Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-20

hand. For second she hung in alright Then his
forward, his strong feet firm clutching at the river
bed: They had just made it. The girls legs rasped
against water dashed rock which stood like posi-
to the gate of death they had slipped.
On the bank the chestnut stopped, spread his
legs wide, and shook himself till the saddle flaps
beat against his strong sides like the drum Of a
pheasant.
Chris slipped into her wet skirt sprang to the
saddle, and as they angled up the sloping bank she
Caressed Chnooks neck saying, You brave.
wise old chap! You knew more about it than /.
On the prairie she halted to listen. There was no
sound of galloping horsemen, no clamor of strife;
nothing but the sulen boom of the rapids growing
Chris touched Chinook with her heel, and he
moved out into the prairie. The pound should be
straight ahead, she unused, dipping her head low
that the mound of its sides might show in the line
of vision. Suddenly its banks doomed ahead and
to the left Ten yards from it she slipped to earth
threw the rein over Chinook head where 1T dangled
in anchorage, and crawling cautiously up the Giro
ling mound which was like the rim of huge bowl
peer 'nto its depths The gloomy hollow was silent
Ind .,tly the blurred form of something grew into
tn = RS eyes. 1t might be horse boulder.
SHE whistled. There answer Prank,
~ she called softly.
The clicking note of a revover's hammer drawn
to place came in answer on the dead night air.
Don't shoot, Frank It's , me- chT as I'm con- 4h
gravel wall that had been sloped by prairie storms
the girl gided to the floor of the pound, and with
the same low voiced assurance OF ner identity.
crossed to the figure of a man she could now make
out in the dim moonlight.
You here Chris, My God what are you doing
here?"
At the ring OF Somers boysh voice, the girl, with
a sob of relief asked, rs Preacher Black here?
No" he answered. Then suspciously, VIII
should he be here? Why are you here, Chris:
What has happened!
First, start fire, Frank.
" fire! Are you mad, grl!"
'Quick do as l tell you'll I'll explain. You
must trust mel I've ridden tonight to save lives
Quick! Is there any wood here? Have you :.
match?" STOPPING, Chris swept the ground with
"Yes-herel" With knife Somers rasped shay
ings from dry stick of poplar and touched them
with match.
Eagerly Chris topped the licking blaze with small
wood, saying, We must have light, Frank. In the
dark sometimes shoot friends as we'll as foes.
What is it all about, Christ?
I" Preacher Back-yOu were to meet-yOu
to him, didn't your!
' He wasn't coming to meet me-.
- You lie, Frank to save him: but it's foolish
God knows l wish it wasn't a lie!'
You are wet, Somers said evasivey touching
the girls leather coat which in its wet tenacty
threw the sweet of her symmetrical figure into
pened.'
Il the river to your life, my boy
MY life, Christ"
Yes: his too Now will you tell me?'
The girl looked angry into the mans face, which
held only sulen silence in the Pickering freight
You won't answer-you cannot! Then | know
The fool! Listen, Frank! Five men from Stand
Off have gaoped out on the preacher trail tonight
and now they between the ford and here
Somers grasped pistol; but Chris, putting her
hand on his arm SAID with STng back into 1 the
minute. Sit down beside me. Quick! Do as
tell you'll
Are you mad, Chris To be trapped here in this
"Whisper!" she commanded. her own voice just
pitched to reach his ears. You couldn't escape
Even now they're out yonder making the circuit of
and II In'f hot al