Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1915-05-27
CHAPTER XV-continued.

twenty-five miles and over very
rough mountain road. Did not conf
IDENTIFY expect to find Oliver there, L
should not let you undertake this ride.
But the inquiries have just made
lead me to hope for the best results"
What's that?"
That's the cry Cf a loon"
How awful! Do they often cry like
that?"
Not often in the nighttime"
Reuther shuddered.
Mr. Black regarded her anxiously.
Had he done wrong to let her join him
Ia this strange ride?
Shall we go back and wait for
broad daylight" he asked.
NO, no. I could not bear the sus-
pense Of wondering whether all was
going well and the opportunity being
given you Of seeing and speaking to
him. We have taken such precautions
chosen so late Cor should I say so
early a start-that I'm sure we have
outWitted the man who is so watchful
Of US. But if we go back, we cannot
slip away from him again; and Oliver
viii have to submit to a humiliation
it is our duty to spare him. And the
good Judge, too. I don't care if the
looms do cry; the night is beautiful"
And it was, had their hearts been in
tune to enjoy it. A gibbous moon had
risen, and, inefficient as it was to light
up the recesses of the forest, it il
lumined the treetops and brought out
the difference between earth and sky.
The road, known to the horses, If not
to themselves, extended like a black
ribbon under their eyes, but the
patches Of light which fell across It at
intervals took from 1t the uninter-
Tupted gloom it must have otherwise
had. Mr.. Sloan, who was at once
their guide and host, promised that
dawn would be upon them before they
reached the huge gully which was tbs
one dangerous feature of the road.
Their guide had prophesied truly.
Heralded by that long cry of the loon,
the dawn began to reveal itself and
the everyday world of the mighty for
est was upon them with its night
mystery gone.
But not the romance of their errand,
or the anxiety which both felt as to
its fulfIlment. Full sight brought full
realization. However they might seek
to cloak the fact, they could no longer
disguise from themselves that the OBJ
jeCt of their journey might not be &C
ceptable to the man in hiding at Tenn
pest lodge. Reuther's faith in him was
strong, but even her courage faItered
as she thought of the disgrace await
ing him whatever the circumstances
or however he might look upon his
fathers imperative command to re-
turn.
But she did not draw rein, and the
three continued to ride up and on.
Suddenly, however, Mr.. Sloan was
seen to turn his head sharply. and in
another moment his two companions
heard him say:
we are followed. Ride on and leave
me to take a look"
Instinctively they also glanced back
before obeying. They were just round
ing the top Of an abrupt hill, and ex-
pected to have an uninterrupted view
of the road behind But the masses
OF foliage were as yet too thick for
them to see much but the autumnaI
red and yellow spread out below them.
q hear them; I do not see them"
remarked their guide. Two horses
are approaching"
How far are we now from the
lodgeg"
"a half hours ride. We are just at
the opening of the gully"
You viii Join US soon?"
"As quickly as I make out who are
on the horses behind US"
Reuther and the lawyer rode on.
Her cheeks had gained a slight flush,
but otherwise she looked unmoved. He
was less at ease than she; for he had
less TO sustain him.
The gully, when they came to it,
proved to be a formidable one. It was
not only deep but precipitous. and for
the two miles they rode along its edge
they saw no let-up in the steepness on
one side or of the almost equally
abrupt rise of towering rock on the
other. 1t was Reuther's first experi-
ence Of so precipitous a climb. and IN
der other circumstances she mfght
have been timid; but in her present
heroic mood, it was all a part of her
great adventure, and as such accepted.
The lawyer eyed her with growing
admiration. He had not miscaIculated
her pluck
As they were making q turn to gain
the summit, they heard Mr.. SIoan's
voice behind them Drawing in their
horses, they greeted him eagerly when
he appeared.
Were you right? Are we foIlowed?"
That's as may be. I didn't hear or
see anything more. I waited, but moth
ing happened, so l came on"
His words were surIy and his looks
sour; they, therefore, forbore to ques-
ton him further, especially as their
keenest interest lay ahead, rather
than behind them. They were nearing
Tempest lodge. As it broke upon
their view. perched ike an eagles
eyrie on the crest of rising peak.
they drew rein, and. after q short con-