Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-05-22
CHATTER vl,.-contlnued.

Inuichs reife. ana Harnlin and Molly wait
CHAPTER vIl.-contlnued.
Certain facts were clear-to remain
meant death. torture for him II they
we're taken alive. and worse than
death for her. Precipitation burst out
upon his face at the thought. No!
Great God! not that; he would kill
her himself first. Yet this was the
truth. the truth to be faced. Tho
nearest available troops were at
Dodge. . company Of infantry. II they
started at once they could never ar.
rive In time to prevent an attack at
daybreak. The Indians undoubtedly
knew this. realised tho utter helpless
ness OF their victims. and we're acting
accordingly. Otherwise they would
never have lighted that nrs nor re-
mained on guard. Moreover II the two
OF them should succeed in stealing
forth from the shelter Of the coach,
should skulk unseen amid the dense
blackness Of the overhanging blun.
eluding the watchcrs, what would Il
proat In the end? Their trail would
be clear: with the first gray Of dawn
those savage trackers would be at
work. and they would be trapped In
the open. on foot. utterly helpless
even to fight.
Tho mans hands clenched and un.
clenched about his rife-barrel In an
agony Of indecision, his eyes perceiv.
ing the silhoutte of the girl against
the lighter arc of sky. No. not that
not that! They must hide their trail.
leave behind no faintest trace os pass
age for these hounds to follow. Yet
how could the miracle be accom-.
plished? Out from the mists of tor
tured memory came. as faint hope,
. dim recollection of that narrow gul-
ly cutting straight down across the
trail, over which the runaway had
crashed In full gallop. That surely
could not be far back. and was of suf.
ncient depth to hide them In the dark
nees. He was uncertain how far II
extended. but at some time Il had
been q water-course and must have
reached the river. And the river
would hide their trail! A new hope
sprans into his eyes. He felt the sud.
don STRENGTHENING up Of his body.
"What-what is IT." she questioned.
startled. do you see anythingi Arc
they coming?"
mo, no." almost impatiently. 1T 10
still az death out there. but almost
believe have discovered a means of
escape. Do you remember a gully we
ran over while ! was on top Of the
stasei"
Il am not sure; was It when that
awful Jolt came?"
Yes. II flung me to the foot-board
just when had untangled the lines.
We could not have travelled a dozen
yards farther before we struck this
bluf-could we?"
Il hardly think So" yet evidently
bewildered by his rapid questioning.
Only ] was so confused and fright.
ened ] can scarcely remember. why
are you so anxious to knowf"
Because" he returned earnestly.
bending toward her, Il believe that
cash In the earth is going to get US
out Of here. Anyhow It 10 the only
chance can figure. " we can creep
through 10 the river. undiscovered. ri
agree to leave Mister Indian guessing
~ to where we've gone"
The new note OF animation in the
mans voice aroused her. but she
grasped his arm tighter.
"But-but. oh. can We, Won't they
be hiding there too!"
ITS a chance that's all-but better
than waiting here for a certainty.
Bee here, Miss Mcdonald" and he
caught her hand In his own, foreetful
of all save his own purpose and the
necessity Of strengthening her to play
out the game, ''the trend Of that gulf
10 to the west; except up here close
10 the blum 1t runs too far away for a
guard line. The indians will be lying
out here on the open prairie; they win
creep ~ close In as they dare under
cover Of darkness. III bet there are
twenty red snakes now within q hun
~ foet Of us-oh. dea't oh1vGe anl