The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-06-13
FOURTEENTH INSTALLMENT
A BOLT FROM THE BLUE.
CHAPTER XXX.

There was a peculiar almost fore
boding silence about the camp thai
morning when Laura returned from
her early ride. The only living person
to be seen was the Chinaman, sitting
on a stool in front OF the wagon with
a dish Of potatoes between his knees
Say where's everyone?" Laura
sang out, after she had looked into lie,
nora's tent and found it empty.
The Chinaman looked up at her
malevolently.
"All gone" he announced Cow
boys gone workee. Missee gone hurry
up find Mr.. Quest"
Laura hestated, puzzled Just then
the professor came canterng in with
bundle of grass in his hand. He
glanced down at the Chinaman.
Good morning, Miss Laura" he
said. "You don't seem to be getting
on with our friend here" he added in
an undertone.
"Pshawl" she answered "Who
cares what chink thinks The fel-
lows an idiot. I'm worried, professor.
Lenoras gone out after Mr. Quest and
the inspector She wasn't fit to ride
a horse. | cant make out why she's
attempted It,"
The professor unslung some field
glasses from his shoulder and gazed
steadily southwark.
at is just possible" he said softly
that she may have received warn
ing of that"
He pointed with his foreiinger Laura
peered forward. There was something
which seemed to be just faint cloud
upon the horizon. The professor
handed her his glasses.
why, it's a fire." she cried.
The professor nodded
Just a prairie fire" he replied
"very dangerous though. these dry
seasons The flames move so quickly
that if you happen TO be in a certain
position you might easily be cut Off.
Laura turned her horse round.
Come on, professor" she ex-
claimed That's what it is. Lenora's
gone to try and warn the others"
They rode to the very edge of the
tract of country which was tcmporar-
fly enveloped in smoke and flame.
Here they pulled in their horses and
the professor looked thoughtfully
through his field glasses.
Laura gave "A little cry and pointed
l.,
yards farther on, by the side of the
road was small white object. She
canterod on, swung herself from her
horse and picked It up.
"Lenora's handkerchief" she cried
The professor waved his arm west
ward
Here come Quest and the iuspec-
tor They are making a circuit TO
avoid the fire. The cowboy with them
must have shown them the way. We'd
better hurry up and find out II they've
seen anything of Miss Lenora."
They galloped across the rough
country towards the little party, who
We're now clearly in sight.
From tho center Of one of the burn
ing patches they saw riderless horse
gallop out, stop for moment with
his head almost between his forelegs,
shake himself furiously and gallop
blindly on again.
Laura would have turned her horse,
but the professor checked her
Let us wait for Quest" he advised.
The cowboy, riding a little behind
the two others, had unlimbered his
lariat, swung 1t over his head and Sc
cured the runaway. Quest galloped up
to where Laura and the professor we're
waving frantically.
Say, that's some fire." Quest ex-
claimed. Did you people come out to
see it,"
No. we came to find Lenora,"
Laura answered. breathlessly. That's
her horse. She started 10 meet you
She must be somewhere"
"Lenora?" Quest interrupted, fierce
ly What do you mean
when got back to camp" Laura
continued. rapidly, there wasn't a
eoul there except the Chinaman. He
told me that Lenora had ridden OF a |
few minutes before TO find you. We |
came TO look for her We found her |
handkerchief on the road there, and |
that's her horse"