New-York tribune., 1909-07-25

ically; but l reckon We shall have to get
along with these"
Beth looked the two mounts over critically.
They seemed TO be equally matched to gen
eTal characteristics, since neither appeared
either strong or plump, She said, Shall We
nde very far;
No. oh no, Just a pleasant little jog. re
Piled the horseman- They call II forty miles
TO Goldite by the ridge; but II isn't an inch
over thirty
Thirty rniles-o~cr the mountains-wIth
unknown man and her maidi Beth suppressed
gasp Of despair and astonishment, not 10
mention trepldatlon. by making an effort that
Vergcd upon the heroic
But wc-we can never arrive IN Goiditc to-
night she SAID. '' We can't expect 20, can
1t takes more than that TO Kill these bron-
COS" Van cheerfullv assured her. "I can only
guarantee that the horses VIII make It-by
sunset
Beth flushed He evidently entertained
poor notion OF her horsemanship. Her pride
WAS aroused. She would show HIM something
at least that no horse could make this Jour
nev without her, Thank YOU" she said, and
advancing 10 the roam She addressed herself 10
Dave. " Nlll you ples.se help me up. Mr.. Nan
can help my maid
Dave gTInned and performed his offices IS
best he could. which was strongly, if not with
grace. Van shook a threatening tist behind
hIs Capt-ve's back He had meant 70 take tins
honor 10 himself.
Fairly tossing the greatly delighted little
Elsa 10 the seat the EaN. ne mounted ms
own sturdy animal and immediately started
for the canon below, leaving Beth and her maid
70 trail behind.
The girls heart al but failed her Whittier
were they gong. and toward what fate, What
could be the outcome Of - Journey ike tins. un-
dcrtaken so blIndlv with no chance tor resist
ance. The horseTnan had stubbuTHlv refused
- reply 10 her question. he was calmly riding
of before them now with the utmost 1ndli.er-
enCe II his manner There was nothing T. do
out 70 follow and resign herself to-the Lord
alone knew what The little roam mare. IN
deed required no urging she Was tugClng ~
the blr TO be of. With one last look q help
IeSSness u the station and Dave. who some
WAY bore the hint ot a fathcrly arr. she
charged her nerves with al possible resolution
and rode on after the leader
Elsa permitted her bronco 10 tTldgc - the
tail Of the column. She dared 10 cast one shy
,ilsconccTrIng l1ttle glance II Dave-and he
suddenly felt that he woulG burst INTO fame
and consume himself utterly 10 ashes. .
THE great canon yawned prodigiously where
-ts rock gates stood open 10 grant the party
admission L. the sanctuu Il the hils. Sheer
granite walls. austcTc and irDwulng. rose IN
SCulptuTed lumenSltv On either SIDE but the
tTall under foot was scored between some -Cat-
tered wild peach shrubs, lulersPerscd with CO.
CaS,onal bright green glumps Of manzanita
The arr waS reGolenT II warmth and fTagrar,t
presence n the hills of some glortcd poddess
II Iove-some lofty, exalted, invisible god
dcss guarded by her mountain SHOWS yet stlI
too languorous and voluptuous 10 pass without
II least trailing on the sllrurncTy arr the breath
that ezhaied from her beng. Il was al q de
light. despite vague alarms, and the promise
ahead was inviting
T. Van continued straight onward. with never
so much as q turn %; his head 10 the horscs II
the rear He seemed 20 have quite forgotten
The TWO half-irightcucd women N ms wake
Beth had ample opportunity Tor again ohesrF-
.ng his look of strength and grace However.
-hc found her attention much divided between
r1rnultuous Joy N the mountain grandeur
hathed N the maTvclpuslv life exciting ar. and
concern for the outcome ot the day i q iasnt
-uggesrion of pIquc At the manner II winch
the horse1nan ignored her presence crept sub
Consciously into al her rutdltatlons. she DID
not confess u 10 herself.
Elsa's horTid little habit of accepting any
thing and everything with the most IrrespoHsl-
ble lOnplacenCv. rendered the situation dggra-
vatlng. II was so utterly impossible 10 discuss
with such q beng even such oi she morning
developments as the relationship of mistress
arlG rnaid might otherwise have permitted
4 mile beyond the mouth Of the canon the
sight ascent was ended, the cha5m Wliencd.