The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1915-12-30
CHAPTER xv-continusa.


soush mountain road. Did not conh-
aently expect to fnd Oliver there.
shouid not let you undertake this ride.
3ut the inquiries | have just made
cad me to hope for the best results
.
Whats that."
That's the cry Of . loon"
How awful! 10 they often CRY like
that?"
Not often in the nighttime"
Reuther shuddered.
Mr.. Black regarded her anKiously.
Had be done wrong to let her toin him
In this strange ride?
Shall We 60 back and wait for
broad daylight" he asked.
mo. NO. could not bear the sus-
0ense 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
early) . start-that I'm sure We have
outwitted the man who II 20 watchful
Of Us But II We 60 back. we cannot
slip away from him again: and Oliver
will have to submit to . humiliation
II 10 our duty to spare him. And the
good Judge. too. don't care II the
looms do cry: the night Ii beautiful"
And It was. had their hearts been In
tune to enjoy It A gibbous moon had
risen. and. inefncient ~ It was to light
up the recesses Of the forest. 1t u
lumined the treetops and brought out
the difference between earth and sky.
The road. known to the horses. II not
to themselves. extended like black
ribbon under their eyes. but the
patches of light which fell across II at
intervals took from 1t the uninter-
rupted gloom 1t must have otherwise
had. Mr.. 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
its fulfllment. Full sight brought full
realization. However they might seek
to cloak the fact. they could no longer
disguise from themselves that the OBJ.
ject Of their journey might not be &C.
ceptable to the man In hiding at Tenn
pest lodge. Reuther's faith in him was
strong. but even her courage faltered
o. 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. Mr.. Sloan was
seen to turn his head sharply. and In
another moment his two companions
heard him say:
I'VE are followed. Ride ON and leave
me to take look"
=, Instinctively they also glanced back
before obeying. They were just round
ing the top of an abrupt hill. and ex
pected to have an uninterrupted view
Of the road behind. But the masses
of foliage we're as yet too thick fol
them to sec much but the autumna
red and yellow spread out below them
II hear them; do not see them,
remarked their guide. Two horses
are approaching"
How far are We now from tn,
lodge?"
"A half-hour's ride. We are Just .
the opening of the gully"
"You will Join US soon!"
"As quickly AZ make out who Ar
on the horses behind u.s."
Her cheeks had gained q slight flush
but otherwise she looked unmoved HI
was less at ease than she: for he ha,
less to sustain him.
The gully, when they came to II
proved to be formidable one. II wa
not only deep but precipitous and 10
the two miles they rode along its edg
they saw no let-up in the steepness o.
one side or Of the almost equal
abrupt rise of towering rock on tn
other. 1t was Reuther's first exper
ence Of SO precipitous climb. and ur
der other circumstances she nigh
have been timid; but in her presen
heroic mood. 1t was all q part of he
great adventure, and as such acceptet
The lawyer eyed her with CROWN
admiration. He had not miscalculate
her pluck.
As they were making q turn to gai
the summit. they heard Mr Sloan
voice behind them. Drawing In thei
horses, they greeted him eagerly whe
he appeared
Were you right? Are We followed
That's as may be. didn't hear q
see anything more. waited. but notl
Ing happened. 30 came on"