Cheyenne record., 1915-09-02
CHAPTER xvI-continued.


tous eye sought the place he indicated.
her face flushed crimson with evanes-
cent Joy. Just where the open ground
of the gully melted again into the for.
est. the figure of man could be seen
moving very quickly. In another mo.
ment it had disappeared amid the
foliage.
Straight for the station" an
nounced Mr.. Sloan; and. taking out
his watch, added quickly: "the train
is not due for Is minutes. He'll catch
it."
The train south?"
"Yes. and the train north. They
pass here"
Mr.. Black turned a startled eye
upon the guide. But Reuther's face
was still alight. She felt very happy.
Their journey had not been for
naught. He would have six hours
start of his pursuers; he would be that
much sooner in Shelby; he would hear
the accusation against him and refute
it before she saw him again.
But Mr.. Blacks thoughts were less
pleasing than hers. He had never had
more than passing hope Of divers
innocence, and now he had none at
all. The young man had fed, not In
response to his fathers telegram, but
under the impulse of his own fears.
They would not find him in Shelby
when they returned. They might never
find him anywhere again. A pretty
story to carry back to the Judge.
AS he dwelt upon this thought his
reflections grew more and more
he reached the turn where the two
men still awaited them.
In the encounter which followed no
attempt was made By either party to
disguise the nature of the business
which thus had brought them to-
gether. The man whom Mr.. Black
took to be a Shelby detective nodded
as they met and remarked. with
quick glance at R.uther:
so you've come without him! I'm
sorry for that. was in hopes that
might be spared the long ride up the
mountain"
Mr.. Black limited his answer to one
of his sour smiles.
Whose horse Is this?" came In per
cmptory demand from the other man.
with a nod toward the animal which
could now be seen idly grazing by the
wayside. And how came 1t on the
road alcne?"
"We can only give you these facts"
rejoined the lawyer. TT came from
Tempest lodge. It started out ahead
of us with the gentleman we had gone
TO visit on It's back. We did not pass
the gentleman on the road, and IL he
has not passed you he must have left
the road somewhere on foot He did
not go back to the lodge"
Mr.. Black"
Il am telling you the absolute truth.
Make what you will of 1t. His father
desires him home. and sent a mes
sage. This message this young lady
liver 1t. with the consequences have
mentioned II you doubt me take
your ride 1t is rot an easy one. and
the only man remaining at the lodge
Is deaf as a post
'Mr Black has told the whole
story" averred the guide.
They looked at Reuther.
Il have nothing to add" said she.
Il have been terrified lest the gentle
man you wish to see was thrown from
the horses back over the precipice
But perhaps he found some way of
getting down on foot He is a very
strong and daring man"
The tree!" calculated the detec-
tive's companion. He was from q
neighboring locality and remembered
this one natural ladder up the side of
the gully.
Yes. the tree" acknowledged Mr..
Sloan. That. or a fall. Let us hope
II was not a fall
AS he ceased a long screech from an
approaching locomotive woke I'D the
echoes of the forest 1t was answered
by another from the opposite direction.
Both trains we're on time. The relief
felt by Reuther could not be con-
cealed. The detective noticed It.
I'm wasting time here" said he.
Excuse me. Mr.. Black, II push on
ahead OF you. II we don't meet at
the station. we shall meet in Shelby"
Mr.. Blacks mouth twisted grimly
He had no doubt Of the latter fact.
Next minute they were all cantering
IN the one direction. the detective very
much In the advance.
Let me go with you to the station"