The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-17

II don't SEQ why they didn't wait
for me. I wired I'd be here today
There amt q telegraph offics
within thirty miles: ma'am." Carter
tod her. gently Likely your wires
for some one to claim it."
But (she looked around doubt
lfully)-is there . hotel here?"
There atn't nothin' at all 'cepting
what you now see decorating the fair
face OF nature in her widest form"
Carter included LarlEy in the compre-
hensive wave of his whip. This IL
only a stopping off place and kind Of
junction for parties going farther on.
You can go back with me to Tallyho
II you like
She sighed, a quick, impatient little
sigh. and tapped one foot restlessly.
one glance she took In the I'VE houses
behind the little station. Larky and
some ponies hobbled over In q dreary
looking central square.
Thank you, but ] think I will go
on" she said. II ought to catch up
with them soon if i press along. I
want a good pony right away"
Larky came forward at that with
doffed hat. He knew where there
was q good pony. reliable. sturdy.
gentle.
She met his eyes as he talked.
gravely. anxiously. He did not look
just hike the rest of the men she had
seen coming up from Colorado Springs.
He was tall and young, and he had q
clean shave and q clean shirt on. She
liked his manner and his quick un-
lderstanding of her predicament.
TN take the pony. 1t Ii . ride OF
several days. believe. up to the lodge.
Do you know a place over on one OF
those mountains called Kinnecott
Lodge? Roy Kinnecott and his wife
have it. He's an artist"
7 know the way to It II you want
know Mr.. Knnecott, too.''
III it's q straight trail won't need
a guide. I'm used to travelling in the
| mountains. Last month we were all
sister and brother-in-law and few
others. I am Barbara Willis, Mrs..
Kinnecott's sister,"
Larky opened his mouth to say
something and checked himself, say
ing only In meek sort of way that
he lived next to the Kinnecott Lodge
and as long as he was going that way
he didn't see why she needed a guide.
And, anyhow, guides were hard to
secure. II they hurried they ought
ing day. Perhaps she'd rather wait
until morning to make the start.
NO. I'll go as soon as you get my
pony and some food for us. please.
/
Right then and there Larky lost his
heart. She had q way of lifting up
her eyelashes quickly and taking one
off guard. and what she saw In his
her. Maybe It did. Anyway. she took
possession Of the tiny waiting room
and locked the door, changed her
travelling dress calmly for q corduroy
riding skirt and pongee silk blouse.
| Bear Creek observed the two ride
l ri thA m nf0fn trail Nth
various sentiments-mostly expressed
.I'lI bet a nickel he ain't told her. 90
he said ref1ective1y.
| One reason why he lived In the noun
tains was SO he wouldn't have to tell
| people. Every now ana then he shook
the dust OF cities from his heels and
| took to the old trails straight up into
the heart Of the range he loved to q
little old shack his father had once
lived in. With q dog and q pony he
would stay there for weeks. until the
| kilograms piled up down at Tallyho
| and he had to go back.
| So he led the way through tho for
est mostly in silence. He rode q little
ahead Of her. It was just ~ we'll not
to look too long At the slim,s girl flg-
ure sitting easily on the brown pony.
But when he made the campfire for
supper, she took hold Of the general
preparations herself.
did you ever hear OF some man up
here who escaped from someWhere3''
asked. Barbara suddenly. II don't
know the. story myself. but heard
my sister talking about him. She just
said she didn't blame him At All for
escaping. I suppose you ind lots Of
strange people seeking shelter up
here In the big silence ?''
Larky's shoulders seemed to shake
slightly as he bent over the f1re frying