Williams news., 1915-08-12
CHAPTER XV-Contlnued.

1ently expect to md OnVer there, l should not let you undertake this ride. But the inquiries I have just made cad me to hope for the best results.
 .
 Whats that?"
 That's the cry of loon."
 How awful! Do they often cry like :hat?"
 Not often in the nighttime"
 Reuther shuddered.
 MT. Black regarded her anxiously. Had he done wrong to let her join him In this strange ride?
 Shall we go back and wait for broad daylight?" he asked
 "No, no. I could not bear the sus- pense of wondering whether all was going we'll and the opportunity being given you of seeing and speaking to him. We have taken such precautions chosen so late Cor should l say so early) a start-that I'm sure we have outwitted the man who is so watchful of us But if we go back, we cannot slip away from him again; and Oliver will have to submit to humiliation 1t is our duty to spare him. And the good judge, too. I don't care if the looms do cry; the night is beautiful"
 And it was, had their hearts been in tune to enjoy it. A gibbous moon had risen, and, inefficient as it was to light up the recesses of the forest, it H. lumined the treetops and brought out the difference between earth and sky. The road, known to the horses, If not to themselves, extended like black ribbon under their eyes, but the patches of light which fell across 1t at intervals took from 1t the uninter- rupted gloom it must have otherwise had. MT. Sloan, who was at once their guide and host, promised that dawn would be upon them before they reached the huge gully which was the one dangerous feature of the road.
 Their guide had prophesied truly. Heralded by that long cry of the loon, the dawn began to reveal itself and the everyday world of the mighty for est was upon them with its night mystery gone.
 But not the romance of their errand, or the anxiety which both felt as to it's fulfillment. Full sight brought full realization. However they might seek to cloak the fact, they could no longer disguise from themselves that the ob- ject of their journey might not be ac- ceptable to the man in hiding at Tenn pest lodge. Reuther's faith in him was strong, but even her courage faltered as she thought of the disgrace await ing him whatever the circumstances or however he might look upon his fathers imperative command to re- turn.
 , But she did not draw rein, and the three continued to ride up and on. Suddenly. however. MT. Sloan was seen to turn his head sharply, and in another moment his two companions heard him say:
 ."We are followed Ride on and leave me to take look"
 Instinctively they also glanced back ing the top of an abrupt hill, and ex- pected to have an uninterrupted view of the road behind. But the masses of foliage were as yet too thick for them to see much but the autumnal red and yellow spread out below them.
 'T hear them; I do not see them" remarked their guide, Two horses are approaching"
 How far are we now from the lodge?"
 "A half-hour's ride. We are just at the opening of the gully"
 You will join us soon?" "As quickly as I make out who are on the horses behind us."
 Reuther and the lawyer rode on. Her cheeks had gained a slight flush. but otherwise she looked unmoved. He was less at ease than she; for he had less to sustain him.
 The gully, when they came to it, proved to be formidable one It was not only deep but precipitous, and for the two miles they rode along it's edge they saw no let-up in the steepness on one side or of the almost equally abrupt rise of towering rock on the other. It was Reuther's first experi- ence of so precipitous climb, and un-
  have been 'timid; but in her present heroic mood, it was all a part of her great adventure, and as such accepted.
 The lawyer eyed her with growing admiration. He had not miscalculated her pluck.
 As they were making a turn to gain the summit they heard MT. Sloan's voice behind them. Drawing in their horses. they greeted him eagerly when he appeared
 Were you right? Are we followed ?"
 That's as may be. I didn't hear or see anything more. I waited, but noth- ing happened. so came on."
 His words were surly and his looks sour; they, therefore, forbore to ques tion him further, especially as their keenest interest lay ahead, rather than behind them. They were nearing Tempest lodge. AS it broke upon