Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-10-04
The Daily Story
ON THE LONG TRAIL-BY CLARISSA MACK!
c.pyrigntea. .sls. by AssOea,eI Ll,erary Bureau


She had passed Little canyon with
was climbing the hili when she sud
denly came to the top. where thrill.
ing scene was taking place.
Riding straight toward her was
most villainous looking Mexican. and
in the curve of his left arm he carried
the slender form OF the beautiful
blond whom she had seen with Miles.
Shouting down the distance came
Miles, beuding over his horse in vain
pursuit of the Mexican.
While she paused there. startled at
tie scene, a shot rang out from the
bushes bordering the trail. and Miles
threw up his hands and fell TO the
ground. The horse cropped the grass
undiSturbed by the still form of his
master lying so near.
All this happened in breath. When
Miles felR the Mexican was still COM
ing toward Beth. A great rage filed
her soul with a mad desire to kill, to
avense the life of her old sweetheart.
A word to Bonnie. and Beth dashed
into the scene. her revolver thrust into
the face of the frightened Mexican.
Give her TO me. Let go! I'll kill
you If you DON'T" she screamed in his
ear
He released his hold on the girl, and
Beth clutched her in strong arms and
swung her across her saddle; then she
dashed past the Mexican and guided
Bonnie to where the PROSTATE Miles
lay on the ground.
You're safe now" assured Beth as
she helped the girl to the ground and
then dismounted. To her surprise the
girl stared at her rather impudently
until a smile crinkled the corners of
her rouged lips.
Say. Miss Buttinsky. what do you
mean by queerinc this pictureT' she
asked sharply. wait until old Fen
nell gets up here. guess you've
spoiled thirty feet of perfectly ripping
film"
"Picture?" faltered Beth. Film? 1
don't know what you mean"
The girl laughed gleefully and clap
ped her hands at a stout, red faced
man who came painting toward them.
Don't have a fit. Fennell." she said
saucily. ITS only another tenderfoot
taking a movie picture for the reai
thing"
But Mr., Fennell was grinning with
enthusiasm.
1T was great-great-Floraw he
cried. Young lady, l must have you
in this. What say? Could you do that
stunt againT'
Beth looked at him in a bewildered
way, and her bushes deepened when
she noticed that Miles Hill had risen
quite unhurt and was regarding her
with grave interest in his brown eyes.
Perhaps you will explain it to me.
I've never been called a terderfoot
before" Beth smiled at the girl called
Flora, and the girl nodded back in
friendly way. The Mexican had APP
preached and was nonchalantly rolling
n cigarette, while from the underbrush
there crawied another actor OF the
cowboy type. 1t was this worthy who
had fired the blank cartridge from
ambush at Miles Hill.
Mr.. Fennell explained all about his
VI LiONlhS PiNlhiC aNACAS "hN
| how this particular film was to be a
star production If it turned out well.
| And he wanted Beth to help them out
| by repeating her rescue of Flora from
! the dark browed Mexican, who in real
! life was her husband.
So the camera man threaded up his
machine again, and the scene was re-
| peated to the great satisfaction of Mr..
| Fennell and all concerned.
At last the company separated. the
actors going back to their headquarters
at Red Ford and Miles Hill riding
slowly home with Beth, who had so
Unexpectedly come into her own again.
you thought l was dead, honey"
he asked after awhile.
She nodded. "And ! saw you and
Flora in the canyon the other day,
she added.
you mean where kiss her and ride
upstream"
"Yes-I-er-believed it was true
Miles"
He laughed tenderly. 1T couldn't
be, dear, because there's only one girl
in the world for me, and she's so fine
that when she saw the girl she thought
was mine being carried off by NJ
count greaser she just naturally would
not stand for It, but rushed In and res
cued the girl for me-
Beth blushed holly, but her eyes
were very happy.
Il heard about your asking uncle,
she said. as that why you are actins
in this moving picture company. Sc
that you can raise thousand dollars 2
ITO marry you at once" he smileI
down at her. 'You see. I'll have tn
money saved up In three months. Fen
nell's going to get out fc1r more o
these wild and woolly western plays
and I'm going to be in every one O
them. l guess you might as well he
gin on your wedding clothes. dearie."
And / thought II was the blond a
the time, Miles" she whispered tear
fully.
Don't pin your faith on blond
honey" he cautioned. They always d
the contrary things. This time 1t va
not the blond: It was all for you"