The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1917-03-08
BY
Robert Ames Bennett

die. His n%neaslness did not lessen
when q few minutes later Vandervyn
halted, and scrambled down from the
trail to get n drink out Of the creek,
The crease In Hardy's forehead deep
ened.
Ahead, the walls Of the canyon were
sloping back into the widened valley
where had been the first Indian camp
Dogs, Indians and tepees, all were
gone. Only a brush-walled dance
lodge remained to mark the camp site,
AS the mare pounded past, she curved
her outstretched neck toward the
lodge and whinnled. Hardy heard no
answer to the call, but his frown sud
denly deepened.
He reached forward and strOked
the mares sleek neck. Hot as had
been the race from the agency, she
had not turned a hair. His frown re-
Taxed. Yet his tight lips showed that
he was still uneasy. He balanced him
self In his stirrups, and began to ride
rs lightly as possible.
Ascending the mountainslde, he was
compelled to content himself with the
mares nervous, long-strlded walk.
But whenever the trail was not 100
steep or rough, he put her into a trot,
and varied the pace with an occasional
short gallop.
An hour passed. He was already
well into the mountains. He came to
q succession Of steep climbs and de-
scents that held the mare down to a
walk. Presently he thought he heard
hOofbeats behind him. He listened.
He had not been mistaken. An un-
shod horse was coming up with him ut
a steady jog trot.
1t seemed impossible that Wander
,yn's pinto could have so recupcrated
from that whirlwind heading Of the
rush as to be able to take this steep
trail at a'trot. Hardy gazed back, ex-
pecting to see one of the cowboys. AS
he went down over a ridge crest, the
rider came up the ridge back across
the intervening gulch. The man
snatched of his broad-brimmed hat to
wave a salute. The sun glinted with a
golden sheen or the unmlstakable
blond head of Vnndervyn.
At the first small break In the de-
scent Hardy dlsmounted, unsaddled,
and sponged out the mares mouth and
nostrils with water from his canteen.
He then shook out and ref0lded his
Navajo saddle blanket, and started to
resaddle. But before he buckled the
cinch-strap he shifted the pistol from
his breast to a front pocket In his rid
ing breeches.
He was vigorously grooming the
mare when vandervyn zane jogging
down through the thickets of tall brush
that grew close on each side Of the
trail. He did not pause in his rub
bling until the nlmble-footed unshod
pony ambled into view, less than q
dozen yards up the trail. Then he
glanced about, Strengthened, and stood
staring. The pony was n pinto.
Vandervyn. smiling with insolent ex-
ultance, rode down to him, his right
hand jauntlly poised on his hip, over
the hllt of his revolver. His eyes
challenged his rival with an audaclous,
provoking stare. But Hardy looked
only at the pinto. There al no sign
of sweat lather on his rough coat, no
WEAKNESS In his gait. He was fresh
Lots Of comeback to n bronco,
captain" purred vandervyn. "Sorry
to see that you've stove up your mare.
She's too ~highbred for u rocky Dad
like this. But you might take Off her
shoes and travel light, the way I've
done"
The pony was now ambling down
the slope past the mare Hardy looked
at the unshod hoofs. They were COW
cred with u coating Of clay mlrc from
the bottom of the last gulch, and the
beasts shutting pace did not expose
the under surface Of the hoofs. Wheth.
er the pony had or had not been re-
Gently unshod could not be seen.
"Great horse, my little old pinto,
ehg" Knocked Vandervyn. "By-by! I'll
tell Marie you'll be along later"
Hardy perceived in n flash why he
had seer neither the girl o her fa.
Their ut the agency. Swiftly he wheeled
about to mount. Startled by the quick
action, Vandervyn spurred his pony,
and went down the steep descent at a
gait far from easy on even a noun
taln-bred horses knees. Hardy fol.
lowed at q walk. The opposite rise
was gradual. He let the mare take II
ut O slow trot. At the top was Il fair
ly level stretch of trail. V~andervyr
was far ahead. Hardy put the mare
into q fast gallop. A few minutes
brought her up so close behind the lop
ing pinto that vandervyn spurred his
beast to sprintlng speed. Hardy fol
lowed ut nm easier yet swift pace thai
again brought him near, as the pintC
slackened ia a lope.
A steep ridge made a break In thu
game. The pinto crossed 1t at a jos
| trot. The mare had to walk. Beyond
was q long stretch of broken country
that favored the pinto. He could jos
over ground that held the mare to {
walk, aud canter where she could n,
more than trot. On such a trail h,
was fully equal to travelling ut thes'
PAGES for twelve hours at a stretch, al
the time In the lead Of the mare. d
this Hardy was as well aware as wat
yandervyn.
Though he steadily lost ground, HI
kept on In pursuit, coolly studying thu
- - NnlEl--.n III