Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-04-10
CHAPTER vlI.-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. The
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. realized the utter helpless
ness of their victims, and were acting
accordingly. Otherwise they would
never have lighted that fire nor re-
NAMED on guard. Moreover If 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 bluff,
eluding the watchers, what would 1t
profit In the end? Their trail would
be clear; with the first gray Of dawn
those savage crackers would be at
work, and they would be trapped in
the open, on foot. utterly helpless
even to fight.
The mans hands clenched and I'M
clenched about his rifle-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 of 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 gull
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
fcient depth to hide them in the dark
ness. He was uncertain how far 1t
extended, but at some time II had
been a water-course and must have
reached the river. And the river
would hide their trail A new hope
OPP db6 lulO CyOds TIC ltlL luG SUI
den Strengthening up OF his body.
"What-what is it?" she questioned,
startled. "Do you see anything? Are
they comlng?"
mo, no." almost lmpatiently. ut is
still as 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
stage?"
a am not sure; was 1t when that
awful jolt came?"
yes, 1t 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
bluff-could WEI"
81 hardly think 3d." yet evidently
bewildered by his rapid questioning.
"Only was SO confused and fright
ened can scarcely remember. Why
are you so anxious to know"
Because" he returned earnestly.
bending toward her. 81 believe that
cash in the earth is going to get us
out Of here. Anyhow it Is the only
chance can figure. If we can creep
through to the river, undiscovered. III
agree to leave Mister Indian guessing
as 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?"
"It's chance, that's all-but better
than waiting here for a certaintT
See here, Miss Mcdonald" and he
caught her hand in his own, forgetful
of all save his own purpose and the
necessity of strengthening her to play
out the game, 1.-THE trend OF that gull
is to the west; except up here close
!. to the bluff 1t runs too far away for a
( guard line The indians will be lyine
out here on the open prairie; they will
creep as close in as they dare under
cover OF darkness. I'll bet there are
twenty red snakes now within a hun
dred feet of us-oh, don't SILVER anC