Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-02
The night TO tell her falsehoods? She
WAS really awake?

was really awake?
A dry sob wrlns her and she stag
gered back into the room. putting
palms over her eyes 10 shut out those
quick flashes of binding light which
played all about her in the total
darkness of he room
"Oh, Ellis, Ellis. What have |
done 10 you?" she moaned, What
have | done, Al dawn at Crooked
Ford and father
crouched. staring into the blank about
her. striving 10 concentrate.
Some one must know, she whs-
pered hsrshl,. Some one knows
He always. Tells
Walter Kennedy must know
She commenced to cry softly and
dropped on her knees beside The he'd.
She prayed aloud, the great sobs
breaking The sentences into incoher-
ent phrases, prayed Tor she knew not
whal--for aid for an unnamed cause.
she remained kneeling Tor many min
utes, Il cold horror sitting her body
when il should have been conserving
HE fleelins moments.
Then she dressed ieyerishly, with
hands that lrembled franticallY thai
would scarcely make buttons secure in
their places, and with quick, sharp
eatchings of the breath she ran RON
the house toward the stable calling 10
the pinto as che hurried MIC tie
night
OF to the northward ran three
roads. spreading fanwise. The one
which stabbed the prairie and reached
out under the north star was that
which led to Crooked Ford. and some
where along II Bart Sears skulked and
waited. watching all that passed; TO
the. right went the path which crossed
Rock Creek six miles below Crooked
Ford. 10 the left went the branch that
would lead a traveller 10 Holly Ranch,
where Bob Mitchell pretended and
conniyed. waiting, dreadins.
Along the road which yeered to the
right went Little Foot, talking 10 the
! noble sorreI, low over the saddle,
-iding with all the inherited knowI-
edge, Of horsemanship that would help
the bic beast carry him well and
swiftly on that long, lone night ride
The horse intellect seemed to sense
the necessity of the occasion, for mis-
stride was longer. his breathing loud
| err than normal.
The lights of the Indian camp fell
away behind them, and the Indian let
| his big mount rush through the night
at terrific pace, willing that he should
slack his taut nerves by that first
burst of speed; five miles--sX miles
at the most--of that running and he
would pull him down to a sane speed
The speed which The blood and bone OF
breeding could hold for hours.
Head well up the sorrei RAM ears
stiffly forward, ficking back now and
( then to hear the mutternsS of the
rider: mil held ont from his body IN
floating plume. Playfulness, vani
~, were gone from him now. He was
all business, intent, alert, eager for The
task meted out TO him,
"Auh Streak. They will tain
al0at us. hey? Run, Streak hyah.
He swung his quirt until it sang I
shrill, goadins tune, and the beat o
the hools on the road became faster
firmer, the roar Of the great lungs
louder.
They rounded the shoulder OF The
HILL and the first mile Of the s1illin.
ride was down.
"Auh Streak. Hyah.' aloud, II
shrill cry of exultation. "Thcy vii
stop saying Fred Little Foot is ;
worthless drunkard' After tonieh
they will stop"
lie cried aloud again, joyful in hi
new-found freedom, his visioned want
age place in the eyes OF the com
munity. Aft ~
The second mile was half dow
aud the great sorrel: head farther on
now, pace still faster. blew the foap
from his lips with great force O
breath. .rg4 80 So. -