The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-11-26

you. You're not Mrs. Somebody or
other. are you?"
The embarrassed smile froze on
his lips. He leaped to his feet and
stood listening. Faint and clear, sound
Ing cheerful rather than ominous.
there rose to them from the valleys
below baying OF dogs.
He climbed swiftly to the top OF the
Hub. and stood listeninZ his field
glasses glued to his eyek
A glimpse of two bloo6N0ulis and
four men. one OF whom was Stilliter
and another q full-blooded Indian,
crossing an open space. recently
crossed by Celestia and himself dur
ing their unhurried escape In the
same direction. brought Tommy down
from the Hub In a great hurry.
We've got to beat II, Celestial" he
said. I'm sorry. because you are
tired, but that man"-here tV encir-
cling his eyes with his hands, he in
dicated Professor Stilliter's eye
glasses-'is after u.s."
She rose obediently to her feet. II
don't know why he wants to catch
you.' said Tommy. "and. either you
don't know. or you won't tell. But you
dislike him, and you're afraid Of him.
and that's enough"
They were soon under way, follow
ing the higher ground, where the gran
lite outcroppings neither received any
Impress from their feet, nor long held
the scent OF the leather soles. But
the crests OF the ridges were not all
granite. and Tommy knew very well
that in places they were making what
woodmen call a broad trail. A trail
OF footprints and bent and broken
branches which an Indian will read
as casually as a commuter reads his
newspaper; and which. aided by blood
hounds, he will follow as easily as
small boys follow procession through
a city street.
That broad reaches Of unbroken
granite would occasionally battle their
pursuers was all that Tommy could
hope for.
He had at first only a vague idea
as to just what part of the wilderness
he would take her, but gradually his
mind became occupied with the prob
lem OF getting to that place by a
route which their pursuers would find
the most difficult possible in follow
ing. He had hopes indeed of throw
ing them completely off the trail
They turned little more to the
westward, and began to descend from
the high ground. The baying of the
hounds at this time seemed II any
thing little closer.
where are we going?' she asked
suddenly.
We're going to hide on little is
land in deep lake, Celestia. Even
il they find out that we are on 1t,
they'll have trouble getting to us. Very
few sailors and fewer woodsmen know
how to swim. l used to fish in that
lake lot, and I've an old dugout hid
den on the shore, and there's the re-
mains of a hut on the island. And l
left an old moth-eaten buffalo robe
and blanket there only last fall
IL there's anything left OF them they'll
come in mighty handy, l can tell YOU"
They came to a broad, shallow
stream that flowed brightly under an
arch of dark foliage. Here's where
we begin to make trouble for them,"
said Tommy. Holding her elbow with
his free hand, he kept her from stum-
bling and falling. Tommy led Celestia
to the middle of the brook, and then
they waded down 1t for upward Of
mile, as If 1t had been q winding road.
and only left 1t when the rocky ma
ture Of the country through which 1t
was passing offered them an opportu-
nifty of SO doing and leaving mini
mum trail.
All at once Tommy realized THAT
great silence had fallen in the forest.
And he knew that at last the blood
hounds were in difficulties. for they