The state herald., 1915-12-31
CHAPTER xv-contInued.

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 a loon"
How awful! Do they often cry like
.hat?"
Not often in the nighttime"
Reuther shuddered.
Mr.. Black regarded her anxiously.
Had he done wrong to let her Join him
Hin this strange ride?
Shall we go back and walt for
broad daylight" he asked.
No. no. could not bear the sus-
pense OF wondering whether all was
going well and the opportunity being
given you of seeing and speaking to
him. We have taken such precautions
chosen SO late Tor should l say SO
early) start-that I'm sure we have
outwitted the man who is SO watchful
Of us But II we go back. We cannot
slip away from him again: and oliver
Will have to submit to a humiliation
It Is our duty to spare him. And the
good Judge. too. don't care II the
looms do cry: the night is beautiful"
And 1t was. had their hearts been in
tune to enjoy 1t. A gibbous moon had
risen. and. inefiicient as II was to light
up the recesses of the forest, 1t H.
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 It at
intervals took from 1t the uninter-
rupted gloom It 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 rs 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 OBJ
1ect Of their journey might not be &C
ceptablo to the man In hiding at TEN.
pest lodge. Reuther's faith In him was
strong. but even her courage faltered
a. 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 10 ride up and on.
Suddenly, however. Mr. Sloan was
seen 10 turn his head sharply. and In
another moment his two companions
hoard him say:
I'VE are followed Ride on and leave
me to take n look"
ins,inctiveiy they also glanced back
before obeying. They were Just round.
ing the top OF an abrupt hill. and eS.
pecfed TO have an uninterrupted view
Of the road behind. But the masses
of foliage erre as yet too thick for
them to see much but the autumnal
red and yellow spread out below them.
Il hear them: do not see them. %
remarked their guide. Two horses
arc approaching"
How far are We nov from the
iodgrf"
"A hAif.hour's ride. We are Just at
the opening OF the gully
"You will Join Us soon'-
AS quickly as l make out Who are
on the horses behind us"
Reuther and tho lawyer rode on.
Her checks had gained = slight nush.
but otherwise sho looked unmoved. He
vas icss at ease than shc. for he bad
i~ss TO sustain him.
The gully. when they came TO Il.
proved 20 be formidable one. u vas
not only deep but prccipitous, and for
the two miles they rode along It's edge
they saw no ictup In the s,ecpness on
one side or Of the almost equally
abrupt ris. Of towering rock on the
other II was Reutbcr's firs, expert.
snce OF no prccipiious a climb. and un.
der other circumstances she might
have been timld. but In her present
heroic mood. II was all a part Of her
great adventure. and ~ such accepted.
Tho lawyer -yed her with growing
admiration, lie had not miroaiculAt.d
her pluck.
A. the, we're making turn to gain
the summit they heard MIR Hioan's
voice behind them. Drawing In their
horscs. they greeted him eagerly when
he appeared,
Were you right Are We follow cd T.
That's ns ,pay be, I didn't hear or
sec anything more. I waited. but moth
Ing happened. 40 ! came on"
lila words were Huriy and his looks
sour: they. therefore. fofbore TO aues'
,ion him further, especially as their