Cheyenne record., 1915-08-26
ture-if that's what You want to

IuSu-1 luoS Wu0S A0 WoAto w NOs
"But l thought they fell back We
didn't hear them after you Joined US"
'No; they didn't come on. They
didn't have to. This is the only road
down the mountain, and it's one you've
got to follow or go tumbling over the
precipice. All they've got to do is. to
wait for him; and that's what tried
to tell him. but he just shook his arm
at me and rode on. He might better
have waited-for company"
Mr.. Black cast a glance behind him.
saw that the door of the house was
almost closed and ventured to put an.
other question.
What did he ask you when he
came out here?"
"Why we had chosen such an early
hour to bring him his fathers mes
sage" Sloan replied.
"And what did you say?"
"Wa'al, said that there was an.
other fellow down my way awful eager
to see him, too; and that you were
mortal anxious to get to him first.
That was about 1t, wasn't it, sir?"
"Yes. And how did he take that?"
"He turned white, and asked me
just what l meant. Then said that
some one wanted him pretty bad, for,
early as it was, this stranger was up
as soon as you, and had followed us
into the mountains and might show
up any time on the road. At which he
gave me a stare, then plunged back
into the house to get his hat and trot
~ {o NJ O1fnkar
work. But it's no use; he can't es-
cape those men. They know it, or they
wouldn't have stopped where they
did, waiting for him."
Mr.. Black recalled the aspect of the
gully. and decided that Mr. Sloan was
right. There could be but one end to
this adventure. Oliver would be
caught in a manifest effort to escape,
and the judges cup of sorrow and hu-
initiation would be full. He felt the
shame Of it himself, also the folly of
his own methods and Of the part he
had allowed Reuther to play. Beck
oning to his host to follow him, he
turned toward the house.
Don't mention your fears to the
young lady," said he. "At least, not
till we are we'll past the gully"
81 shan't mention anything. Don't
you be afeared Of that"
And with a simultaneous effort diff.
cult for both, they assumed a more
cheerful air, and briskly entered the
house.
1t was not until they were well upon
the road back that Reuther ventured
to speak of Oliver. She was riding as
far from the edge of the precipice as
possible. In descent it looked very
formidable to her unaccustomed eye.
"This Is a dangerous road for
man to ride bareback" she remarked.
I'm terrified when l think of 1t, Mr..
Black Why did he go of quite so
suddenly? Is there a train he is anx-
ious to reach? Mr.. Sloan, is there a
train?"
"Yes, miss, there is train"
(Which he can get by riding fast?"
1--WE known it done!"
Then he Is excusable." Yet her
anxious glance stole ever and again
to the dizzy verge toward which she
now unconsciously urged her own
horse till Mr. Black drew her aside.
A half-hour's further descent, then
a quick turn and Mr.. Sloan. who had
ridden on before them, came galloping
hastily back.
Mr.. Black hastened to meet their
guide. What now?" he asked. Have
they come together? Have the de-
tectives got him?"
mo. not him; only his horse. The
animal has just trotted up-riderless."
Good God! The child's instinct
was true. He has been thrown"
NO" Mr.. Sloans mouth was close
to the lawyers ear. There's another
explanation. II the fellow Is game,
and anxious enough to reach the train
to risk his neck for 1t, there's a path
he could have taken which would get
him there without his coming round
this turn" Then as Reuther came
ambling up: Young lady. don't let
me scare you. but 1t looks now as II the
young man had taken a short cut to
the station. Look back along the edge
of the precipice for about half a mile.
and you will see shooting up from the
gully a solitary tree whose topmost
branch reaches within a few feet Of
the road above"
"Yes," she suddenly replied. as her
glance fell on the one red splash
showing against the dull gray Of the