The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-10-19
CHAPTER LXXu.-wARNEp.

The explosion smote dull echoes from
the tanks of the painted hills. all drow :
sing In the noon-day bush: the boulder
teetered reluctantly on the brink. then
disappeared with u tearing sound, fol-
lowed by n rush OF earth and gravel:
a.wide gap appeared In the brink OF the
trail.
frightened horses while the girl soothed
her own, the bandit rushed TO the edge,
threw himself fiat and swore bitterly,
With an accent of grievance, as he rose.
From the canyon below. "a dull rumor
of galloping hoofs advertised too plain
~ the failure OF their attempt.
And Hopi Jim turned back only to
find Judith, mounted, refining her horse
IN between him and Marrophat, and
prepared to give emphasis to what she
had to say with an automatic. pistol
that nestled snugly In her palm.
"One moment, Mr.. Slade," she sug-
gosted evenly; Just q moment before
you break the sad news to AIr. Mario.
phat. I've something to soy that needs
your Observation-Disclosures, your respect.
1t Is this: am parting company with
you and Mr.. Marrophnt. am riding or
toward the west, by this trail. il eth
err of you care to follow me"--the auto
matte flashed ominously in the, sun
glare--"it will be with full Knowledge
of the consequences. Mr.. Marrophat
will enllghten you IL you have any
doubt of my ability to take care of my
self In such affairs as this. If you are
we'll advised. you will turn back and
report failure to my father"
She nodded CURLY, and swung her
horse round
And what shall tell your father
from you?" Marrophat demanded sharp
~. a
What you please" the girl replied.
flashing an linpish smile over-shoulder.
But, since WHEN I part company with
sou, part with him as well--for all of
me, you may tell him to go to the
devili" 80.
She thrust heels into her horses
Hanks and sped away at pace reclt-
less enough in all conscience, remem-
bering--what she had evidently forgot
tcn-the height and the perils of the
upper trail.
Well" Mr.. Marrophut admitted con-
fdetnly to MIR. Slade. I'm damned!'..
And that amt ALL" AIR. Slade con-
fded in Mr.. AIarrophat. whipping out
his own revolver: you're being held
up, too. I'll take thpse guns OF yourn,
/ friend, and what else you've got about
you that's Of value, including your
hoss-and when you get back to Old
Man Urine you can just tell him, with
my best compliments, that I've quilt
the job aud lit out after that daughter
OF hisn. She's heap sight more at
iractive than nineteen thousand dollars,
and not half SO hard to earn.
Once she, had lost touch with her
fathers creatures, the girl drew rein
and went OH more slowly and cautious
~.
Below her. in the valley, the lower
trail wound it's fncile way. From time
to time she could discern upon some
naked stretch of it's length a cloud of
dust. or perhaps three mounted figures,
! scurrying madly on with fear Of death
swapping at their heels. To their prog
ress she regulated her own, never per-
hitting them 10 make great gains.
overhauling them each time they halted
perforce for II little rest. abbreviating
her own rests In order that they might
not distance her, who followed n far
more arduous trail.
And all through the heat and rigor
OF that weary day, through tho CRATE
full GOODNESS and beautylof the evening
and late into the night, they We're her
unconscious guides.
AS chance served she would pause
and scout a little distance back along
the upper trail, thinking to surprise
pursuit by the men she had f,cd--ff
they darcd! But not once did she tind
any sign to show that slle was being
followed and by nightfall had lulIcd
her apprehcnsions into "A false sense OF
| security. with the assurance that HopI
Jim and Marrophat must have guided
themselves by her advice. and returned
with their report to Seneca Urine.
il was within an hour. of midnight, n
night bell-clear and bitter cold on tho
heights, and bright with moonlight,
when Alan's party made its Inst pause
ana camped to rest against the dawn.
unconscious OF the fact that, II quart er
of Il mile above them, on the upper
Trail, lonely woman paused when they
paused and made her own camp on the
edge OF a sharp Notwithstanding the
spot because II afforded her a clenr
view of their twinkllng camp fire.
She made no fire OF her own, but con-
sumed the last OF the provisions she
had brought with her from the pull
man. by advice of Hopi Jim, against
the contingency of II long cl,ase through
that arid and sterile land; then Wrapped
I'm u blanket and lay down to rest her
last conscious act the waiting or kiss
down to tile depths whose shadows hid
the man she loved.