The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-04-25

oNpTou anu Sn6 must return WltnOuSs
delay. Altogether she was In no en-
viable frame Of mind In spite of the
success of the trial.
The stage for the railroad terminus
left the next day but one. and In the
interim Nan knew she must make up
her bewildered mind as to what she
was going To do. Edith. too, felt she
could stay no longer. and II was her
suggestion that Nan and Bob should
travel q part OF thu way TO the Long
horn bosaue with Hen and herself the
day following tho receipt OF Mans
telegram.
Since Edith was determined TO 20.
Ben could do little else than accom-
pany her on the long ride.
This ride meant as much 20 Edith
- TO Nan. for the bosaus girl had
found her opportunity TO slip the
ashes of the heart OF the wild dove
In the pocket Of hens chaps. and II
there was any virtue In her mothers
love charm surely she must know II
before the ride was done. Nan had
promised to give ben her nnal answer
to the one great question which he
had asked her again In embarrassed
eagerness.
II was not a particularly gay party
that made ready to start In front Of
tho hotel tho next morning. though
bob did his best and Nan made an
effort to be her vivAcious SELF But
the clouds sagged heavy and blue
over the mountains. the afr was curl
ously still and oppressive and alto
gether the occasion for any OF them
was not conducive to high spirits.
You're liable 10 get wet around tho
edges" Fritz Poth said In friendly
warning, and tied his "slicker" on the
back Of Mans saddle.
We'll not be- able to 20 much be-
yond the box canyon. I fancy" Bob
looked anxiously Mt the lowering
clouds. He stu watched them as they
alternately galioped and walked over
the good and bad stretches In the
road which lay between them and
the great crack In the low. spreading
mountain which some convulsion OF
nature had rent asunder.
For . distance Of three quarters of
a mile tho road led through this cash
In the mountain. the walls Of which
rose In places nearly sheer for thrce
strenm which furnished Hopedale
with water flowed through the bot
tom of the canyon, and the wagon
road WIS the bed Of the shallow
creek.
They are sure wicked lookin
clouds back there" Bon glanced
casually over his shoulder.
SEQ how they sag!" Nan com
mented. They look like big. dark
blue army blankets filied with water
Bob was uneasy: ne felt that they
gest II because OF Mans and Ben's
absorption In each others conversa
ton. He and Edith had dropped be.
hind. making SpAsmodic efforts tc
talk. but without heart.
They had ridden for an hour Of
more before they entered the COO
gloom which lay between the two
great walls. and had splashsd fol
some distance through tho rock,
creek. bed. when suddenly the horseI
pricked their ears. and Nam
wheeled. stretchins its neck ~
"How strange!" she exclaimed
"Whoa!"
hen 1erked his horse sharply.
whats tho matter with you!"
"SomethinE's wrong!" declares
Edith. my horse never acts like this
Steady. now"
Mans spirited horse tried TO bolt
II took all her strength to pull HIN
down.
"They act like they smelled bsal
threw back his head and searches
tho perpendicular rocks above Thorn
His horse was quiverinE In ever,
, muscle.
simultaneously tho horses rearet
and plunged. their nostrils distended
, their ears stiffiy erect AZ though
they heard or smelled some terribly
ing, unseen thing. Their excitemen
turned TO frenzy an they fought TO
their heads.
'.rhere's some good reason 20
this" Bob's horse was all but un
manageable.
at eets me-" Ben stiil searched IN,
canyon wallis with his eyeA
Then Edith's -boned cayus'
saueaied.
listenerr' blood run cold.
A sullen, uncenSin4 roar reache'
their ears. Faint II was, but growinI
louder oven In tho second that the.
listened.
ITS water. A cioudburst! Fo
Gods sake. give EN- tho spurs--it
, comm down the canyon!" Ben struc
Mans horse with his rein's end
you've got TO ride for your life
girl" ne said in a tense voice.
Bob looked despairingly at the tow
erinE cliffs. There was not foothol
there, To reach the end ct the canyo
seemed their only chance.
The horses needed neither rein.s en-
nor SPUR. They shook their head
|, FREQ and ran like Derby winners gon
, stark mad with fear.
, The water rained In showers fror
the splash OF their flying feet. Ye
: the roar Of the cloudburst. the In
/, scribable din Of many waters pile
I In one. was growing louder wit
: every heartbeat.
= We've got to do better" yelle
3 ben. Give 'em all the auirt" ii
, leaned and dashed Mans horse.
! II can't: my horse IL nearly playe
: OUT" Edith's despairing cry ros
shrili.
= Tho constant jumping Of rocks an
, driftwood, together with the territ'
I PACE, was beginning TO tell on all IN
horses, but most OF all on Edith
, worn out COW pony.
lie dropped behind
/. Bob slarke ned his horses pace an
> fell from II In his haste, but clung I
, the reiAs.
, Get off! Quick"
|, She shook her head. but he caugh
= the bride when she would have passe
Q and pulled her from the saddle. IL
. threw her. rather than helped her, In
Q 10 his own.