The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-02-10
CHAPTER l.
Out Of the vinn Manlsa.

"'Nnp' DSoiuS utT lay COObnbu, OeaNy
muzzle on huge paws, his eyes as pale
as the girls were dark. They were
htll-bred both. Perhaps that account
ed for the delight both found in the
solitude of this aerie, where they
could look down toward the west on
the feathery, green sea of close packed
pine and fir. of spruce and hemlock-
and toward the east on the narrow
strip of tide-water slough and the un.
painted shacks of the lumber camp
huddied above its rollway. II was
the magnificent timber country of the
great Northwest
SiletS was wondering, as she always
did, how far the mountains ran to the
south. how far It was to that Frisco
OF which she had heard so much from
the tramp loggers who came and went
with the seasons, their turkeys" on
their backs and the joyous liberty OF
the irresponsible forever tugging at
their eccentric souls
over the facing ridge she knew
that the cold Pacific roared and
coaxed on the ships, to play with them
in the hell OF Vancouver coast. She
could hear II sometimes when the
pines were still; yes she had never
seen t.
She had pictures of 1t in her mind
many pictures She knew well how
It would look when she should see
it-a gray floor. a world of 1t. shot
through with the reds and purples OF
tardy sun. OF the cities she had
no clear pictures They were artificial,
man-made, therefore alien to her. who
knew only nature, though she had
listened intently to roamers from ev-
cry corner of the globe; for Daily's
lumber camp had seen a queer lot.
II all resolved itself into these
dreams when she sat on the edge OF
fir stump, or, better yet. in the ex.
alted cloud-high airiness OF the very
apex OF the Hog Back.
There had been no sun, neither to
day nor for many days; and yet there
was as surely prescience of approach.
Ing night as II shadows forewarned
SiIetz had hoped for a break, one OF
those short pageants when the sun
should shoot for a moment into the
gloom, transfiguring the world Now,
as she scanned the west, the dog sud
denly rose from beside her, peering
down with his huge head thrust for
ward. his pendulous ears swaying A
hundred feet below in a tangle of vine
maple something was laboring. Pres.
emily the slim trees parted and out
of their tangle struggled a horse, a
magnificent black beast with haring
nostrils and full. excited eyes. After
every few steps II turned it's head to
right or left with the instinct of the
mountain breed to zigzag. and as often
the man in the saddle pulled It sharp.
ly back
With the first sight of the intruders
the girl on the high stump had sprung
up. leaning forward, a growing excite
ment in her face. II was the horse
that caused 1t. Something was stir
ring within her all suddenly and her
heart beat hard She gripped her
braids tight In both hands and swal.
lowed.
"Blunderer." she said aloud. "Oh.
the biunderer!"
Then she cupped her hands at her
lips and called down: Let him alone!
He knows how to climbl Let him
alone!"
The man looked up startled, and
tightened his grip on the rein. The
gallant animal went down upon its
side. rolling completely over. to lodge
feet downward. against a stone. The
man swung sidewise out Of the saddle.
saving himself with a splendid quick
ness. Before he could gather him.
self for action the girl tore down upon
him.
What have you done?" she cried
wildly. what have you done to III"
She dropped on her knees and her
hands went iuttering over the black
head in very passion OF pity. touch.
ing the white star on the forehead.
smoothing the quivering nostrlls.
why didn't you let him climb his
own way? He knew-he's 4 bunch
grasser. Nothing could 90 straight
upl"
e'hS htA Jco W Nun dOC he
saw they were burning behind a film
OF tears. He saw also what gave him
strange feeling OF shock--A faint,
blue tracery extending from the left
corner OF her lips downward nearly
10 the point of the chin, a sharply
broken fragment of tsttooed design.
Her eyes we're very dark and her hair,
parted after the first fashion OF wom-
an. was straight and very dark also.
Thp accusing words irritated hin.
You're right" he said coldly. moth.
ing could-in such country. Stanl
back. please"
Siletz looked up at him and instinc-
lively rose 10 her feet. though ls-
slim body was alert with an uncon-
scious readiness for prevention OF
something.
But the man only stepped TO the
blacks head. frightened the rein a bit
and clucked encouragingly.
Come up" he said sharply. up.
boyi"