the sea,
his mind storm Of formless, whirling
thoughts, beneath which was an unde-
waiting, implacable determination.
He knew now that he had sacrificed
all hope Of the Midas, and likewise the
hope Of Helen was gone; In fact, he
began to realize dimly that from the
beginning he had never had the posi-
bility of winning her, that she had
never been destined for him and that
his love for her had been sent as a
light by which he was to find himself.
He had failed everywhere; he had be-
come an outlaw; he had fought and
gone down, certain only Of his recti-
tude and the mastery Of his unruly
spirit. Now the hour had come when
he 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-
scious effort on his part and embraced
two things-the death of the gambler
and a meeting with Mcnamara. OF
the former, he had no more doubt than
that the sun rising there would sink
in the west. So well confirmed was
this belief that the details did not en-
gage his thought; but on the result Of
the other encounter he specialized with
some interest. From the first McNa-
mara had been q riddle to him, and
mystery breeds curiosity. His blind,
instructive hatred of the man had as
sumed the proportions of mania; but
as to what the outcome would be when
they met face to face. fate alone could
tell. Anyway, Mcnamara should never
have Helen-Roy believed his mission
covered that point as we'll as her de-
llverance from the Bronco Kid. When
he had finished, he would pay the
price. If he had the luck to escape,
he would 60 back to his hills and his
solitude; if he did 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
rumbled against the beach. filing the
streets with their subdued thunder. a
ship anchored in the offing. had run
in from the lee of Sledge island with
the first lull, while midway to the
shore tender was rising and falling,
its oars flashing like the silvered
fec!ers Of sea insect crawling upon
the surface Of the ocean.
lie 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 a sickly vel
low CLEAN. A man came out I'M
steadily and. stared at the horseman,
then passed on.
Glenister's plan was to go straight to
the Northern and from there to track
down It's owner relentlessly. 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 at
his back. The scantiest humanity de-
manded that assistance be sent at
once. Yet he dared not give word
openly, thus betraying his presence for
It was necessary that he maintain his
liberty during the next hour at all haz-
ards. He suddenly thought of an eX
pedient and reined in his horse. which
stopped with wide spread legs and de-
jected head while he dismounted and
the stairs to leave a note upon
the door. Some one would see the
message shortly and recognize its
urgency.
In dressing for the battle at the Mi
das on the previous night he had re
placed his leather boots with "muk-
luks," which are waterproof, light and
pliable footgear made from the skin of
seal and walrus. He was thus able to
move as nolselessly as though in moe
casins. Finding neither pencil nor pa
per in his pocket, he tried the outer
door of the Office, to find 1t unlocked.
He stepped inside and listened, then
moved toward table on which were
writing materials, but in doing so
heard a rustic I'm Strives priyate Of