Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-05-04


every hope of my joining her. He
might not remain willingly In such
close proximity Of danger. but could
count on her to keep the fellow there
until the last possible moment. We
went down into q shallow gully, and
then climbed the opposite bank, hav-
ing to force a passage through thick
scrub. pressing the branches aside
to prevent their scratching Raymond's
face. He gave utterance to groan,
and lifted his head, supporting it on
my shoulder as we topped the rise.
The horse SHE'D, caught glimpse of
shadow fitting across an open space.
'Noreen!"
as it really you? could not tell
the horse: the something across the
saddle"
She came forward with swift
spring, not satisfied until her hand
actually touched me.
"Oh, am SO glad-you are not even
hurt?"
mot seriously: battered up bit
Ntchols?"
Eyes. he is here: there beside the
tree. Tell me what has happened!
What have you here? Why 1t is a
man." she shrank back. IA dead
mani"
mo, not dead" / fastened to eX.
plain. unbuckling the belt. and lower
ing the still limp body to the ground.
Lot
stray. We cannot waste many min
utes here; there are cavalrymen scout
ing the edge Of the ravine yonder. and
they may come as far as this. That
is why brought the fellow along-to
keep him from being found. Do you
recognize the face. Noreen?"
1t was dark and shadowy where we
were and she was compelled to bend
low to distinguish the features. Her
lips gave q startled. half-suppressed
cry:
why 1t is Lieutenant Raymond!
You-you fought together? How did
he come here?"
Il think he suspected we might
manage to escape from the church. He
was more anxious to capture me than
he was to fight evidently, for caught
no glimpse Of his face during the
melee. But he. and three troopers,
were hidden at the edge of the woods
watching where the trail comes up
from the ravine."
Eyes," breathlessly. I'VE saw them
come across, just after the torches be.
gan to fare up inside the church. Then
later another man rode along there"
THAT was Kelly; he brought word
that we had got away. was within
ten feet OF them when they met. The
lieutenant swore at the news, and sent
the four men down the trail to search
he offered one hundred dollars for
me, dead or alive"
She arose to her feet, but the dark.
ness prevented my seeing the expires.
sion on her face.
"He did! This MANI" she ex.
claimed, the horror Of the thought Wis.
ible in the tone. "Why. what is it to
him7 do not understand why he
should exhibit such bitterness-he was
determined to convict you from the
first. There was no feud between you
two, was there?"
"Only Ncreen Harwcod," answered,
speaking softly. Outlook! The cav
airy squad just 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 1t behind: a notch tighter You
know the trail?"
I've been over 1t enough" rather
sullenly. lis Anse Cowan dead?"
l Yes: but that doesn't affect you at
present. You are going to guide us to
Covington. Hold the horse. Now No
reen."
She gave me her hand, and helped
her into the saddle. A horse neighed
In the distance. but my fingers closed
on the nostrRs Of the animal beside
me in time to prevent response. Mich
OILS stood motionless. tall, shapeless
figure. gazing back over the tops Of
the bushes. l drew my revolver. and
touched him with it sharply on the
arm.
| Go on" l said quietly, yet with a
threat in my voice. Attempt to run.
or play any trick, and drop you in
your tracks"
He turned without q word, and ST.
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 beaten track. and began to
mount upward along rocky ridge,
where the moon gave me good view. 1t