The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-01-22

lett the stable yaIu ana turned at once
toward Hefryville, but l had no sooner
reached the main road than my plans
were Immediately changed. A girl OH
horseback was approaching from the
opposite direction, and, though she was
using Il side saddle, she resembled
Miss Frayne sufficiently to make me
beat Il regretful retreat. for l dared
not risk another meeting with her Just
then. But ven as l turned and rode
toward the Melton house l argued the
matter with myself. Was it not NV
duty to warn her that she was doing
her friend more harm than good by in
terfering in the Emory case? Could I
sec her subjecting herself to the most
unpleasant consequences without a
word of caution? Suppose she attempt
ed to apprise other .iurymen Of coming
events, would she not incur the gravest
risks Imaginable? If I should be COM
PEELED. in pursuance Of my sworn duty.
to record a verdict which would termi-
nate my friendship with her might l
not still put her upon her guard in a
way she might remember and some
day understand?
l had almost convinced myself that
1t was my duty to turn in the opposite
direction before l reached the hotel,
but the recollection of my former dis
interested experiments dissuaded me,
and. hastily tying my horse to the
hitching rail, | ran to the piazza steps
and fairly bumped into Deake Gilbert
as 1o re- ~ n,,f re <ln, J,o,.
well. we'll, Mr.. LAMBERT lie cx-
claimed: Il hardly recognized you in
those toys! Going riding? Hello: who
have we here:" he added, and then
without waiting for an answer he
passed me and ran down the steps.
1t was not in the pleasantest frame
OF mind that I reached my room, and
what I saw from my window was not
calculated to soothe my feelings.
Miss Frayne had halted directly in
front Of the hotel. and Gilbert was
standing beside her horse, patting it's
neck and talking earnestly to her. The
girl listened with averted face, some
times interrupting him with a word or
two. but never returning his steady
gaze. Finally he turned and apparent
~ spoke to the horse, and I could see
a smile lowering on Miss Barbara's
lips. The instant Gilbert looked up,
however. she glanced away, and I
could see that her cheeks were flush
ing at his words and the smile had
not quite disappeared. The sight an
gered me and made me angry with
myself. If the prosecutor-the man
primarily responsible for Alice Emory's
triol-still retained the friendship of
n of her warmest friends, why
should I conclude that a verdict Of
guilty would exclude me from the list
of her acquaintance? If Gilbert were
received. so would l be! If there was
a distinction between us it was in my
favor. l was a weak minded fool to
shun the society Of this girl on con-
scientious scruples. Gilbert evidently
did not fear her influence upon his &C.
ton, and there was no reason why I
should not display equal self conf
dence.
1t must have been my steady gaze
which attracted her attention, for, as l
stood watching her, Miss Frayne sud
denly glanced up at my window, rec
ognized me and bowed. l drew back
hastily without returning her greeting
and then hurried downstairs to repair
the omission and apologize for my Ill
When l reached the street, however,
Gilbert had gone and Miss Frayne was
rapidly disappearing in the distance.
Without a moments delay I united
my horse and, springing on his back,
, cantered off in pursuit. Before l was
within hailing distance, however, the
girl swung into q side road, and, al
though lifted my hat as she glanced
in my direction, she did not apparent
~ see me, and when I reached the cor
ner h was far in advance. l urged
my horse forward and was rapidly
o~Vertaking her when she, too, broke
from a trot to a canter, which became
a gallon rs l continued to gain upon
her, and for a hundred yards or more
l rode in a cloud OF choking and blind
ing dust. Then suddenly ! felt the
impulse of a challenge in her increas-
ing speed, and, touching my horse with
my heels. I settled down to ride. In
stantly she responded with a flash of
her whip, and away we thundered in
Il brealSneck race, which terminated al
most as suddenly as it began, for her
hat blew off and she Immediately be.
gan to draw rein.
II surrender" she shouted, as I shot
alongside of her. my hats off. Stop,
Please
Ito be continued