The Benson signal., 1915-09-25

TO make inquiries regarding the route
over the range, seriously advised her
not to make the journey alone.
"You should not attempt it, unpro-
tected," she wGrned Eleanor "The
country is wild and infested with vi
cious half-breeds and even outlaws"
but Eleanor was fearless and willful.
She equipped herself in stanch walk
ing trim, and noontide saw her pass
ing down a lonely mountain gully and
recognizing marks in the landscape
described to her which indicated that
she was nearing Crofutt pass. Sud-
denly, turning past dense thicket
she recoiled with start as tawny
skinned woman darted directly in
front of her.
The stranger, half-breed squaw,
was slovenly, half-intoxicated and vi
cious looking. Her eyes glowed as
she made out the small netted hand
bag suspended from the belt that
Eleanor wore She thrust out her
hand, seized it and tore it loose. FL
eanor put out OBTAINING hand, for
the bag contained some money and
valuable jewelry.
The squaw produced a keen-bladed
knife and showed her teeth. Then
she quickly uncoiled a stort lariat
from her waist Eleanor read her pur-
pose, to bind her hand and foot
and leave her helpless while she fed
safely with her spoils.
Eleanor sought to defend herself.
She stopped suddenly, seized heavy
stick lying in the path, swung it
around and swept her despoiler or
her feet. With an angry snarl the
squaw regained her feet, but Eleanor
fled precipitately. She fancied she
heard a masculine voice shouting out
after her, but she feared an accom-
plice of the squaw and terror lent
t1eetness to her actions.
Eleanor deviated from the gully,
seeking shelter in rushing up side
path. At the top she paused breath
less. A view of the spot where she
had been robbed was now shut out
from her view. Eleanor made out a
cabin, it's door open. She rushed
through the aperture and sank to
chair in rudely furnished room,
nearly at the point of fainting.
Her eyes opened wide as, wander
ing about the room, they fell upon
picture on a stand 1t was her own.
Near to it was tiny vase and in
this, as if replaced fresh every morn
ing was mountain daisy, her favorite
flower.
She recalled having her picture
taken the year before in this very
district by travelling photographer.
Was this one printed from the same
negative? Lost in anger, half-guess-
ing the truth, she started up as a stall
wart form crossed the threshold. 1t
was "that scamp Warren Brill!
He greeted her with manifest re-
preston and respect. She wondered
if Fate was in all this, as he told of
witnessing the robbery, of recovering
the booty from the squaw.
II found this on the ground" he
explained, and he handed Eleanor
Will CAO AoAAOUo6 CAO AOLCO1 0AO LOU
received from her father the day
previous. There was queer twinkle
in his eye. She flushed deeply.
1T is just year lacking three days
since your father loaned me the money
to purchase the old mine, Miss
Wynne," he said. 1T turned out
heartless swindle, but my defeat urged
me up to new efforts to make amends
to my generous backer. l struck
new rich prospect. See," and he ex-
hibited receipts from the branch mint
for over fifty thousand dollars.
Brill saw her safely back to town.
He saw her, too, every day after that
during her stay. Then, the last eve
ming but one, he told his love.
Dear papa" spoke Eleanor, home
returned a week later, after their
greetings were over, you asked me
to find that scamp Warren Brill, for
you"
Eyes, Eleanor"
WELL have brought him with me
to explain all about his terrible du-
plicity!"
And Eleanor went into the hallway
and beckoned to Warren Brill, and
led into the presence of her amazed