The Lamar register. [volume] (Lamar, Colo.) 1889-1952, 1917-02-28

walk, and canter where she could no
more than trot. On such u trail he
was fully equal to travelling at these
PAGES for twelve hours at a stretch, all
the time in the lead of the mare. OF
this Hardy was as well aware as was
vandervyn.
Though he steadily lost ground, he
kept on in pursuit coolly studying the
landmarks ahead and lifting" his
mare along over the heartbreaking
trail. To have given way to the
impatlence that betrayed itself in his
flashing eyes would inevitably have
lost him the race by overstraining the
mare. He held himself grimly in hand,
and eased the going for his eager
mount with consummate horseman-
ship.
When they reached better ground.
Vandervyn was again far ahead. But
Hardy had his reward for his restraint
In the resilient stride of the mare as
she swung into a full gallop. Up and
down the long, easy slopes, around
curving mountainside, and along the
level bench of a stream bank, she held
to the cross-country racing pace that
rapidly rolled up mile after mile of
the trail.
In less than half an hour she
brought her rider around a sharp
bend only few hundred yards behind
the pinto. Vandervyn, over-confident,
was jogging along the level when the
sound of the approaching hoofbeats
threw him into half-panic. There
was still long stretch Of easy trail
ahead. He put his pony into a gallop.
The lOng-legged thoroughbred, still
running as smoothly as clockwork.
continued to gain. Vandervyn began
to swing his spurs.
The pinto started to pull ahead.
Hardy held the mare to the same
speed as before. 1t was a speed that
he knew she could maintain for miles.
He could see that the pinto was being
forced to killing pace-a pace that
must strain If not break him before
they came to the next rough ground.
On up the valley rushed the pursued,
now barely holding his own. The cruel
squirting and whip-slashing coulo not
sting the falling beast to greater ex-
ertiOns. He was blowing hard; his
rough coat was lathered with sweat.
He began to lose.
At last the trail made a sharp turn,
and started to zigzag up the mountain
side. The pinto was staggering when
he reached the foot of the ascent. The
quicker and longer stride of the mare
soon brought them up at Vandervyn's
heals h.. fssh Of q H..
too precipitous for Hardy TO risk
passing ON the lower side Of the mar
row trail with the mare, and Van
dervyn kept the pinto close to the
upper side.
You have no right TO block the
trail" said Hardy. ALLOW me to
pass"
Vandervyn looked over his shoulder
with an lnsolent sheer. go on and
pass, II you're in hurry. You've
got all outdoors to do 1t In. II there's
not room enough, shoot me In the back
and take the trail. I'll not get out
Of It for you"
Hardy did not reply nor did he at
tempt to force u passage. At last
Twelve miles from the goal of the
heartbreaking race, came the opportu
nifty for which he had been waiting
The trail smouthed out in another
easy stretch. For this he had beer
holding The mare In hand. He started
at II canter, and gradually let her
strike into her long, swift gallop. Van.
dervyn saw them coming, and at once
put spurs to his luckless pony. A.
before, Hardy held the mare down to
her best long-distance speed. The
mare came up alongside the pinto and
forged ahead
Hardy eyed Vandervyn with utmost
wariness. And, as before, at the head
Of the canyon of Sioux creek, Wander.
vyn turned in the saddle, and looked
full at him with a hateful, mockiEg
smile. He pulled in his staggering
pony to a walk the moment Hardy
swung into the trail ahead.
At once Hardy eased down the mare
to trot. Though he saw no third
pinto waiting in the thickets, his eyes
grew hard and cold with grim deter
mination. He was examining his rifle
when a turn of the trail suddenly gave
him his first view of the broken-topped
mountain and the ridge-side where
Redbear had made the second attempt
to assassinate him. As he looked at
the shattered summit, his hazel eyes