Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-06

''DoC'!''
~
~ HAROLD TITUS.
Author OF "ro the Victor"
Copyright
The Frank A. Munsey Company
The Frank A. Munsey Company

Hours before he had considered
Kennedy an integral factor in this
drama: now he overlooked him. TN
covered. the man had ceased Ia he or
potent danger. and bringing him to
answer was minor, inconseQuenual
mater to be put aside until the big
nffair of the night had been brought 10
n conclusion.
He rode at AN easy lope, for natural
caution told him 10 avoid an early al
rival at the ford. His seat was better
than ii had been ten weeks before. he
MAS. sure OF the country he travelled
We, he was only a nan from finer
civilization, going Gut 10 combat 4
cruder, more deadly brand OF human
and in the terms Of conflict that were
familiar to his foe.
And TO Ellis Hardys ears the rum
Bile OF his horses hOofs were AS knall.
He dared consider no future, for he
felt that nothing lay beyond but a
darkness which he did not understand
Il had cut him 10 the meat Of his
heart to believe OF Ruth Mitchell what
he had learned in the last dozen hours
for in those other weeks he had
come To sidealize her, 10 glory in her
changing moods. to think OF her a. n
being apart from the soitiid details OF
this commercialized world.
And nav she was entan2led in this
mesh OF circumstance that had for it's
foundation eOriid dollars.
Her part why. how = he did NOT con
slider. Thete had been no time. Nor
did he stop to think that his love for
her had not been killed. She m sht
have betrayed him, might have led
him into disgracs--yet the urge for
her was as pure and clean and as stal.
wart Ar it ever had bean.
And once. even ~ he rode this night
on the insane errand which her evident
treachery had made necessary. he
caught himself repeating her name to
the rhyme OF running hoofs.
On that other road went third
rider - on the Quick-stepping pony.
She rode furiously, sparins not one
breath for the tough little beast under
her At every leap her heels drummed
his ribs, and continuously the quirt
swished down over his flanl.s. The
ponys nose stuck far TO the front and
his ears were held fiat.
An evil ring of white showed about
his eyes as they rolled and threaten
ed but he kept on and on, eating the
distance with his short, rapid bites.
go, Spot, go." the girl sobbed
"It takes time--time --time."
A horror had filled her when, after
her encounter with Kennedy, she had
again been able to think clearly
What had become of Ellis Hardy!
lie had come for her father to so after
Bart Sears. Failing, had he gone him
self?
And with that repeated question
again and again the quirt fell.
''Oh, he doesn't understand -
d. doesn't understands; she moaned tc
the pinto. "He thinks tried II
cross him not TO help -- Oh, Ellis -
Ellis"
Once she rode mile. limp IN The
saddle. crying aloud. spasmodic sob'
catching her breath and making hel
needless of all else. Then she mas
teIcd the grief and drove the pint'
even faster. IL
One idea held her in its thrall--t'
set her father and send him TO Crook
ed Ford before dawn. She must DO II
she must! Ellis Hardy had told he
he would be OF The first TO help brn;
Sears TO Justice, and he was a man o
determination. She must have hell
there for him She must.
And the pinto shook his head In rag
but Quickened Ms lope'
Then the fourth man that the star
saw ride.
Not TO the nOrthward went this ont
straight south, riding iuriously, spul
ring, through dark across stretches @
prairie, through dark masses OF oaks
went. Walter Kennedy. turning agai1
and again to look with hyid lace o.
his back trail.
His was the thread that was viii
drawing from the tangle as those OIL
ers converged.
8 re had not stopped long--iust lon
enough TO take from his safe wha
4 yaluables he could carry. Then {
mount his horse and strike for the raj
road with curdling fear in his heart
Once he cursed Hardy aloud; once h
I spoke Ruth Mitchell's name; and b.
hind the evil sleAm in bis eye We
= =. t44 isHs.l-.