The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-08-05

devious lOc; ted. and Black Bart will
have priv lte grudge to revenge.
wonder if lie suspects who attacked
him! But don't worry, Miss HCi =;
We have mil es the start and the wind
has been strong enough to cover o,r
trail. Do you see that dark irregular
ity ahead?"
Yes; Is a cioud?"
No; the Arkansas sand dunes.
am going t. try to keep the horses
moving unit We arrive there Then
we will ha and eat whatever Neb
has packed behind him, and rest for
an hour or wO. You look very tired
but | hope you can keep up for that
distance. We shall be safely out Of
sight then"
Indeed, am tired; the strain of
waiting alone In that cabin, and all
that happer ed last night, have tried
me severel.. But-but can go
through"
Her voice proved her weakness. al
though 1t WIS determined enough. and
Keith, Yielding to sudden impulse, put
out his hand, and permitted 1t to rest
upon hers, elasped across the pommel.
Her eyes dropped, but there was no
change Of osture
Your nerve is all right" he said.
admiringly, you have shown yourself
brave girl"
Il could 1ot be a coward. and be
my fathers daughter" she replied,
with al Cd accent of pride in her
choking voice, "but have been afraid,
and-and | am still"
"Of what! Surely, not that those
fellows will ever catch up with us?"
mo, hal dly know what, only there
is dread l cannot seem to shake off.
as II some evil impended, the coming
OF which c an feel, but not see. Have
you ever experienced any such pre-
monition?"
He laughed. withdrawing his hand.
II think not. l am far too prosaic
q mortal to allow dreams to worry me.
So far Lave discovered sufficient
trouble In eal life to keep my brain
active. Eve n now / cannot forget how
hungry I am"
She did T OF answer. comprehending
how useless 1T would be to explain,
and little ashamed Of her own ILL.,
defined fears, and thus they rode on In
silence. H. did not notice that she
glanced asii lie at him shyly, marking
the outline OF his clear-cut features,
1t was me My face, strong, alive, full
OF character, the well-shaped head
firmly pois ed, the broad shoulders
squared In spite Of the long night Of
weary exer ion. The depths of her
eyes bright,ned with appreciation.
Il believo your story, Mr.. Keith"
she said at last softly.
MY story?" Questioningly and turn
Ing instantly toward her.
Yes; all that you have told me
about what happened
"Oh; hs d almost forgotten having
told 1t, but [ never felt any doubt but
what you W ,uld believe. don't think
I could lie o you"
1t was No compliment, but spoken
with such evident honesty that her
eyes met h s with frankness.
There &C uld be no necessity: only
/ wanted YOU TO know that I trust
you, and ar grateful"
She exte ided her hand this time,
and he took It within his own. holding
Il firmly, yet without knowing what
to answer There was strong Impulse
within him To question her, to learn
then and tn ere her own life story. Yet,
oh nf ha ~ II
restrained lin; he could not de,iber-
ately probe beneath the veil she kept
lowered between them. Until she
chose to If Il herself voluntarily, he
possessed 10 right to intrude. The
gentlemanly instincts Of younger
years held lin silent, realizing clear
ly that whitever secret might domi-
nate her lie, 1t was hers to conceal
just so lonf; as she pleased Out Of
this swift struggle Of repression he
managed to say:
Il apprec ate your confidence, and
mean to prove worthy. Perhaps some
day can b. ing you the proofs"
Il need one other than your own
word"
"Oh, but possibly you are too easily
convinced; you believed In Hawley."
She locke d at him searchingly, her
eyes glowing, her cheeks flushed.
YES" shs said slowly, convincing
ly. Il know did; IL was so anx-
ious to be helped, but-but this Is diff
ferent"
1t was on, the sun pitiless and hot
above then. before they struggled
within the lartial shelter of the sand
dunes, and fank wearily down to their
meager lunch. Their supply Of water
was limited, and the exhausted ponies
must wait u It'll they reached the river
to Quench their thirst Yet this was
very far off now, and Keith had seen
enough Of tleir surroundings to locate
the position OF the ford. Slow as they
must prOcee d, three hours more would