The Huttig news., 1908-08-22
Copyright. 1907, A. c. Mcclurs $ Co. Chicago
Illustrations by Art. Williamson
CONTINUED FROM LAST WEEK.

ready in conference with one of the railroad office boys that 'lettered we'll" getting out "Warningl" to be posted on one of the towns bulletin | spaces. Whatever the reprobate might next undertake could not be done i there. The town kept open eyes by night as we'll as by day.
 The iron train was two hours late, l and the desert day so alluring that Esther decided to ride as usual. I'm mediately after the noon dinner her mount was brought to the door; but her kindly knight was missing. This was not alarming. His memory often | failed him in the daily routine, when he saddled his horse and wandered alone in the hills hunting for color :" but always returned safe; and on such occasions Esther patiently went without her ride. But today she was disappointed She wanted to get away from the memory of the morning. Had any one seen him go?" she asked. And Shack, hearing her ques- tion, told her that Bill had saddled not a quarter hour ago, an lit out west down the track
 'I can overtake him, then" she said to Sally B. as she mounted.
 4I don't like ter see ye start off alone" Sally B. said; yet she was too fearless herself to suspect danger; and her protest was perfunctory.
 "I'll find MT. Bernard shortly; don't worry about me-
 Look out for that there breakfast guest of our'n. If you met up with him. he might take shine to you or yore mare.'
 My lungs are good And section men are too plenty and Swift's heels too nimble for any man on foot to hurt 1 me- Esther replied nonchalantly. Besides, he'll be far toward Wells by this time. That's his first chance for supper
 It was good to be out in the open this perfect day, to be alone. She kept on the lookout for her cavalier, | expecting momentarily to overtake him. Presently she spied him climbing a high hillside to the north. It looked 1 hot and breathless over there She knew the succession of ridge and hol- l low in that direction. No wide level 1 spaces for gallops. no open vistas. She would have this one long afternoon to l herself, listen for voices that spoke | only to the solitary ear She rode slowly, making subconscious notes of the smooth, trodden path beside the track, at places where she would give the mare her head when return ing in the cooler afternoon.
 A patch of brilliant desert flowers in small nook where the melting snow had been gathered and held caught her capricious eye. She would be hid den from the town here, yet not far from the track and passing trackmen l It would be quite safe Dismounting, i she gathered a great bunch of the sun colored blossoms, and tucked them in l hat and habit front. She uncoiled the Mexican hair rope from beneath her saddle flap; and, giving Swift 40 feet 1 of freedom, sat down, back to the track, to memories and day dreams day dreams that purloined time un- l needed, till the iron train thundered past.
 Eyes that caught the vision of beau 1 ty in horse and rider silhouetted against the gray hillside lighted with sudden appreciation; and one pair famed up curiously, watched eagerly till the vision vanished, then gloomed above set teeth and clenched hands
 Esther remounted and resumed her ride, still slowly The mood for a speed had not come A short distance farther on she came to deep, curving cut. Instantly on entering an uncan- ny sensation possessed her, present. ment of danger. Yet she derided her self, and touched Swift to lope. Had not the train just passed? What menace could arrive in ten minutes?
 Along the banks were a few cave like depressions cut for some purpose by the graders. As Esther rounded the curve feeting glimpse of a horse man coming toward the cut from the other end was interrupted by the voice of man who sprang from one of the little holes and caught her bridle rein.
 'sill trouble you for that sparkler, miss; and don't take too much time getting off your glove. Keep them ruby lips shut, too. I might add by way of friendly advice
 Esther was looking into the barrel of pistol held by the man she had that morning served with coffee. It was not courage that came quicker than reason to her; rather, a swift anger that this creature should pre- sume to molest her.
 How dare you2" she cried fearless ly, striking the hand on her bridle a stinging blow with her whip. In the instant of surprise and pain that made him release her, she whlrled the mare