The Carlisle independent., 1913-03-27
sopSTs@H isse BY A.c.Tcluso . co

protested Travers, careful to keep to one side
 'Ill take 1t out of him before morn ing" was the reply. Come on, boy! easy now-easy! How about the ra- tions, captain?'
 Carter will have them for you at the gate of the stockade. Do you know the trail?"
 Well enough to follow-yes.'
 Mcdonald was waiting with Carter. and the dim gleam of the lantern re- vealed his face.
 Remember, sergeant, you are to make her turn back if you can. Tell her I wish her to do so-yes, this let ter will explain everything. but she is pretty high-spirited girl, and may take the bit in her teeth-imagine she'd rather be here with me, and all that. If she does I suppose you'll have to let her have her own way the Lord knows her mother always did. Anyhow you'll stay with her till she's safe"
 T sure will" returned the sergeant, gathering up his reins. "Good-by to you
 .Good-by and good luck" and Mo Donald put out his hand, which the other took hesitatingly. The next in- stant he was in the saddle, and with 8 wild leap the startled mustang round ed the edge of the bluff, flying into the night.
 hat Hamlin's mind had not yet fully ad- justed itself to all the details. He was naturally man of few words, de- ciding on a course of action quietly, yet not apt to deviate from any con- clusion finally reached But he had been hurried pressed into this ad- venture, and now welcomed an op- portunity to think 1t all out coolly. At first, for a half mile or more, the plunging buckskin kept him busy, bucking viciously, rearing, leaping madly from side to side, practising every known equine trick to dislodge the grim rider in the saddle. The man fought out the battle silently. immov able as rock. and apparently as in- different Twice his spurs brought blood, and once he struck the rearing head with clenched fist The light of the stars revealed the faint lines of the trail, and he was content to per init the maddened brute to race for ward, until, finally mastered. the ami nal settled down into swift gallop, but with ears laid back in ugly def- ance The riders gray eyes smiled pleasantly as he settled more con- fortably into the saddle, peering out from beneath the stiff brim of his scouting hat; then they hardened, and the man swore softly under his breath.
 The peculiar nature of this mission which he had taken upon himself had been recalled He was always doing something like that-permitting him. of others. Now why should he be here, riding alone through the dark to prevent this unknown girl from reaching Devere? She was nothing to him-even that glimpse of her pictured face had not impressed him greatly; rather interesting, to be sure, but nothing extraordinary; be- sides he was not womans man, and. through years of isolation, he had grown to avoid contact with the sex and he was under no possible .obliga- tion to either Mcdonald or Travers. Yet here he was, fully committed, drawn into the vortex, by hasty ill., considered decision He was tired still from his swift journey across tbs desert from Fort Union, and now faced another three days ride. Then what? A headstrong girl to be con vinced of danger, and controlled. The longer he thought about it alI the more intensely dlsagreeable the task appeared. yet the clearer did he ap- preciate it's necessity. He chafed at the knowledge that 1t had become his Work-that he had permitted himself to be ensnared-yet he dug his spurs into the mustang and rode steadily. grimly, forward.
 The real truth was that Hamlin comprehended much more fully than did the men at Devere the danger menacing travellers along the main trail to Santa Fe. News reached Fort Union much quicker than 1t did that isolated post up on the Cimarron. He knew of the fight in Raton Pass, and that two stages within ten days had been attacked, one several miles east of Bent's Fort. This must mean that desperate party of raiders had sue ceeded in slipping past those scat tered army details scouting into the northwest Whether or not these warriors were in any considerable