Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-05-15

couid ride onward side by side.
I We will follow the trail back" he
explained, glancing aside at her face.
1t Is easier to follow than to strike
out for ourselves across the open.'
Where does 1t lead?"
10 an old cow-camp on the Cimar.
ron. There is a trooper there waiting.
Shall tell you the story?"
i wish you would"
And then l am to have yours In
return-everything?"
YES" she said, and their eyes met.
There is nothing to conceal-from
you"
He told his tale simply, and in few
words; how he had missed, and sought
after her in Dodge; how that search.
Ing had led directly to the discovery
OF crime, and finally the revealment
OF Major McDonalds body He told
OF his efforts at organizing party to
follow the fugitives Inspired by be-
lief that she was prisoner, of the
trip through the blizzard, and of how
ne had succeeded in outstripping Du-
pont in the race.
The girl listened silently, able from
her own experience to fill in the de-
tails Of that relentless pursuit, which
could not be halted either by storm
or bullets. The strength, the deter
mination of the man, appealed to her
with new force, and tears welled into
her eyes.
why. you are crying!" he ex.
claimed in surprise.
That is nothing" her lips smiling,
as she loosened one hand from the
blanket and reached across to clasp
his. You must know, dear, how hap.
| py am to have found you. No one
else could have done this"
"Oh. yes, little GIRL" soberly. WAS
son would have gone on, if had been
the one to go down. The hardest part
i OF 1t all was waiting for the storm to
cease, not knowing where you were
hidden-that nearly drove me insane
Il understand; uncertainty is harder
to bear than anything else. Shall l
/ tell you now what happened to me?"
| YES" tenderly, "as much, or as lit.
i tie as you please
Then it shall be everything dear"
her hand-clasp Tightening. A moment
! she hesitated, looking out across the
snow plains, and then back into his
eyes. From their expression she
gained courage to proceed, her voice
low, yet clear enough to make every
syllable distinctly audible.
Il was frightened when you left
1 me alone on the balcony, and went in
to confront Mrs. Dupont l knew the
woman and suspected that she would
only be too glad to find some indiscre.
ton she could use against me. It
4 occurred to me that possibly she had
seen me enter the parlor and was
there herself to make sure. If So she
would hesitate at no trick to verify
her suspicious. This thought SO took
possession of me that l determined
to escape If possible. And it appeared
easy Of accomplishment. There was
but short drop to the ground, while
a few steps around the end of the
hotel would bring me safely to the
front entrance. The temptation to
| try was irresistible. I heard your
voices within and thought understood
her game. 1t was dark below, yet
! knew how close the earth was, and
there was no sign of any one about.
l clambered over the railing. let my.
self down as far as could, and drop.
ped. The slight fall did not even jar
me, yet l was none too soon. AS |
crouched there in the darkness, she
flung open the curtains, and looked
out to the vacant balcony | saw the
flash of light, and heard her laugh
1T was not pleasant laughter; for she
was disappointed not to find me there.
After the curtains fell again could
no longer hear your voices, and my
sole desire was to get back into the
hotel unobserved. was not afraid,
only dreaded to meet any one who
might recognize me-"
She paused in her recital, as though
to recall more clearly the exact facts,
the two riding forward, Hamlin lean
ing over toward her, occasionally
glancing watchfully behind.
"The guests were already beginning
to struggle back to the dance hall
from supper, and waited in the shad.
ow of the building for an opportunity
to slip into the hotel unobserved.
While hid there a cavalry soldier
from the fort rode up, swung down
from his saddle, and ran up the steps.
heard him ask for Major Mcdonald.
Almost Immediately he came out again
ard passed him on the porch. Just
inside the door l met my father. He
was leaving the hotel with Dupont,
and the latter swore savagely when
caught my fathers arm, asking what
message the orderly had brought. He
answered strangely, saying he had
received orders to go at once to Ripley
on the stage; that he might be gone
several days. There was nothing
about all that to startle a soldiers
daughter. but DupoLs kept his hand
|