The Huttig news., 1916-04-01

ridge or tive, a valley III hetween. as it had been here. a day. two days pack, but riage after ridge valley aftel. val ley-tte world. the earth, the heavens Saetry was somewhere up behind the Hes Back
 For 2 moment the girl looked out aercss th4 slough, lying like dirty ribbon between it's gray and Wiltad banks Then she turned troubled eyes to the general.
 Mother" she said, q know It TOW There's danger tC Sandry, and rm go iag.'
 Child you're wrong this time. San. ary's a man. Well as you know th bills I can't let you go. l forbid it"
 They faced each other moment while Siletz tossed back her braias and frightened her belt.
 I'm going, she said quietly. Ma Daily, who had raised her. said no more; but as she turned to the stove aimiessly-as was her wont in every time of trial, there was a deeper line about her tremaioas- old mouth
 Swift as the wind the girl ran down the valley toward the deserted camp Miss Ordway watched her and against her will, drawn ny some sahfla excite ment, some urging power, she too gathered her skirts and began to run across the pulling ashes. At the lean to she came upon the other just lead ing out Black Bolt. shining beauty eager for the turf.
 I'm gong too" panted Poppy reaching for bride that hung behind the bay.
 Siletz had always ridden bareback, but now, why she did not know. she took down Sandrys saddle and slung It on Black Bolt. Poppy followed her movements, and by the time Sfetz had put foot Tn stirrup and swung up. she mad caught tip her wide skirt and mounted. Siletz fiared around at her and her eyes were beginning to sparkle in face pale with rage.
 Without a word they ealIoped up across the lonesome valley and took to what had once been a trail in the holding ferns Now It was but a slight depression running amid the blackened trunks. the endless heaps of ashes. Poppy Ordway followed Si- ietz, on chance a dare, a mere haz- ard. She did rot know the danger, the menace of the hills
 She was saying to herself after her entieing hahit Of self-communion:
 I'll have my precious packet soon l know l shall. The gods are with nIe. I feel it."
 Once Siletz turned upon her.
 Go hack!a she cried fiercely, some. thing is about to happen"
 You're right said Poppy, and for once the hardness of her nature showed like rock under waves in eyes and voice and manner, and I'll be ia at the happening"
 They spoke slo more. Siletz checked Black Bolt fn another mile, rose in her stilrups and looked over the appalling spectacle before them. Over and be. yoad lay the tumbIed hills. thick with heavy timher, that ran into the Sflet2 basin. Somewhere in their fastnesses reared the mighty spine Of the Hog Back with it's secret trail. And seme. where up behind the Hog Back was Sandry. Calm as she was by nature Siietz shuddored as she looked upon the world of fame and smoke. To Poppy Orfway. ignorant of It's mean iEg ard it's might, it was a splendid spectacle.
 Silctz plunged down the ridge on the other side and the woman followed TAe shadows of the oke-dlleu val lev grew int3 an uEca twilight The fine, light ashes made slippery going aId nzor,l than 5Nc5 Black Bolt slipped to catch his factiag. catlike They rode ak4ad aad entered the fire belt itself. The dusk grew denser. The heat lay like tangible blanket in the holl2ws and dirs. Siletz urged Black Bclt. Scnething was calling out of the gray dimness-chilling her heart hurrying her progress.
 She had ridden for a time in deep thought when scream fron, the wom an behind drew her up with a start She turned just ia $ U see the biz bay fall snd % ing down the mountain With his first Iurch he had flung his rider out of the saddle and into pile of ashes. It was true to her nature that the girl, eismounting ran. not to the woman but down the slope after the horse. She found him prone and grooming in little trench his right fcreleg dousied back, the white bone piercing the earth
 Poppy Ordway peer0d fearfully dewn, her trembling hands gathering her dust-c0vored skirts.
 Come here!" Siletz cried, com man3ing; "come here!"
 It was the same voice whispering with primitive rage. that had com pelled that craven "Sandry" from Poppy Or,tway's lips that night at the pump, and as the woman had obeyed then, so she cbeyed now.
 Siletz rose. reaching in the blouse Of her shirt, and brought out gun.
 Poppy OrGway shra1k hack, white as chalk.
 'sIhat de ycu r-oa,, 9,, eba cried