Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-09


and the big beast kicked viciously.
They passed close to a bumped
teepee, struck close beside square
little house where some old Usage re.
sisted the march Of progress.
They sazed at the corner of a shack,
madea double turn. and followed
closely fenced thoroughfare through
the remainder Of the camp.
AT the edge of the clustered build.
ings stood one with an open door, and
as they rode near Hardy, ever on the
alert for the new. peered at man
standing in the yellow rectange of
light, his body in sharp silhouette.
The stiff-brimmed hat sat atop
head that was distinctly Indian--its
profile clear, with slAnting brow, aqui-
line nose and grim chin.
He could see the braids of hair hang.
ing down on the mans chest and the
rumple OF scarf knotted about his
neck. Straight and staSk the Indian
stood. arms folded.
Then the sound of their horses at.
tracted him and he stirred slightly,
turning his head TO see better, holding
the posture while they rode past.
Hardy's companion shifted in his
saddle trifle as he rode into the
glare Of light from the doorway and
looked toward the house and ducked
his head. as if to shake water from
his nat brim.
The Indian unfOlded his arms as
though vigil had ended, and stepped
into the house, closing the door be-
hind hiE..
Night seemed infinitely blacker as
Hardy turned questioning look on
his guide. He felt that recognition had
passed between the man in the house
and the one beside him, yet neither
had made such thing evident
So strong was the intuition that he
was prompted to ask; then remem.
bered tina. the other had not once
manifested desire to talk, and put
away the idea.
They crossed bridge and rode
under a gaunt, ghostly sycamore that
sighed dismally rs a gust of ran.laden
wind rushed through it's dropping
branches.
Then on and on, swiftly into the
night until, for all Hardy knew, they
might be the only human beings With
In miles, and his sense OF direction
YVES tttally entangled. At times he
thought he could make out hillsides
rising from the road, but he was ner.
er sure. and after while gave up try.
ing TO distinguish landmarks.
Twice he began casual conversation,
but each time it died quickly.
The men beside him seemed to be
OF sodden sort, absorbed with hA
own small affairs. disnterested in
things which happened about him.
Hardy senssd sharp irritation when,
on the second venture, the man met
his oyertures with a grunt of surly i'm
patience; then reflected that it was
The fellows injured wife they rode to
see, and that communicative mood
was scarcely to be expected.
1t was a surprise to him when the
other laughed aloud and said.
so they made clean getaway, did
hey?"
"1eS-s0 far as
How YOU can tell the road is more
han | can make out"--as the other
lorse crowded his into sharp turn,
Don't know where you're goin',
loc?'
The tone was rather bantering, and
Hardy was provoked again, for the
nan appeared to be laughing at his
lelplessness.
Haven't the slightest idea he re.
'lled. trying not to intimate com.
'laint, and at that the man laughed
lgan.
Then more wordless travel, mile
tier mile of it, Hardy wondered how
ar they had gone, but would ask no
more questions.
Part of the way was through a hol.
DIV thickly wooded, where Hardy rode
'ehind the other and leaned low to
eep the switching branches from cut.
ing his face, again he felt as though
hey were on high prairie. with moth.
ng but the wagon'track to follow.
AT no time had his companion fall.
cred or seemed TO be in doubt of the
'ay He followed it as though uncon.
ciously, as a matter OF course, and al.
rays he held the housekeeping animal
nder him at the swinging, distance.
evouring trot.
But suddenly be pulled up his horse
'ith a word OF warning. Hardy's
lount stopped of bis own accord, and
'r long interval they stood there.
From distance sounded the moan.
lg OF wind in trees. but near them the
ight slipped by unhampered, and the
lin purred monotonously on soft
round The only other sounds ema.
ated from the horses--a soft breath.
lie creak of leather
This convinced Hardy that they I
ere out in the open.
n1EeANA sgOl oesMeee9ySQS1uun.n
GRO BE CONTlNuED)