Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-10

And why this unexplained stop? Ok
q sudden the whole affair seemed mys
FERROUS TO him, The coming OF the
man. his refusal to wait in the office,
the sense OF a steahhy recognition be.
tween this fellow and the Indian, the
sense OF direction.
Now this muttered word and a stop.
Did you hear anything"
The question. gruff. tense, startled
Hardy; light banter was gone from
,he tone; caution alone was there
Nothing he answered quickly.
"Why?"
You wait here
And on the brief instruction the
rider melted into the night. The first
steps OF his horse were audible; then
nothing but the purr of rain and the
Tar sound OF wind In trees
Hardys animal stepped about and
moved off apace as though TO follow.
no, wen wait here" he muttered.
lie said TO, and il we move he may
. lose US when he comes back. don't
fancy the idea OF riding around on this
prairie in storm and waiting for day
light
What was it the man could have
heard? Where had he ridden in that
murk? For the life of him, now,
Hardy could not tell whether his com
panion had gone on their backtrail or
in some s;ija- direction
He y lied. pprehc nsion rising with
tho pa ing /. nules. lie IS MOI fear
full of his own safety or OF 4ny :, 'clfic
thing, but Well, imagine him, fresh
from life all well ordered, all min
utely planned. and in this circum
stance
Az suddenly as he had gone the man
was back. fairly oozng out OF the
backness before the waiting horse
man.
Whats up?" Hardy asked, uncon-
sciously lowering his voice almost to a
whisper.
"Nothin, guess, doc. ! thought
maybe heard somebody comm along
behind. What with outlaws and all
rampagin round this country il makes
fellow nervous
He laughed again shortly and once
more set the pace. riding swiftly into
The wind.
The route pitched downward ana
the horses feet scattered light stones,
which ratified sharply against ledge
of rock. Timber again, and once more
lIardy's guide rode before him.
As keen as though it were daylight
Hardy sensed the presence OF build
ings.
The certainty of il was uncanny.
He could scarcely see his horses ears.
and yet he knew that they approached
habtation. No light showed not so
much as pin.point ray--but he knew
that buildings were directly ahead.
A word out OF The darkness and the
horses stopped with a muttered an.
swer from the rider ahead
And then Il third voice. muifled. but
lifted high in hoarse rant, broke in
though the breath that expelled the
sylabes was procured at great labor.
Words could not he distinguished.
but in the sharply defined infections
seemed to be a quality hat told Of
suffering.
A movement In the brush. Hardy's
horse backed step, and hen 4 hand
was laid firmly on its bride.
For the first time in his life Ellis
Hardy felt the Qualm of yelled danger
descend upon him! He could not see
~ man who held his horis, nor did
the one who had made the long ride
with him utter word.
He wished vaguely for weapon of
some sort as he jerked sharply back
on the reins.
STEADY. doc" voice said. and the
horse yielded to OBTAINING hand
whats this mean? What's up?
Who are you?"
Hardy ripped out the questions,
leaning forward in his saddle in vain
efforts TO penetrate the darkness.
"All right. doc: it's nothing"
That was the voice Of the man who
had brought him into the night.
"lt's dark in here-so Sam II just
lead your horse"
Then they moved forward. but the
words had carried no assurance to
Hardy. Nothing seemed TO Justify his
further rcmonstrance or resistance on
an explanation-yet he felt decidedly
uneasy.
The men afoot stumbled on ahead
for what he JUDGED to be about twenty