The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-12-12

shoulder, and he bent his cheek to
hers, feeling it's warmth. The touch
of his unshaven beard pricked her In.
to semi.consciousness and she spoke
so loud that 1t gave him thrill of ap-
prehension. He dared not run in the
darkness for fear of stumbling, yet
moved with greater swiftness, until
the depression ended at the river.
Here. under the protection OF the
bank, Hamlin put down his burden
and stood erect, stretching his
strained muscles and staring back In
to the dark. -"..
What now? Which way should they
turn? He had accomplished all he had
planned for himself back there in the
coach, but now he became aware OF
other problems awaiting solution. In
less than an hour it would be day.
light; he almost imagined it was light
er already over yonder in the east.
With the first dawn those watchful
Indians, creeping cautiously closer,
would discover the stage deserted, and
would be on their trail. And they had
left a trail easily followed. Perhaps
the hard, dry ground might confuse
those SAVAGE crackers, but they would
scour the open country between bluff
and river, and find he dead warrior in
the gully. That would tell the story.
To go west, along the edge of the
river, wadiay in the water, would be
useless pracauticn; such trick would
be suspected a. cncc. and there was
no possibility of tscue from that di'
recton. They mi.;,:t as we'll walk
opan-eyed into a trap. There was bat
one hope, one opportunity-to cross
the stream before dawn came and
hide among those shifting sand-dunes
of the opposite shore. Hamlin thor
ourhly Understood the risk involved,
the treachcrcus nature OF the Arkan-
sas, the possibility that both might be
sucked down by ensulting quicksand,
yet even such a lonely death was pre-
ferable to Indian tJrture.
The girl at his feet stirred and
moancd In another moment he had
nilnd his Rat with water from the riv-
er, had lifted her head upon one arm,
and using the handkerchief from about
his throat, was washing away the
blood that matted her hair. Now that
his fingers felt the wound, he realized
the force of the blow stunning her, al
though it's outward manifestation was
slight. Her figure trembled in his
arms and her eyes opened, gazing up
wonderingly at the black outlines of
his shadow. Then she made an effort
as though to draw away.
"Lie still while yet, Miss Melon
ald," he said soothiugly, until you re-
gain your strength"
He heard the quick gasp of her
breath, and felt the sudden relaxing
of her muscles.
"You!" she exclaimed in undfs-
guised relief at recognition of the
voice; els it really you? Where are
we? What has happened"
He told her rapidly, his face bent
close, realizing that she was clinging
to him again as she had once before
back in the stage. AS he ended, she
lifted one hand to her wound.
"And I am not really hurt-not seri-
ously?" her voice bewildered. "1-1
never realized had been struck. And
and you carried me all that way
IL can hardly comprehend-yet
Please explain again; they are back
there watching for us still, believing
we are in the coach; they will follow
our trail as soon as it becomes day
light Why-why, the sky is brighter
over in the east already, isn't it?
What was it you said We must do"
Get across the river; once hidden
in those sand-dunes over there We'll
be safe enough"
Across the river" she repeated the
words duly, sitting up to stare out to-
ward the water. Then her head sank
into her hands. Can we-can we
ever do that?"
Hamlin bent forward on his knees,
striving with keen eyes, sharpened by
his nights experience, to learn more
of what lay before them. The move
ment, slight as it was, served to
frighten her, and she grasped him by
the sleeve.
do net leave me; do not 60 away"
she implored swiftly. Whatever you
say is best, will do"
I CHAPTER TX.