The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-08-17
By cLARIcE ENGLE.

pleading was that she would put him
on an indefinite probation and if he
came through it with flying colors why
she would think about it.
All of which Warren took too liter
ally, and he thought that she had
spoken thus only to soften her refusal.
He became angry at the thought of 1t.
She don't care nothin' fer me-" he
muttered savagely, IAN l know why.
It's all along of that sneakin' coyote.
Ralph Henderson. Been to Frisco an
seen a few things an comes out here
to lord it over us. l know the brand
She's plumb loco over the cuss. too.
an he amt no man. No." he finished
spitefully. "he amt no man."
He rode on across the desert In a
sort of dulled consciousness. with his
hat pulled well down over his eyes
At length, toward the middle Of the
Before him lay the Tooth Of Time,
the largest mountain in that vicinity.
| Beyond it, ten miles to the westward.
was Taggart. This necessitated his
taking the trail that wound round the
| slope of the mountain. This trail was
hardly more than a well trodden foot
path and was only wide enough to per-
NIT a single rider upon it. One side
of it sIoped up at an angle Of almost
eighty degrees. The other formed the
side of a precipice that dropped
sheer 200 feet to the sandy ravine be-
| low
As he rode over the trail, lost in
thought, Warren was dead to external
sounds. He did not notice the fidget-
ing OF his horse nor his frightened
whinnies He had no intimation what
ever that any one was approaching
along the trail from the opposite direc-
ton. And yet not a hundred feet
ahead of him a horse and rider were
rounding the curve of the mountain.
Neither noticed the other until they
were fifty feet apart. Then by some
strange intuition both raised their
heads. Recognition was mutual and
instantaneous, for the man ahead of
Warren was Ralph Henderson.
The faces of both men paled with
fear. Not in years had two men met
on that narrow trail. and it seemed
some strange Intervention of destiny
that 1t should be Warren and Hender
son. While the face of the cattleman
grew anxious, that of Henderson be-
came quickly overshot with crafty
cunning.
"Helloy he drawled pleasantly.
"HellOv' muttered Warren nervouSly.
"Well what are we going to dc
about it?" the city man continued. at
looks as if you'd have to go back"
mot by a - sighty snapped War
rem There's no turning about for
either of US. Well have to manage to
pass each other. The place seems pref
ty wide here"
Flip coin for the inner side," sug
gested the other, suddenly reaching
hand into his pocket.
Right" agreed Warren, "but let's
have a look at it first"
Henderson's face turned scarlet and
he stayed his hand. 81 declare. I'm all
out Of COIN" he ratified sheepishly.
Here's an eagle" replied Warren
with narrow eyes. "Heave her up
Heads pass on the inside. tails pass
on the outside"
He tossed the coin to Henderson as
he spoke who, pale faced and hesitat-
ing, fumbled with it moment and
let it fly up into the air with twirl
of veteran trickster. 1t fell down on
the trail at their feet. ringing out clear
and cold.
'TaiIs!" cried the city man, overcome
with excitement His face resumed
something of its natural color and the
old craftiness stole into his eyes.
Warren accepted his fate nonchal
antly, although be knew that it might
mean death for him. There was one
thing about it, however, that CALLED
him. He we'll knew that Henderson
was on his way to the Patterson ranch.
and it came to him as a rather bitter
thought that he might have to play
the martyr and sacrifice his own life
In order that the man could do so. But
without a word he pressed his pony's
ribs with his heels and rode forward.
Henderson had drawn his horse as
close as he could against the side OF
the mountain. but he seemed over
taken by fits Of nervousness, for the
reins shook in his hands and the colo
came and went in his dark cheeks.
The ledge where Warren would have
to pass Henderson was somewhat
wider than the rest of the trail, and
he rode forward light hearted and con
fdent that he would easily accomplish
it. But just as he brushed against the
side of Henderson the latter suddenly
drove h1 spurs with great force
against his horses ribs. With a snort
of terror the animal plunged madly
forward, dislodging the other horse
and rider and sending them hurting
down and over the edge Of the preci-
pice. Then he went careening down
the slope.
The breath went out of Warren as
soon as he felt himself falling, and un-
der the sickening sensation that ensued
he lost consciousness. A stinging pain
in his leg fually awoke him. Bruised
and bleeding he now sat up and gazed
about him. He had landed in the
branches of tree that jutted out from
the slope of the mountain. Down be-
low on the sand he could see the form
Of his horse, dead as a stone.
The first thing Warren did was to
swear Then he looked to his leg. 1t
had been broken just below the knee.
AS he started to wrap his handkerchief
about it he heard sound from above.
Over the rim of the precipice a bushy
head was peering.
"Hellow it called. kin ye manage
eff / send down a roper"
"Sure." Warren yelled back.
A minute later the end Of lariat
came whirling down through space,
Warren caught it, made it fast about
his body, and then, clinging to it with
both hands, ordered the man above to
hoist away. A few moments later he