Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
CHAPTER XX-Continued.

Jacks Canyon, the TranScontinental
station nearest Copah, was the beginning
Of a combined pack trail and stage road
connecting the Copah district with what
had been. before the advent Of the South
western Elk, ension, it's nearest railroad
outlet. Along this trail, visible TO the
buckboarders as black speck tittuping
against the reddening background of the
west, galloped a solitary horseman. urg-
ing his mount in a way to make Frisbie,
ge ting his glimpse from the hilltop of ex-
tended views. call Ford's attention
Look at that brute, pushing his horse
like that at the end of the day. He ought
to be-
But the Fastening rider was getting his
deserts. whatever they should be. as he
went along. For three hours with three
relays Of fresh horses picked up at the
stage stations in p ssing, he had been
galloping sou Inward. and to whatever
other urging he might confess was added
the new one of fear. the fear that in the
approaching days end he would lose his
way
Seen from the nearest point Of view, the
tittuping horseman seemed curiously out
OF harmony with his environment In
stead of he cowboy snaps or OverallS
he wore the trousers of civilization, which
the rapid fight had hitched half way to
his knees In place Of the open breasted
shirt with the rolled-up sleeves there were
tailor-made upper clothes, with the col
lar and cr1Va, also of civilization, and
the haiti was perhaps fortunate for the
rider thai he had not met any true deni-
zens of the unfettere6 highlands on the
lonely trail from Jacks Canyon. His hat
was derby Of the newes, shape. and the
cow-n1en beyond the range are impatient
of such headgear.
Recognition. after one has ridden hard
for three hours over a dusty road. is not
easy: but there are faces one never for
gets. and the features. dust-grimed and
sweat-streaked though hey were. had
still the south-of-Europe outline, the
slightly aquiline nose and the piercing
black eyes OF MIR. Julius Eckstein. wnom
We saw. on the morning of this same
road-wearying day. welcoming Adair over
the counter railing In the Denver Office
How does ii come that few short hours
later we find him galloping tantivy over
the dusty hills. 10 less than two hundred
miles, as the birds fly. from the counter
railing OF welcomings?
That is the story of another and more
successful special train than Adair's. No
sooner was the care-free young director
safely on his way to meet the delays so
painstakinsly prearranged for him than
the wires began 70 buzz with cipher
message of warning to Penheld. A pre-
cious half hour was lost in ascertaining
that the wire conn ection to he end of
track was temporarily out of commission,
but during that half hour Mr.. North had
held his chin in mis- hand 10 some good
purpose.
With the fresh complications promised
by Adairs projection into the field. a
stronger man than Penfeld should be in
command on the firing line. The vice
presiGen, decided swiftly that Eckstein
was the man: but how to get him to the
MacMcrrogh headquarters before Adair
should arrive?
1t proved Q be simpler in the outcarry-
ing than In the planning. special light
engine over the Transcontinental to ia ok S
Canyon-an exchange of courtesies which
even fighting r Threads make in war as
well in peace-a wire request on the
stage company for relays of saddle horses
and the thing was done. And Eckstein
pushing his jaded beast down the final
hill in he dusk OF the evening and well
coming. as only saCule tormented can
welcome. the lights of the headqu lrters
camp confess ID in cursings quite bar
barrie in their phrasings that he, too, was
done.
The conference held that night behind
locked doors in the MacMorroghs' COM