The Lamar register., 1917-07-11


ing his parting lnjunctions, and the
barn boss, head cooked down. and eyes
cast furtlvely on the scattering snow
flakes outside, was listening with an at
tention that recorded indelibly every
uttered syllable.
Once only he interrupted: Henry,
you're ridln' out into this thing alone
don't do IT,"
81 can't help it," snapped De Spain
impatiently.
Its man killer"
81 can't help it."
"Bob Scott, If he w's here, 'ud never
let you do 1t. I'll ride wi We myself
Henry. worked for your father"
you're too old man, Jim"
Henry"
Don't talk to me Do as l tell you I"
thundered De Spain.
McAlpin bowed his head.
"Ready!" yelled Page, buckling the
rifle holster in place. Stlll talking, and
with McAlpln glued to his elbow, De
Spain vaulted into the saddle, caught
the lines from Bulls hands, and
steadled the Lady as she sidestepped
ervously-McAlpin following close
and lodging the dancing hoofs as he
looked earnestly up to catch the last
word. De Spain touched the horse with
the lines. She leaped through the door
way and he raised a backward hand
to those behind. Running outside the
door, they yelled IA chorus of cries
after the swift-movlng horseman, and.
In 4
the Lady with dozen great strides
round the Calabasas trail and disap-
pear with her rider into the whirllng
snow.
She fell at once into an easy reach
ing step, and De Spain. brsy with his
reflections hardly gave thought to
what she was doing, and little more to
what was going on about him.
No moving figure reflects the lmpas-
sive more than horseman of the
mountains, on u long ride. Though
never so swift-borne, the man, looking
neither to the right nor to the left.
moving evenly and statuelike against
the sky, part Of the wiry beast under
him, presents the very picture of in
difference to the world around him
The great, swift wind spreading over
the desert emptied on 1t snow-laden
puffs that whlrled and wrapped cloud
of flakes about horse and rider in the
symbol of shroud. De Spain gave
no heed to these skirmlshing eddies,
but he knew what was behind them,
and for the wind, he only wished II
might keep the snow In the air till he
caught sight of Nan.
The even reach of the horse brought
him to the point where Nan had
changed to the stage wagon. Without
a break in her long stride, Lady Jane
took the hint Of her swerving rider.
put her nose into the wind, and headed
north. De Spain. alive to the Difficult
ties of his venture. set his hat lower
and bent forward to follow the wagon
along the sand With the first of the
white flurries passed. he found himself
in a snowless pocket, as II We're, Of the
advancing storm. He hoped for moth
ing from the prospect ahead but ev-
cry moment of respite from the blind
ing whlrl was gain. and with his eyes
close on the trail that had carried Nan
into danger, he urged the Lady on.
When the snow again closed down
about him he calculated from the
roughness Of the country that he
should be within a mile of She rond
that Nan was trying TO reach. from the
gap to Sleepy Cat. But the broken
ground straight ahead would prevent
her from driving directly to 1t. He
knew she must hold to the right and
her curving track. now becoming diff
cult to trail confirmed his conclusion.
A fresh drive of the wind buffeted
him as he turned directly north. Only
at Intervals could he sec any trace of
the wagon wheels. The driving snow
compelled him more than once to dis
mount and search for the trail. Each
time he lost it the effort to regain II
was more prolonged. At times he was
compelled to ride the desert in wide
circles to find the tracks, and this cost
time when minutes might mean life.
But as long as he could he clung to
the struggle to track her exactly. He
saw almost where the storm had struck
the two wayfarers. Neither. he knew,
was lnsensible to its dangers. What
amazed him was that n man like Duke
Morgan should be out in ii. He found
1 spot where they had halted and, with
Il. -. Il