The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1909-06-13
CHAPTER XIII.
The Shot in the Pass.

dining room and out upon the rear
porch. Her horse was standing where
she had left him. Her heart beat fu-
riously as she caught up the reins, but
she sprang into the saddle and rode
rapidly away The flood Of her temper
had brought a disregard of cOnse-
quences; It was in the glow of her eyes,
the lines OF her lips, and the tremor of
her nostrils as she breathed long and
deeply on her flying hoWe.
When she checked Jim she had rid
den miles, but not without a course nor
without a purpose. Where the roads
ahead OF her parted TO lead down the
river and over the Elbow Pass to Med
fcine Bend, she halted within a clump
Of trees almost where she had first
seen McCioud. Beyond the Mission
mountains the sun was setting in a fire
like that which glowed under her eyes.
She could have counted her heaTtbeats
as the crimson ball sank below the
verge OF the horizon and the shadows
I threw I'D the silver thread of the big
/ river and deepened across the heavy
green OF the alfalfa fields. Where Dick
sic sat, struggling with her bounding
pulse and holding Jim tightly In, no
one from the ranch or, indeed, from
I the upcountry. could pass her unseen.
She was waiting for a horseman, and
she heard a sharp gallOp coming down
the upper road from the hills.
All her brave plans, terrOr-stricken
at the sound of the hoofbeats, fled from
her utterly. She was stunned by the
suddenuess Of the crisis. She had
meant TO stop McCloud and speak to
him, but before she could summon her
courage a tall. slender man on horse
hack dashed past within a few feet of
her. She could almost have touched
him as he flew by, and a horse less
steady than Jim would hSve SHE'D under
her. Dieksie caught her breath. She
did not know this man-she had seen
only his eyes, oddly bright I'm the twi-
light as he passed-but he was not of
the ranch. He must have come from
the hill road, she concluded, down which
she herself had just ridden. He was
somewhere from the north for he sat
his horse like q statue and rode like the
wind.
But the encounter nerved her to her
resolve. Some leaden moments passed,
and McClOud, galloping at far mild
er pace toward the fork of the roads,
checked his speed as he approached.
He saw woman on horseback waiting
IN his path.
Mr.. McCloudr'
Miss Dunningr
1t could not forgive myself II I wait
ed too long to warn you that threats
have been made against your life Not
of the kind you heard today. My cous-
in is not a murderer, and never could
be, l am sure, i'm spite of his talk: but
I was frightened at the thought that
If anything dreadful should happen his
name would be brought into 1t. There
are enemies of yours IN this country
to be feared. and it is against these that
! warn you. GoOd-nightw q.
Surely you won't ride away without
giving me a chance to thank you" ex-
claimed McClouG. Dicksie checked her
horse. I owe you a double debt Of
gratitude" he added. land I am anx-
ious to assure you that We desire moth
ing that will injure your interests in
any way in crossing your lands"
7 know nothing about those matters,
because my cousin manages everything.
1t Is growing late and you have a good
way to go. so goodnight"
But you viii allow me to ride back
70 the house with you?"
ooh. no. indeed, thank your
1T viii soon be dark and you are
alone"
mo. no. I am quite safe and I have
only a short ride. Il is you who have
far TO 60" and she spoke again TO Jim,
who started briskly.
Miss Dunning. won't you listen Just
q moment? Please don't run awayr'
McC1oud was trying to come UP with
her Won't you hear me a moment?
] have suffered some little humiliation
today; I should really rather be shot
up than have more put on me. 1 am
a man and you are a woman, and ii is
already dark. Isn't 1t for me to see You
safely 20 the house? Won't you at least
av.A Of Ia
me so with you: I should make
poor figure trying to catch you on
horseback"
Dioksie nodded naively. with that
horse"
with any horse-I know that" said
MeCloud. keeping at her side
But I can't let you ride back with
me-" declared Dicksie, urging Jim and
looking directly at McClOud for the frst
time. How could I explain?''
let me explain. I am famous for
explaining" urged McCloud. squirting.
too.
and viii you tell me what should
be doing while you were explaining
she asked
Perhaps getting ready first aid
for the injured"
Il feel as If 1 ought 10 run away"
declared Dicksie, since she had clearly
decided not to. 1t viii have TO be a
compromise. I suppose. You must not
ride farther than the first gate, and let
Us take this trail instead of the road.
Now make your horse go as fast as
YOU can and I'll keep up
But MCClOud's horse, though not
wonder, went far too fast to suit his
rider, who divided his efforts between
che king him and keeping up the con-
versatiOn. When McCloud dismounted
TO open Dicksie's gate. and stood IN the
twilight with his hat in his hand and
his bride over his arm, he was telling
a story about Marion Sinclair, ana
Dicksie in the saddle, tapping her
knee with her bridle-rein. was looking
down and past him as if the light upon
his face were too bright. Before she
would start away she made him re
mount, and he said gOodby only after
half a promise from her that she
would show him sometime q trail 70
the top OF Bridger's peak, with a view
of the Peace river on the east and the
whole Mission range and the park
country on the north. Then she rode
away at an amazing run. nOddinE back
as he sat still holding his hat above
his head.
McCIoud gaUoped toward the PASS