Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1912-07-19

6noruy 0xter he started the plain
was obliterated from view by the
thickly falling fakes. but his pony
knew the trail and seemed to realize
that perhaps their lives depended upon
his speed. for no raced across the
whitening earth with undiminished
speed until the frightened herd Of cat
tie was located eand started on its
homeward way.
It wa harder going back to the
ranch. The snow was driving In their
faces now and chung MOSTLY to every
inch Of exposed surface. Just as the
last frightened beast was driven into
the corral and Jose, the Mexican
stableman. had closed the gates there
came the sound Of shouting from the
front of the ranch house.
BY the time Owen had fioundered
around there he knew the shouting
voice to be that of Peter Bell. and he
wondered what sudden accession Of
anger had driven the old man forth in
the midst of what promised to be a
blizzard.
But Peter Bell was not angry. He
was a terrified and grief stricken old
man, who was being thawed out before
the big coal stove In the sitting room
of the ranch. Mrs Morgan was hold
ing a cup of something hot and steam
ing to his bearded lips. while OWENS
father was pulling on fur lined boots
with great haste.
What is the matter?" demanded
Owen. standing in the doorway.
"It's Annie-she went out for n ride
before the storm and she hasn't re-
turned" explained Mrs. Morgan quick.
". "All of the Bell ranch men are
away. and so Mr.. Bell came over 70
see IL you and father wouldn't help
"Of course I don't deserve IL after
what I said to Won Yesterday" broke
in Peter Bell tremulously. "but"--
(which direction did she takeY in
terrupted Owen rutblesslv
"Toward Iittle Peok I warped her
II WINS going 70 snow hut she aoid
she'd be right bock It,s n Ind trail
YOU know. Owen" ended Peter Bell
pjtlfulIy.
'I'u hiring ber bock a" nroutsed Owen
confidently. "You have everyth,ng
reodv IN tbaw ua out whom So come
and mother tuat yIvo no a aoak ~
thot brandy in casa-in case Annie
should he nrattv cold"
A l,ttIo shuddar ran throuoh tho old.
ar neonIa Tbov Lpe1v tho choncos q,
ending Annie Rail cold---co,d IN aoptb
a~niorad ne onv ono could find the
oI,l - would no tho man who loved
bor
Ouo. nathan k,seod hin, and tho
,yo man 1r,nnod HE hand os no closed
,ho door habind him Lose hod brought
around ono NJ tho farm horses
oraot hoovv animal whose enormous
s,rono,h conId better combat the snow
,hon tbo Ugbter animals
Ont ~ s,ght NJ the ranch bouse. nil
HEARINGS we're lost In the white world
NJ snow smoll nocket commas
wormod IN HE hand guided him 10 the
,yos,word wboro IittIe penk rcared
&c ho,obt
Tho .-oiI nm tho maintain side wos
narrov and nrecnrious In fair weather
o.. 49,. a., ,,o ,,,os ,bnddarod no
no Thought of Annie Bell riding down
there I'm the face of the first dying
dalxes Even IL she reached the foot
of the peak there was the deep can.
Won 10 ride through and II her pony
stumbled-why. he did not dare to
think OF the soft mound of snow that
might even now cover pretty Annie
Bell. who only Yesterday had whisper
cd that she loved him. II hnd happen
ed on this very self same penk, and
Annie had gone back there today!
owen struck the horse sharply. and
the big body heaved convulslvely for.
ward, and the great hoofs dnshed
through the fast forming drifts They
covered the three miles to the canyon
In half hour, and owen was another
thirty minutes finding the narrow en-.
trance. There was not a foot OF
ground that he had not scanned with
his eyes as he rode, and his voice
had been lifted In continuous shouting,
but so far only tho dumb silence of the
muffIIng snow had answered him.
I'm tho ranch house Mrs. Morgan had
completed her preparation for the res.
toration OF the half frozen ones when
they returned unless--tbere should be
two lost instead of one. Owens moth.