Mexico Missouri message., 1917-06-07

her back on one side as Bull Page
threw the saddle across her from the
other; hostlers caught at the cinches,
while others hurriedly rubbed the legs
Of the quivering mare. De Spain, his
hand on McAlpin's shoulder, was CIV
ing his parting injunctions, and the
barn boss, head cooked down, and eyes
cast furtively on the scattering snow
flakes outside, was listening with an at
tention that recorded indellbly every
uttered syllable.
Once only, he interrupted: "Henry,
you're ridin' out into this thing alone
don't do It."
II can't help it," snapped De Spain
impatiently.
"Its a man killer"
II can't help it."
"Bob Scott, if he WIS here, 'ud never
let you do it. I'll ride WI ye myself,
Henry. I worked for your father"
you're too old man, Jim"
"Henry-"
"Don't talk to me Do as 1 tell you'll"
thundered De Spain.
McAlpin bowed his head.
"Ready" yelled Page, buckling the
rifle holster in place. Still talking, and
with McAlpin glued to his elbow, De
Spain vaulted into the saddle, caught
the lines from Bulls hands, and
steadled the Lady as she sldestepped
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 q chorus Of cries
after the swift-moving horseman, and,
clustered in an excited group, watched
the LGdy with a dozen great strides
round the Calabasas trail and disap-
pear with her rider into the whirling
snow.
She fell at once into an easy reach
ing step, and De Spain, busy 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 impas-
sive more than a horseman of the
mountains, on a 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 it snow-laden
puffs that whirled and wrapped a cloud
of flakes about horse and rider in the
symbol of a shroud. De Spain gave
no heed to these skirmishing 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. -..l,
The even reach of the horse brought
him to the point where Nan haC
changed to the stage wagon. Without
n 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 lowel
and bent forward to follow the wagoI
along the sand. With the first of tn,
white fiurries passed, he found himsel
in a snowless pocket, as it were, of thu
: advancing storm. He hoped for moth
: ing from the prospect ahead; but ev
cry moment of respite from the blind
ing whirl was gain, and with his eye
close on the trail that had carried MAI
into danger, he urged the Lady on.
: When the snow again closed dow
about him he calculated from tn,
rOughness Of the country that h
should be within a mile of the roat
. that Nan was trying to reach, from tn
gap to Sleepy Cat. But the broker
ground straight ahead would preven
[ her from driving directly to it. H
knew she must hold to the right, an,
l her curving track, now becoming diff
cult to trail, confirmed his conclusion
l A fresh drive of the wind buffete
: him as he turned directly north. Onl
: at intervals could he see any trace o
r the wagon wheels. The driving snov
5 compelled him more than once to dis
mount and search for the trail. Fac
Q time he lost it the effort to regain
was more prolonged. At times he wa
: compelled to ride the desert in wild
= circles to find the tracks, and this cos
time when minutes might mean life
e But as long as he could he clung t
: the struggle to track her exactly. II
S saw almost where the storm had struc
the two wayfarers. Neither, he knew
was insensible to its dangers. Wha
y amazed him was that man like Duk
d Morgan should be out in 1t. He foun
9 spot where they had halted and, wit
s q start that checked the beating of hi
}. heart, his eyes fell on her footpriu
d not yet obliterated, beside the wago
track.
9 The sight Of 1t was an electric shocl
e Throwing himself from his horse,
knelt over 1t In the storm, oblivlous fo
e an instant Of everything but that thi
It tracery meant her presence, where b
now bent, hardly half an hour befor,
n He swung, after a moments keen scrl