The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-06-26
FOURTEENTH iNSTALLMENT
y BOLT from THE BLUE.
CHAPTER XXX.


Tkere was peculiar almost fore.
bodfhg silence about the camp that
morning when Laura returned from
her early ride. The only living person
to be seen was the Chinaman. sitting
on i stool in front Of the wagon with
. dish Of potatoes between his knees.
'Hay. where's everyone?' Laura
sang out, after she had looked into Le-
nora's tent and found It empty.
The Chinaman looked up at her
Inadvertently
"All gone" he announced. Cow
boys gone workee. Missee gone hurry
up md Mr.. Quest"
Laura hesitated, puzzled. Just then
the professor came cantering in with
d 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.
''Pshaw!" she answered. "Who
cares what chink thinks! The fel-
Z lows an idiot. I'm worried, professor.
Lenora's gone out after Mr.. Quest and
the inspector. She wasn't fit to ride
q horse. ! can't make out why she's
attempted IT."
The professor unslung some Held.
glasses from his shoulder and gazed
.taadfiv coufhward
1T Is just possible" he said. softly,
s.thst she~may have received warn
ing OF that"
He pointed with his forefnger. 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 q prairie fire. he replied
avery dangerous, though these dry
seasons. The flames move SO quickly
that II you happen to be in certain
position you might easily be cut on.
Laura turned her horse round.
s.Come on, professor" she ex.
claimed. That's what 1t is. Lenoras
gone to try and warn the others"
They rode to the very edge OF the
tract of country which was temporar'
lily enveloped in smoke and fiame,
Here they pulled In their horses and
the professor looked thoughtfully
. xhr<xuuy, hio fioJd pIasseS
Laura gave little cry and pointed
with her riding whip. About twenty
yards farther on, by the side OF the
road, was q small white object. She
cantered on, swung herself from heI
horse and picked 1t up.
"Lenora's handkerchief" she cried
The professor waved his arm west
ward
Here come Quest and the inspec
tor They are making a circuit te
avoid the fire. The cowboy with then
must have shown them the way. Wee
better hurry up and find out II they've
seen anything Of Miss Lenora.'
They galloped across the rougf
country towards the little party, wht
we're now clearly In sight.
From the center Of one Of the burn
ing patches they saw a riderless hors'
gallop out, stop for moment VIII
his head almost between his foreiegs
shake himself furiously and gallol
blindly on again.
Laura would have turned her horse
cut the professor checked her.
"Let us wait for Quest" he advised
The cowboy. riding a little behln'
the two others. had unlimbered nj
1ariat, swung 1t over his head and Sc
cured the runaway. Quest galloped u
10 where Laura and the professor wer
waving frantjcally.
.Say. that's some firel" Quest 81
claimed. eDid you people come out Z
see itg
aNo we came to find Lenora'
Laura answered. breathlessiy. "Fhat'
her horse. She started to meet yo
She must be semewhsre--"--
aLenora?g Quest interrupted, 'nefc'
ly. rwhst do you ,msan?soie sAr
.When 1 got back TO camp Laur
continued. rapidly. there wasn't
sou, there except the Chinaman. II
told me that Lenora had ridden on
few minutes before to find you. II"
came to look for her. We found ne
handkerchief on the road there an
Shat's her horse"