The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1916-01-06
CHAPTER xvi-cessisvsa.

He was pointing again. but In very
0iRerent direction nov. A hsr AK
|ous eye sought the place hs Indicated.
her face flushed crimsoa vtth evenes-
cent JOY. Just vhero the opeo groeAS
Of the gully melted aGaia into the See.
sst. the figure Of . maa could - sess
very quickly. In another ms
nsnt 1t had disappsars4 amid hs
foliage.
Straight for the station" o.
nounced Ar. Sloan: aad. taking ees
his watch. added quickly: "ths traiA
10 not due for Is Dinutea Hsn eatea
u"
The train southf-
"Yes. and the train north. Thsy
pass here"
Mr.. Black turned . startled eye
upon the guide. But ReutAeTs facs
was still alight She felt very happy.
Their Journey had Hot been for
nausht He would have six hours
start Of his pursuers; he would b that
much sooner In Shelby: he would hear
the accusation against him and fsfuts
II before she saw him again.
But Mr.. Blacks thoughts were less
pleasing than hers- He had never had
more than . passing hope Of divers
innocence. and now he had mono at
ak The young man had fed. not In
response to his fathers telegram. but
under the impulse Of his own fears.
They would not find him in Shelby
when they returned. They might never
And him anywhere again. A pretty
story to carry back to the Judge.
As he dwelt upon this thought his
reflections grew more and more
gloomy. and he had little to say till
he reached tho turn where the two
men still awaited them.
In the encounter which followed no
attempt was made by either party to
disguise the nature of the business
which thus had brought them to-
gether. The man whom Mr.. Black
took to be Shelby detective nodded
as they met and remarked. with 4
quick glance at Reuther:
so you've come without him! I'm
sorry for that. l was in hopes that
might be spared the long ride up the
mountain"
MI. Black limited his answer to one
Of his sour smiles.
Whose horse is this?" came in per
emp:ory demand from the other man.
with a nod toward the animal which
could now be seen idly grazing by the
wayside. And how came 1t on the
road alone"
We can only give You these facts" :"
rejoined the lawyer. 1T came from
TEMPEST lodge 1t started out ahead
Of us with the gentleman we had gone
TO visit on its back. We did not pass
the gentleman on the road, and II he
has not passed you he must have left
the road somewhere on foot He did
not 60 back to the lodge"
Mr.. Black"
II am telling you the absolute truth.
Make what you will Of It, His father
desires him home. and sent q mes
sage. This message this young lady
undertook to deliver, and she did de-
liver 1t. with the consequences | have
mentioned II you doubt me take
your ride. 1t Is not an easy one, and
the only man remaining at tho lodge
ts deaf as post"
"Mr. Black has told the whole
story" averred the guide.
They looked at Reuther.
Il have nothing to add" said she.
81 have been terrified lest the gentle
man YOU wish to see was thrown from
the horses back over the precipice,
But perhaps he found some way of
getting down on foot. He IL . very
strong and daring man"
THE tree!" calculated the detec-
ives companion. He was from a
neighbosins locality and remembered
this one natural ladder up the side of
the gully.
"Yes. the tree" Acknowledged Mr.
sloan. THAT. or . fall. Let US hon.
4 was not a fall"
As he ceased long screech from an
approaching locomotive woke up the
schoes OF the forest. II was answered
By another from the opposite direction.
Both trains were ON time. The relief
felt by Rcuther could not be con.
&ealed. Tie detective noticed 1t.
I'm wasting time hero. said he.
Excuse me. Mr. Black, II l push on
ahead Of you. II we don't meet at
the station. we shall meet in Shelby"
Mr. Blacks mouth twisted grimly.
He had no doubt Of the latter fact
Next minute they we're all canterins
Ia the one direction. the detective very
much in the advance.
LET me 90 with You to the station"
entreated Reuther. as Mr.. Black held
up his arms 10 lift her from her horse
At the door Of the hotcI.
Bat his refusal was peremptt,ry.
TIL be back in Just five minutes" said
De. And without waiting for second
plea ding look. he lifted her gently OF
and carried her in
When he returned. as he lid In the
time sneCified ho had hut OnA word