Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1916-03-11
CHAPTER xxx.
The Trail to Covineton.

iHC iisati ~ GONiii9tOtts
AS l gTlppeG the horses rein and
turned him slowly around | heard a
single shot fired in the gorge below.
the sound echoing among the rocks,
and a spark of fire cleaned through
the darkness. 1t was far enough away
to give me little concern, yet the re-
port must have been heard by the cav
airy squad now well out in the open,
for they wheeled their horses and rode
straight toward the ravine, Their
course would bring them higher up.
just to the rear of the church, yet,
with suspicious once aroused. twas
likely they would patrol the banks,
seeking for some passage below. Con
fident the distance between us was
sufficient tn hide my movements so
long as kept well back in the shadow
of the trees. ] led the horse forward.
advancing as rapidly as | dared to
travel, using one hand to steady Ray.
mond's body swaying across the sad
die. 1t must have been a quarter Of
mile, or more, to where the forest
tangle of trees, extending half across
the ridge, The winding of the ravine
took me out of sight of the body of
horsemen above, yet | knew they had
galloped to the edge of the gorge, and
were calling to whoever was below.
could hear the shouts, without catch
ing the words, and even imagined
distinguished faint cry in return. By
slipping the lieutenant's belt over the
saddle horn, thus preventing his limp
body from sliding off. l urged the ami
NAL TO a sharp trot
What was before us in those dark
woods was all conjecture-but | pos
sessed infinite confidence in Noreen.
The very silence, coupled with the fact
that no sign of the two fugitives had
been met with along the way, con
WINGED me that they had safely at
tanned the rendezvous. and were now
there, anxiously awaiting my arrival.
The time had not been. long, and the
girl would never consent to proceed
alone with Nichols. until she had lost
might not remain willingly m such
close proximity of danger, but I could
count on her to keep the fellow there
until the last possible moment We
went down into a shallow gully, and
then climbed the opposite bank, hav-
ing to force a passage through thick
scrub. | pressirg"the branches aside
to prevent their scratching Raymond's
face He gave utterance TO a groan.
and pfted lis head, supporting it On
my shoulder as We topped the rise.
The horse SHE'D, caught glimpse OF
a shadow fitting across an open space.
"Noreenl"
rs 1t really vol? could not tell
the horse; the something across the
saddle"
She came forward with a swift
spring. not satisfied until her hand
actually touched me.
"Oh, l am SO glad-you L. not even
hurt?"
Not seriously; battered up a bit
Nichols?"
Yes, he Is mere; there beside the
tree. Tell me what has happened
What have you here? Why it is a
man" she shrank back. "a dead
mani"
NO. not dead" [ fastened to ex-
plain, unbuckling the belt. and lover
ing the still limp body to the ground.
Here. parson, don't let the horse
stray. We cannot waste many min
utes here; there are cayairymen scout
ing the edge of the ravine yonder. and
they may come as Tar as this That
is why | brought the fellow along-to7
keep him from being tound Do you
recognize the face Noreen p
II vas dark and shsdoVy where We
were and she was compelled TO bend