The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-08-04
UP THE CANYON
BY ISABEL FROST.

her leisurely, exasperating way. There
were four of them, all men from the
East, all preparing to outfit for a ten
days trip up through the canyon. Yet
they were not prospect0rs. She could |
tell that Neither were they tourists.
There was an air of businesSlike d.
rection and understanding among
them which piqued her curiosity.
Three of them went out to look at
some new pack saddles her father had |
just got from Denver. The fourth lit |
a cigarette and read some of the no.
tees posted on the side wall. Meg
knew those notices by heart. Some
were months old. The most recent !
was the description of Tad Logan and |
the reward offered by the state for the
taking of Tad, dead or alive.
"Going after itf" she asked lacon-
ically.
He did not appear startled, but
sauntered over toward her with q
CLEAN of humor in his hazel eyes.
"How long has that been up there?"
"About a week. Have you heard
HUOul II lIOul hHtIe Sou ttlilit loih.
"Just an item in the Denver papers"
he replied. "Just a kid, wasn't he?
Did you know him."
Meg eyed him warily, but her smile
was bland and pleasant.
"Well, not very WELL" She replaced
the cover on the box of dried apricots.
"Of course, he used TO come in here
for supplies. Everyone does who trav-
els north Of Pixies Peak. We don't
think he's round here now, though.
He'd make for the Park and get over
the line into Wyoming. There amt no
one around here but believes he hand
ed the Stolz boys all they were asking
| for"
Ten minutes later the four strangers
| rode away without guide. Meg
watched them from the doorway of
Dawley's General Emporium for Out
filters Supplies. And suddenly she felt
two arms reach from behind her about
her waist and she leaned her head
back on Tad's shoulder with a sigh of
relief.
"What do you suppose those fellows
wanted. Tad?" she asked anXiOusly.
81 bet they were looking for you"
Tad grinned. He was q medium
sized youngster with curly, sandy hair,
blue eyes and face that any motion
picture hero might have envied. He
had not hidden from local scrutiny
since the little trouble with the Stolz
boys Public opinion was entirely with
him, and Tad offered no explanations
one way or the other He was the last
person seen with the Stolz boys. They
had both disappeared, absolutely, from
mortal ken.
1t was six days later that one Of the
strangers came back to Dawley's on q
horse with sprung knees. AS he
swung out of the saddle, Meg saw that
he walked with a limp and one arm
hung loosely.
She listened while he told her ia.
Their how he and the fellow with the
cigarette had separated from their two
companions, each taking different
trail. They had prowled around
through the canyon and each had fin
Following them YEARLY, each had a
last arrived within aiming distance o.
man and had triumphantly pot
shotted his brother detective, thinking
he was Tad Logan.
i've left my pal with the other TIVE
men and come down here for help. It!
rotten hole up through there. land
ed my pony in badger holes twice, ant
l guess it's done for. Seen anything
of LOgan?"
And just at this crucial moment Tat
himself came sauntering over from
g the wagon shed, singing gayly.
I The stranger reached back for hi
holster but old Dawley's hand grippe,
! his wrist and Tad had him covered Il
an instant.
Meaning no harm to YOU" old MAJ
Dawley said. gently, "but we don't lie
strangers go pulling no guns aroun
! here without explanations. This boy
+ my future son-in-law. He's Tad LogaI
What's it to your
c The other man spoke steadily, firm
4 ly, his keen eyes fixed on Tad.
RI logan, / arrest you for the mul
II der of Hans and Gus Stolz, cattlemer
p and order you to surrender in tn
name of the law"
Tad grinned pleasantly.
That's all right, old man." he saiC
II don't blame you bit Do you war
Z, to see the bodes?" asked Tad wit
sudden solemnity, dropping his ton
II can take you to the direct spot"
Meg watched the three ride ava
n her father Tad and the strange
It Straight up the canyon Tad led tt
d way. Up and up until the trail BEGAN
lie twO-foot ledge clinging to the side I
the precipitous cliff. Finally, Tia
1 swung off his horse and lay fiat dow
y on the path. He rolled some ston'
- over the edge into the abyss below ar
" q call came back In a fasaway voic
! That's Gus" he said. "Hans is mo
likely asleep. That's all they do dow
st there-sleep and eat and wait for n
lie to lower down food to them. They G