The Colorado statesman., 1915-09-25

to make inquiries regarding the rout,
over the range, seriously advised her
not 10 make the journey alone.
You should not attempt it. unpro
tected.' she w.rned Eleanor THE
country is wild and infested with vi.
cious half-breeds and even outlaws"
but Eleanor was fearless and willful
She equipped herself in stanch walk.
ing trim. and noontide saw her pass,
ing down lonely mountain gully ana
recognizing marks in the landscape
described to her which indicated that
she was nearing Ccofutt pass Sud.
denly, turning past dense thic'iet
she recoiled With start as tawny-
skinned woman darted directly in
front of her.
The stranger, a half-breed sGuaw,
was sloyenly. halfintoxicated and vi
cious looking. Her eyes glowed as
she made out the small netted hand
bag suspended from the belt that
Eleanor wore. She thrust out her
hand. seized it and tore it loose Ell.
eanor put out OBTAINING hand. for
the bag contained some money and
valuable jewelry.
The squaw produced keen bladed
knife and showed her teeth. Then
she quickly uncoiled a stort lariat
from her waist Eleanor read her pur-
pose, to bind her hand and foot
and leave her helpless while she fed
safely with her spoils.
Eleanor sought to defend herself
She stopped suddenly. seized a heavy
stick lying in the path. swung it
around and swept her despoiler cfT
her feet. With an angry snarl the
squaw regained her feet. but Eleanor
fed precipitately. She fancied she
heard a masculine voice shouting out
after her, but she feared an accom-
plice of the squaw and terror lent
fleetness to her actions.
Eleanor deviated from the gully.
seeking shelter in rushing up a side
path. At the top she paused breath
less. A view of the spot where she
had been robbed was now shut out
from her view. Eleanor made out
cabin, its door open. She rushed
through the aperture and sank to a
chair in a rudely furnished room
nearly at the point of fainting
Her eyes opened wide as. wander
ing about the room, they fell upon a
picture on stand. It was her own.
Near to it was a tiny vase and in
this, as if replaced fresh every morn.
ing was mountain daisy, her favorite
flower
She recalled having her picture
taken the year before in this very
district by travelling photographer.
Was this one printed from the same
negative? Lost in anger. half-guess.
ing the truth, she started up as stall
wart form crossed the threshold It
was that scamp" Warren Brill
He greeted her with manifest re-
preston and respect. She wondered
if Fate was in all this, as he told of
witnessing the robbery, of recovering
the booty from the squaw.
Il found this on the ground" he
explained, and he handed Eleanor
with the handbag the letter she had
received from her father the day
previous. There was a queer twinkle
in his eye. She flushed deeply e.,
1t is Just year lacking three days
since your father loaned me the money
to purchase the old mine, Miss
Wynne," he said. 1T turned out a
heartless swindle, but my defeat urged
ME up to new efforts to make amends
to my generous hacker / struck
new rich prospect. See" and he ex.
hibited receipts from the branch mint
for over fifty thousand dollars.
Brill saw her safely back to town.
He saw her, too, every day after that
during her stay. Then, the last eve
ming but one, he told his love-
Dear papa" spoke Eleanor, home
returned a week later after thei,
greetings were over, you asked me
to find that scamp Warren Brill, for
you"
Yes, Eleanor"
Well, l have brought him with me
to explain all about his terrible du.
plicity!"
And Eleanor went into the hallway
and beckoned to Warren Brill. and
led into the presence of her amazed
sire her future husband.