The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1916-01-08
lieutenant swoFe at the news, ana sent


me. dead or alive"
She arose to her feet. but the dark.
ness prevented my seeing the express
sion on her face.
"He didi This mann" she ex.
claimed, the horror of the thought Wis
ible In the tone. why. what IL II to
him? | do not understand why he
should exhibit such bitterness-he was
determined 10 convict you from the
first. There was no feud between you
two. was there?"
only Noreen Harwcod." answered,
speaking softly. Outlook! The cav.
airy squad jlst passed across that
open space; they are riding this way.
Raymond will revive presently. and
some OF his men will find him here;
Kelly will search as soon as he dis
covers the man is missing Nichols,
fasten the belt about his arms--yes.
buckle II behind; notch tighter. You
know the trail7"
I've been over II enough" rather
sullenly. rs Anse Cowan dead?"
Yes; but that doesn't affect you at
present. You are going 90 guide US to
Covington. Hold the horse. Now No
reen."
She gave me her band, and helped
her into the saddle. A horse neighed
in the distance. but my fingers closed
on the nostrils OF the animal beside
me in time to prevent response. Mich
OILS stood motionless, a tall. shapeless
figure, gazing back over the tops OF
the bushes. | drew my revolver, and
touched him with 1t sharply on the
arm.
GO on" l said quietly. yet with
threat in my voice. Attempt TO run.
or play any trick, and I drop you In
your tracks
He turned without a word, and 81
lently pushed passage through the
scrub into more open woods, and fol-
lowed. grasping the horses rein. A
hundred yards farther along we came
into a beaten track, and began TO
mount upward along a rocky ridge,
where the moon gave me good view. IL
was a scene OF silent desolation.
took one glance backward, but trees
shut off all glimpse OF the church. and
the plateau. thought heard voice,
or two, calling afar of, perhaps the
cavalrymen again signaling Kelly In
the ravine, but we had little TO fear
from them. Our trail could never be
followed before morning. and dawn
would be three hours away. slipped
my weapon back into my belt, conf.
dent Nichols would make no attempt
TO desert He was slouching forward,
muttering something to himself as he
walked, and never even turned his
head to glance behind. stole a look
upward at the lady in the saddle, but
did not venture to address her. She
sat erect her face slightly averted
but her thoughts appeared 10 be else.
where, and | plodded on, my heart
grown heavy. Beyond doubt she real
ICED now what the end was to be In
the rush and excitement OF the past
few days, her natural desire to save
me from the death OF a spy, she had
found no time for thought, for consid
Grafton She had merely obeyed the
swift impulse Of the moment. But
now. riding this dark mountain tran,
all immediate peril left behind. she
was facing the future-and regret. Her
fathers death, her sudden abandon.
ment Of home and friends. her disloy,
atty TO the cause with which her sym.
pathies were enlisted. her forced mar.
riage, came fresh 10 her memory like
haunting phantoms. Once, | thought.
she lifted a hand, and dashed tear
from her eye; and her head sank low.
er, as though she would hide her face.
She was evidently ashamed. regretful,
unhappy: II ever she had cared for
me. even In ordinary friendship. that
feeling had changed into dlslike-prob.
ably into actual hatred | seemed to
feel the change: to comprehend the
growing horror with which she con,
fronted the future. | wanted to tell
her that ] understood; that ! sympa.
thized that | would never consent 10
stand between her and happiness Plan
after plan flashed through my mind
she should be free; she should go to