Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-04


said. He wouldn't lie to you'll
wouldn't" he whined
II was the truth, she knew. His
whining protest showed that he was
stripped bare of abilities to deceive or
eyade; she had driven him to fact.
If you are sending me wrong. Wal
ter Kennedy. you'll pay dearly" she
said slowly for emphasis. Bart Sears
is riding tonight-riding to meet Lon
Gilbright at Crooked Ford-and Lon
has the payment money. My father
must be there by dawn. II he is at
the Holly ranch can make it-with
luck. II you are lying
She left of with elevated infection
and again the implied threat was
awful.
Kennedy drew back into his Office
slowly, step by step.
"rm not lying. Ruth - not - ly
ing"
The pinto was galloping into the
night, and Kennedy, looking fearfuily
about. raised a shaking hand to his
lips.
He stood there alone, looking out
into the starlit triangle, heart flutter-
ing, knees weak. and in his suddenly
lurid Imagination paid the price for
bis duplicity.
Then he dove for his safe, spun the
combination lock with trembling fin
gers. and raked the contents of the
box onto the floor, whimpering, look
ing frightfully over his shoulder. fear
ful that doors might oren. that men
might run out and snatch at his
clothing and pull him back and make
him answer. The horrible fear of
settling blood accounts was on him.
So the all.seeing, impossible stars
looked down and watched Fate tug at
the strings which set four human pup
pets flying to draw closer the knot
made by this crossing and recrOssing
OF trails, and the stars were many; yet
aside from them. nothing could un.
derstand it all.
Carefully Fred Little Foot eased
the sorrel, humoriny every over
wrought nerve of the high.strung
beast, conserving energy as he alone
knew how.
A mile more and he had the animal
down to sane stride. talking to him.
laughing, singing, whlstling softly
now and then into the name which
brushed and flecked his face to
which the paint still stuck.
Then was time to think ahead -
and when he did think misgiying fill.
ed him.
1T is a long way, Streak" ne
crooned. I'VE can make time like
the biids-~but we can't 60 straight
hey. Streak"
Time had been lost with Kennedy:
many miles had been taken from the
sorrel by the recoil from that lash of
a whip--every length travelled was
precious ground gained
The big beast ran seriously now,
blowing loudly at times, one ear con-
tinually back, listening to his riders
voice. More than ever he seemed to
sense the import of the task before
tacT, and he strained at the bits con.
tinually in protest at this outstanding
Of abilities.
The road mounted sharply. and the
sorrel labored against the climb; on
top he shook his splendid head and
sent the foam flying from his lips as
he whisked along, winding among the
close oaks, mile after mile, the firm
hoofs ringing when he crossed rocks,
and in sand sending the particles fly.
ing far into the dry brush.
Then out on the open prairie, where
the drum of the spurning feet sounded
hollow, lifeless, he scudded along in
the murk, sure of himself, swinging
easily. nightly, bearing the weight
Of his rider without effort
And the Indian boy gloated. with
pulses high, over what the morrow
would bring.
They would be stroking the sleek
sides of his great horse and speaking
to Streak with affectionate profanity
Once more. Fred Little Foot would be
a leader, something TO emulate: but
this time his position would be more
worthy, more enviable.
The thua of the hoofs was music
to the theme Of his dream; the fluttei
OF wind in his ears was murmur oil
applause, and his spirits were as light
as buoyant as the eagle feather which
circled and danced from his hair.
He did not urge the sorrel; that
was unnecessary. Never before had
the horse been put to such test, but
Little Foot knew 1t was not too grea,
a thing to ask; after the first hour he
gave the animal his head, confident Of
a successful elimination of all thai
smooth Notwithstanding Of the glor,
that was to be his.
And along the road which shot due
north from Kiheka went another soil
tary horseman, Ellis Hardy. with .
revolver strapped to his waist and al
ache in his heart beneath the bollini
determination that sent him out intt
this night.
His solitude was more than that O
a man riding alone. He felt that h,
stood alone In the eyes Of the com