Gunnison news-champion., 1913-11-14
cssApTER xKsx-
vhe ChMo.

vhe Chsee.
namiin never forgot thoso to onys
and nights of waiting. while the oeorm
roared without and the clouAs cs
drifting snow made any dream a sd-
vance impossible. Trained as he vas
to patience. the delay left marks In
his face. and his nerves throbbed with
pain. His mind was with her con
stantly. even In moments of uneasy
sleep. picturine her condition uRshel
tered from the storm and protected
only by lie Fevre and his two Indian
allies. II he could only reach them,
only strike q blow for her release, II
tainty weighed upon him, giving unre-
stricted play to the imagination, and,
Incidentally awakening q love ~ the
SRI 20 overwhelming ~ alnoa to
frighten him. He had fought this fsel
ing heretofore. deliberately. satiD0ed
that such ambition IVES hopeless. Ne
would not attempt TO lower hsg - bis
level. nor 0ivs her the unhap01osso of
knowing that he dared nisosos1yue
her frank frieaalinsss into ouGht UOrs
tshAef. Bot thsos nisaestunss 80
changed the sntirs Outlook. Now ~
nunG ell pretenss ssi1s. sa0ss 10 plsos
his life % the altar 10 save hes,
nvsa din Asns q hspe beGan blss'
tnG IN his hsart-Aops hat be mighl
yet wiring fron Ls Fevrs . COMES.
sioa that would clear HE name H
knew his man ct last-hnew him, anl
would track him now with al the pitt
less ingenuity OF . savage Once h
could stand erect, absolveA of die
erace, . man again among men ~
would ignore the uniform Of the ranks,
and 90 to her with all the pride of his
race. Ay! and down in his heart he
knew that she would welcome his con,
ing; that her eyes would not look q
the uniform. but down into the depths
Of his own
He thought of it all a. he paced the
floor. or stared into the fire. while out
side the wind ragged and howled, pillno
the snow against the cabin front, and
whirling in mad bursts up the valley
II would be death to face the fury a
II on those open plains There was
nothing left him but to swear. and
pace back and forth. Twice he and
Hughes fought their way to the cor
raj. found the horses sheltered in q
little cove, and brought them food
and water. The struggle TO accom-
plish this was sufficient proof of the
! of 20
hausted and breathless they staggered
back into the ouietness of the cabin
feeling as though they had been beaten
by clubs. Once desperate to attemp,
something, Hamlin suggested search
ing for the bodies of Wasson and
Wade. but Hughes shook his head
staring at the other as though haI
believing him demented. The See
/ eeant strode to the door and looked
out into the smother of snow: thpr
came back without word OF protest
Carroll improved steadily. complain
I ing of pain where the frost had nippas
exposed flesh, yet able to sit up. and
eat heartily. There remained I
numbness in his feet and legs. how
ever, which prevented his stanSfrs
alone, and both the others realized
that he would have TO be left behiDt
when the storm abated. Hughes wpuIt
go without doubt; on this point tn.
Sergeant was determined. He did nd,
altogether like or trust the man. h.
could not blot from merory the cow
ardly shot which killed wasson. M,
entirely rid himself of fear that ba
himself. had failed an old comrade r
not revenging his death; yet on,
thing was clear-the mans hatred 20,
lie Fevre made him valuable. Treaeb
erous as he might be by nature, no.
his whole soul was bent on reyerga
Moreover he knew the lay Of the lana
the trail the fugitives would folio.
and to some extent Black Kettle,
camp. Little BY little Hanlin Ore,
from him every detail Of Le Fevrs,
life IN the cattle country. beconln,
more and more convinced that bon
men were thieves, their herds larse,,
stolen through connivance with In
lians. Cndoubtol1y Ia rsv-. -.