The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-01-27

hOO ~ " ~ ofo0o Io00 - ~
country.snd plenty Of water.
His rights. thea" rsmarked Lag
rSrd ciowly. "scua! yours-er mins.
use Of the grass and water"
That's -" aetood Duncan.
which rsduo0o the profits o. he
Double r." pufsusd Langfefd.
II reckon thats hight"
And you knew that whom you soll
mo the Double r." continued Lang
ford, bis voice smooth and silky.
I'm admitting" said Ounces. That
Doubler being there 10 bad bustnsos.
HUT J. ..i how .s Are you going 70 prevent him
Have you trisd"--Lsasford looked
obliaueiy at Duncan. drawing sisuia-
cantly-"force?"
II have tried everything. I told
you"
Doubisr's land was especially de-
Ing adjacent TO good water. and pro-
vided the best grass In the vicinity.
Duncan had had trouble With Doubler
over the water rights. too, but had
been unsuccessful In ousting him be-
cause OF the fact that since Doubler
controlled the land he also controlled
the water rights OF the river adjoin-
ing II. The Two Forks was the only
spot which could be used for Thirsty
cattle In the vicinity. for the river at
other points was bordered With cliffs
and hills and was inaccessible. And
Doubler would not allow the Doubls
n cattle TO water at the Two Forks,
though he had issued this edict after
hts trouble with the Double n owner,
Duncan. however. ala not explain this
90 I.anGford.
running him on or"--Hs lssred q
LanEford significantly.
The latter's face was impassive, his
smile dry. "Eh 7" he said abstractsdiy
a. though his thoughts had been wan
dsring from the subject. why. I
really haven't Gtven . thought to the
method by which ought 20 deal With
Doubler. Perhaps." ne added with 9
genial smile. II may make . friend Of
He observed Duncan's scowi. ana hi,
Zach day during the two weeks
tina. her father had been at tina Double
r Sheila had accompanied him on his
rides Of exploration.
she had detected . change In hsl
0Ouiuou CooN0os 0OuIbu00E
Ing. entirely unlike his usual self. She
attributed this change In him TO the
country--it was hard ana rough. and
Of course Il was to be expscted that
LAngford-or any man. for that mat
ter-tAking an active interest in ranch
life. must reflect the spirit Of the
country.
One day she rode alone along the
river trail. A dim trail led along the
river and she felt certain that n shl
followed II long enough II would lead
her 10 the crossing. bat after riding
half an hour and encountering nothing
but hills and rock cii0s she began q
doubt. But she rode on for another
half hour and then. eighty disturbed
over her inability to nnd the shallow
s che halted the pony and looked about
shs supposed that one crossinl
would do quite ~ veil a. anothss
and so she smiled ana continued os
toward the river.
There was a fringe OF shrubbSry o
the edge OF what appeared to hav'
once been swamp, though now i
WINS dry and made fairly GOOD foot.
Ing for her pony. The animal acted
strangely, however. whom she tried
TO urge II Though the frineins shrub
berry. and mo was compelled to ~
her quirt vigorously.
Stung TO desperation the POM
stood erect for an instant. paving
and then, m tho quirt continued q
lash IT, TANKS. Il lunged forward
snorting In apparent fright. made tive
or three sccentric leaps. splashinq
water high over Shsila's head. and
then came 20 sudden stop In the
middle Of the stream.
Evidently something had gonS
wrong. Sheila peerod over the pony'l
name into the water. which was still
clear In spite OF the pony's struggling
and sat suddenly erect. sitting . CRY
Of amaxement. The pony was tuirod
fast! Its legs. TO . point Just above
the knees. had disappeared into the
AZ she Strengthened. . chilling fear
clutching at her heart. she felt the
cold water Of the river splAshinG
against hsr booted legs. And nov
knowledge came TO her In . sudden,
sickening food. she had ridden he's
pony fairly into bed Of Quicksandi
She leaned over and laid her head
against tho pony's neck. smoothing
ana patting IL shoulders. The ant
NAL whinnied appealingly. and she
00no0 o SOD OF remOfoo over NJ No.
ton In forcing Il into the treachsrous
sand. for q HAD ssnsed the danger
while obeyine her blindly.
They would both de. she know
horribly. They would presently sink
beneath the surface Of the sand. the
water would now over them and oblit-
terate all traces Of their graves. and
no one would ever know what had be-
como Of them.
Some time iatsr--it might have besu
I'VE minutes or IN hour-6hsilA could
not have told--shs heard the pony
neigh again. and this time II seemed
there was q new note In the sound--a
note OF hope! She raised her head
and looked up. And there on the
hank before her. uncoiling his rope
from the saddle horn and looking very
white and grim. was Dakota!
Sheiln nat motionless. not knowing
whether TO cry or laugh. finally COM
promising with the appeal. uttered
with all the composurs At her COM
mand:
Won't YOU please get W out Of
hereT
That's what I'm aiming 10 do" he
said. and never did n voice sound
sweeter In her ears: at that moment
ah alu,aSt Hnr0a him FOR thu nront