The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-22
THE EVENING STORY
Her Choice.
(By Clarissa Mackie.)

On every side was sand and crisp
| brown vegetation and the hopelessness
| OF the Arizona desert. Overhead was a !
cioudless blue sky and burning sun. |
| Beth's red lips closed resolutely as
she urged her tired horse along the
| family defined trail which had led
her astray.
We will make for that little canyon.
lLigntfoot-that little break in the rise
beyond, said Beth, stroking the black
name. -perhaps-there will
be shade and water for US there
Wnen miles of burning sand had
| been traversed she rode down the dry
bed of a water course and into the
small canyon. Her heart sank, for
there was nothing save an expanse of
shimmering sand and some tall, spiny
cacti on the steep. rocky sides.
But the large-leaved cacti might af-
| she urged Lightfoot to the edge of the
| shimmering sand There he paused and
snorted shrilly. Another step and his
feet sank in the yielding sand With
scream of terror the beast settled
back on his launches and then made
| an Intellectual leap forward.
| Beth shot over his head and fell a
crumpled heap on the ground beyond
| the outer circle of shimmering sand.
When she recovered consciousness
Lightfoot was struggling shoulder deep
| in the quicksand, his strained eyes
| turned in agony upon her face.
! Sne turned away ana SODDod h6r
| helplessness into her hands. When she
| looked again there was nothing save
the yellow sand undulating in the sun
| light.
| How horrible it was! If Lightfoot
had not tossed her over his head into
| safety she, too, might have been drawn
| beneath those treacherouS quicksands.
| But was her lot much better? Alone,
afoot, without food or water. lost in
wild canyon, on one side of which rose
| a precfpitous wall of rock, and on the
other-cutting off escape-the quick
sandl
The sun moved slowly away from
the canyon, but the sitting heat did
not abate. The rocky walls reflected
the binding glare and intensified its
| unbearableness.
Pale and languid Beth leaned back
lagainst a rock and looked with dreamy
eyes toward the mouth Of the canyon
| where help might come-if it came in
| time.
Surely some one at the ranch house,
! which she had left after breakfast for
her morning canter, would attempt to
| find her-would it be Buck Hayden or
Judson Bailey?
She pictured the two men, loose
| 1inbed and graceful, stretching along
the necks of their horses with eyes
alert for a glimpse of the girl they
both loved and were fighting for with
amicable rivalry. Together they had
courted Beth Lee with a certain dog
that that side by side they would come
| searching for her.
The sunlight was still glowing on
the opposite wall of the canyon when
they came riding through the narrow
opening, Judson Bailey in the lead, his
dark face keenly alert.
At his flank rode Buck Hayden, his
| sunburned countenance grim with
anxiety. His jaws were set and all of
his homely features were knotted with
care.
Beth's heart quickened as they sight
ed her and whooped joyously. She
leaped to her feet and sprang toward
them.
1.-THE quicksand!" she cried sharply.
you cannot cross-Lightfoot went
down there!' She pointed with trem-
bling fingers at the quivering sand at
her feet.
The two men halted at the edge of
the canyon. Their eyes met and Jud-
son Bailey's face blanched to dull
gray.
Buck Hayden's jaw set firmly.
I'VE can't get her any other way
one of US IL have to cross here, Jud. ="
He looked the other man squarely in
the eye.
Bailey licked his dry lips and tried
to smile. He looked at the wide ex
panse of FACILITATING sand and then
across at the girl.
TASK her." he said suddenly.
/ Buck Hayden's face paled. Beth"
to cross over after you. Which one do
you want-it's good chance to make
a choice!"
Beth was trembling with agitation.
f"Don't ask mel can't choose" she
cried appealingly.
you've got to choose said Buck
grimly.
"Let Judson GOMEZ she said family,
hiding her face in her hands
u Bucks hands dropped to his sides as
he turned to his successful rival. Il m
out of it, JUDI. he said hoarsely. It'll
, stand by to help you if you get in
trouble. Will your mare make i?
Bailey was staring with horror
stricken eyes at the crawling. beckon-
ing, shifting particles of sand at his
. feet. Death by that slow torture would
'.WilI your mare make 20 repeated
Buck, impatiently.
"Sure to-" responded Bailey, tight
ening his rein with jerk.
Ready, then. said Hayden; I'll
J stand by Jud-remember thatt'
With a muttered ejaculation of ter
ror Judson Bailey wheeled his horse
and spurred toward the canyon s
mouth. In a minute he had disappear
| ed from view.
"I'll have to come after you any
vay Beth, said Buck, quietly.
She watched with bated breath as
the sorrel sprang forward and then
sank on the opposite side with scramb-
ling feet
Again the sorrel lowered over the
uuicksand and once more clattered to
| a footing, and then, slowly, with Beth
before him in the saddle, Buck Hay
. den rode out of the canyon. with mis-
cradle eyes fixed straight ahead, un-
| seeing-uncaring
The heavens were thick with stars
when they neared the ranch house,
and then for the first time Buck adj
/ dressed. the girl sitting rigidly silent
before him-her bright hair so near
to his beating heart.
"Inl- sorry about what happened,
Beth he said in a low voice. eff ever
| / catch up with that coyote. PHI
A soft hand covered his lips. LET
i him alone, Buck" whispered Beth. Ell