The evening world., 1914-01-26

Tho drops OF rain grew more ITO.
Susnt: they splashed into her face:
ne could feel them striking her
arms and shoulders. Tho pony's neck
"a name became moist under her
hand, the darkness increased for u
time and the continuing rumble In
the heavens presaged q steady down.
pour. .
The pony moved faster now: u
needed no urging. and Sheiln hold
hDr breath for fear that It might fall.
akraining her eyes to watch Its linus
= they moved with tho sure regu-
larity OF an automaton. After timo
they reached the end OF the levol;
Shiela could tell that the pony WIS
lsagotiating another rise. for It slack.
sned speed appreciably and she iolt
herself settling back against tho
cantle OF tho saddle.
A little later she realised that hcy
were going down the opposite sido
az the rise, and o moment later thoy
were. again on Q level. A doepOr
MackneSs than they had yet OH.
tOuntered rose ON their right, and
Sheila correctly decided 1t to bs
caused by q stretch Of wood that she
Ind observed from the crest OF til"
yaso where she had halted her pony
FOR Q view of the country. After IN
interval, during which she debatosl
the wisdom of directing her pony into
tho wood for protection from the ruin
which was now coming against hoi'
face In vicious slants. her pony nick.
cred shrllly!
l;s,ew horses and was certain thitt
sOms living thing was on the trait
IN front Of her. Hating the pony.
saie held tightly to tho reins through
a short. tense silence. Then pres
entity. from . point Just ahead on
the TRAN. came an answering MEX :
0r In the horse language. ShoilitS
pony cavorted nervOusly and broke
Into Q lope, sharper this limo IN
xpite Of the tight rein she kept on u
Iier fear grew. though mingling VIII
~ was Q devout hope. II only thu
isitmal which had answered her own
lDny belonged 70 the Double u! she
would take back many OF the un-
fu,d said about the country since ''hs
lad lost the trail.
Then came Q Hash Of lightning and
she saw. . short distance ahead. n
yInny and rider. stationary. Watching
with an effort she succeeded In roln
ing in her own animal. and whilc s'''
rat In the saddle, trembling and anx'
jWus, there came another nash ~
iI;htning and she saw the rider
face.
Ths rider was . cowboy. She ha'
dtntinctly seen the leathern chaps ~
lan legs; the broad hat. the scarf I"
iin throat. Doubt and fear assnilc,
l,or. What II the man did not be'onI
10 the Double RI What II he wore
Icud agent-an outlawf lMmedi.to''
sI,s heard an exclamation from MN
in which abe detected much surprii
aud not q little amusement.
".yhucks!" be said. ITS woman!
Thsre came . slow movement. ~
tile lifting darkness ShsilA saw W
vnnn feturn . pistol TO the hoIs,:'
that vwung At hAs rscet htp. ~
oarsasssly threw one leg over u,
,jhar. She sat very rigid. debating
ldon Impulse to urge her pom
e him ald escape the danger thu
l Smsd to threaten. While sh
| tched no showed the broa
InmHA hat back from his fore
VA, He was not over Ave feet dtN
~ from her; she could feel hQ
Inv nussling his with an inquisitls
h,ssle. and she could dimly SEQ III
liers face. II belonged to q mn
probably twsnty-sight or thirty
\ IVES and . frm mouth. There was
', light smile on hts face, and sonn
+ \ how the fear that had espresso
9heila began to take flight. An
while she sat awaiting the turn
4 events ITS voice again startled her:
-. II reckon you've stampcded
your range. ma'am"
A Sigh Of relief escaped. She'll
T'ho voice was very gentle an
s srlAnlly.
II 6oax think thatI have stampede
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