The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1915-05-07
CHAPTER xv--contlnued.

Ht1&u mohnLaln ROAD. lid not conn
IDENTIFY expect to find oliver there. /
should not let you undertake this ride.
But the inquiries have Just made
lead rne TO hope for the best results"
What's that?T
That's the cry OF loon"
How awful! Do they often cry like
ahatg"
Not often in the nighttime"
Reuther shuddered.
Mr. Black regarded her anxiously.
Had he done wrong to let her join him
IN this strange ride?
Shall we 20 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 | say 80
eariy start--that I'm sure we have
Outwitted the man who Is SO watchful
Of us, But II we 90 back. we cannot
slip away from him again; and Oliver
Viii have to submit to humiliation
q Is our duty 10 spare him And the
good Judge too, don't care II the
looms do cry; the night is beautiful"
And Il was, had their hearts been in
tune to enjoy It. A gIbbous moon bad
risen. and, inefficient as 1t was to light
ap the recesses of the forest, 1t II.
lumined the treetops and brought out
the difference between earth and sky.
The road, known to the horses, II not
70 themselves. extended like a black
ribbon under their eyes, but the
patches OF light which fell across 1t at
intervals took from II the uninter.
runted gloom II must have otherwise
bad. Mr.. Sloan, who was al once
their guide and host, promised that
sawn would be upon them before they
reached the huge gully which was the
enc 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 It's night
mystery gone
But not the romance OF their errand
or the anxiety which both felt as to
IFS fulfllment. Full sight brought full
realization. However they might seek
to cloak the fact. they could no longer
disguise from themselves that the OBJ
iect OF their Journey might not be ac-
septable TO the man In hiding at Tenn
pest lodge. Reuther's faith in him was
strong but even her courage faltered
as she thought of the disgrace await
sng 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.
We are followed Ride on and leave
ME to take a look"
lustinctively they also glanced back
before obeying. They were just round.
zig the top OF an abrupt hill, and ex-
pected TO have an uninterrupted view I
st the road behind But the masses
" foliage were as yet too thick for
hem to see much but the autumnal
red and yellow spread out below them.
y hear them; do not see them"
their guide. Two horses
ire approaching"
How far are we now from the
0dge?"
"A halfhour's ride We are just at
he opening of the gully
You will join us soon?"
-As quickly as | make out who are
% the horses behind us"
Reuther and the lawyer rode on.
Ter Cheeks had gained slight flush,
'ut otherwise she looked lnmoyed. He
sas less at ease than she; for he had
ess 10 sustain him.
The gully. when they came 10 n
royed to be formidable one. Il was
OF only deep but precipitous. and for
be two miles they rode along its edge
hey saw no let-up in the steepness ON
ne side or Of the almost equally
brupt rise of towering rock on the
her II was Reuthers first expert.
ice OF 30 precipitoas climb. and un.
er other circumstances she might
ave been timid; but in her present
eroic mood, 1t was all part OF her
reat adventure, and as such accepted.
The lawyer eyed her with growing
tmiration. He had not miscalculated
or pluck.
AS they were making a turn to gain
he summit. they heard Mr.. Sloan's
oice behind them. Drawing In their
orses. they greeted him eagerly when
e appeared. {
Were you right? Are we followed?"
That's as may be. didn't hear or
se anything more. waited. but moth
y happened. SO came on"
His words We're surly and his looks I
'ur; they, therefore, forbore to ques-
on him further. especially as their
'enest interest lay ahead, rather
an behind them. They were nearing