The diamond drill., 1920-04-24
Crooked
Trails
and
Straight
WiIIi0m Macleod R0ine
cepynssI ~ o " Dimnshss oenpss,


times she staggered when the ground
was rough. Not once had the man Of
fered her the horse. He meant to be
fresh. ready for any emergency that
might come. Moreover, II pleased his
small soul to see the daughter OF Luck
~Cullison tagged and exhausted but still
answering the spur OF his urge.
The moon was up before they came
upon tent shining in the cold sIlvery
light. Beside II was sheetiron stove.
box. the ashes OF camp fire. and a
side Of bacon hanging from the limb
OF stunted pine. Cautiously they
stole forward.
The camp was for the time deserted.
mo doubt its owner. Mexican sheep
herder In the employ OF Fendrick and
Dominguez. was out somewhere with
his flock.
Kate cooked meal and the convict
ate The girl was too tired and anx-
ions 10 care for food. but she made
lherself take little. They packed the
saddlebags with bacon, beans, coffee
and -four. Blackwell frightened again
the cinches and once more the two
took the trail.
niaey made camp In pocket open
slng from a gulch far up In the hills.
With her own reata he fastened her
hands behind her and tied the girl Sc
curely 70 the twisted trunk Of Joshua
tree. To make sure OF her he lay on
the rope, both hands clinched 10 the
in II. 0wa t,ntnutac ba xayaa oclaap
but It was long before Kate could es-
cape from wakefulness. At last she
fell into troubled catnaps.
From one Of these she awoke TO see
that the morning light was sitting
through the darkness. She was shiver-
ing with the chill OF an Arizona noun
tain night. Turning her body, the girls
eyes fell upon her captor. He was
looking at her In the way that no de-
cent man looked at woman. Her I'M
pulse was TO scream, 10 struggle 70 her
feet and run. What did he mean?
What was he going to do7
But something warned her this
would precipitate the danger. She
called upon her courage and tried TO
still the fearful tumult in her heart.
Somehow she succeeded. A scornful.
confident pride flashed from her eyes
cfnto his. II told him that for his life
| ne dared not lay a finger upon her In
the way OF harm. And he knew II was
true. knew that n he gave way TO his
desire no hole under heaven would be
deep enough 60 hide him from the ven
geance OF her friends.
He got sullenly TO his feet. "Come.
Wen be going"
within the hour they saw some OF
his hunters. A wisp OF smoke rose
from the basin below. Grouped about
Il were three men eating breakfast.
"Don't make sound" warned
Blackwell.
His rifle covered her. With all her
soul she Ionge6 10 cry for help. But
she dared not take the risk. Even as
the two on the edge OF the bowl with
drew from sight one OF the campers
rose and sauntered to little grove
where the ponies were tethered The
distance was too far to make sure. but
something In the gait made the girl
sure that the man was Curly. Her
hands went out to him In piteous lit
tie gesture OF appeal.
She was right II was Curly. He
was thinking OF her at that moment
.despaIrIngly, but no bell OF warning
rang within TO tell him she was so near
and In such fearful need Of him.
Twice during the morning did the
refugee attempt TO slip down into the
parched desert that stretched toward
Sonora and safety. But the Gordon set
about him was drawn too close. Each
the saddle with n rife In his hands
tdrove them back. The second attempt
was almost disastrous. for the convict
was seen. The hum OF bullet whlstled
past his ears as he and his prisoner
drew back into the chaparral and from
thence won back TO cover.
Kate. dropping with fatigue. saw
that fear rode Blackwell heavily. He
was trapped and he knew that by the
Arizona code his life was forfeit and
would be exacted OF him should he be
taken. He had not the hardihood to
game II out In silence. but whined COM
plants. promises and threats. He tried
60 curry favor with her. TO work upon
her pity, even while his furtive glances
told her that he was wondering wheth-
er he would have a better chance II he
sacrificed her life.
From gulch 20 arroyo, from rock
cover to pIneciHd hillside he was
driven In HIS attempts 70 break the
narrowing circle Of grim hunters that
hemmed him. And with each failure.
with every passing hour. the terror In
him mounted. He would have well
coined life imprisonment. would have
sold the last vestige Of manhood TO
save the worthless life that would soon
be snuffed out unless he could evade