The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-04-09

4
"Yes, that he has forced the cir
to assent to some form of ceremony
probably legal in this country. / over
heard enough between him and Rale tt
suspect it, at least, and she is ever
now under the influence of some drug
She hasn't spoken, nor does she seem
to know what is going on about her
They strapped her into the saddle"
"The h. they did,"
at has been a hellish affair all the
way through, and the only way in
which can serve her, if this is so, is
by getting her away-as far away as
possible, and where this devil can
never find her again. What bothers
me right now is your case"
Mine? Lord, what's the matter with
me?"
N considerable, should say. You
can't be left here alone TO face the re-
suit of this nights work. If Gaskins
is dead from the blow you struck him
these two fellows will swear your life
away just for revenge. Even if you
would you have? That would only ex-
pose us, and still fail to clear you. 1t
would merely be your word against
theirs-you would have no witnesses,
unless we were caught"
II reckon thets true; I wasn't
thinkin' bout it."
"Then there is only the one road
to take, Tim" insisted. We've got
to strike the trail together"
WHARF
81 cannot answer that now; haven't
thought it out yet. We can talk that
matter over as we ride. / have map
with me, which will help us decide the
best course to choose. The first thing
is to get out of this neighborhood be-
yond pursuit. If you only had horse"
"That's two critters down in the |
crick bottom. l reckon tibet Kirby an
Gaskins must'r tied 'em thar"
Good; then you will go; you agree
with me?"
"Thar amt nuthin' else fer me ter do
.hangin' amt never bin no hobby o.
mine"
"Then let's start" decisively. "Pick
up one of those horses down on the
bottom and turn the other one loose.
I'll lead on down the trail and you can
meet us at the fOrd-once across the
creek we can decide which way to
travel; there must be four hours of
darkness yet"
l picked up the trailing rein of my
horse and slipped my arm through it.
Tim faded away in the gloom like
shadow. The young woman
lext me, strapped securely to her sad
lie, made no movement, exhibited no
ign of interest; her head and body :
lrO0ped, yet her hands grasped the
,ommel as though she still retained
ONE dim conception of her situation.
The face under her hood was bent for
yard and shaded and her eyes, al
hough they seemed open, gave no heed
o my presence. touched her hands :
thank Cod they We're moist and
warm, but when l spoke her name it
rOught no response.
l started forward on foot, leading
~ horse, the others trailing after
through the darkness. Knowing moth !.
lg of the way, I was thus better able :
D pick the path, yet I found this not :
ifficult, as it was rather plainly out
ned by the forest growth on either =
idle. The trail was clay with a few :
mall stones embedded in it, and the
orses made little noise in their de- .
cent, except once when Elsies animal
tipped and sent loosened bit of rock .
bling down to splash in some pool be- =
w. We came TO the bank of the creek
last, a narrow stream, easily ford
Die, but with rather steep shore line ~
ayond, and waited there moment I'M
Tim emerged from out the black u
Gods at our right and joined us. He
as mounted, and, believing the time S;
I'd arrived for more rapid movement, IN
also swung up into saddle and ranged OF
e girls horse beside mine. Ell
They were not stock to be proud of, ID
It they did fairly well, Tins mount to
identity the best of the four. The IL
ing was decidedly better once we &c
id topped the bank. We may have ST
lden for two miles without a word sp
+, although had no intention of pro- gf
eding far in this direction, 1 could at
scover no opportunity for changing tn
r course so as to battle pursuit. That pc
rby and Rale would endeavor to WI
low us at the, earliest opportunity Isl
is most probable. They were neither pr
them the sort to accept defeat with de
t struggle, and after the treat
mt they had received, the desire for Sc
venge would be uppermost. Nor
Us far would there be any difficulty pc
their picking up our trail, at least as I'M
: as the creek crossing. and this liz
uld assure them the direction we pc
d chosen. ful
Then suddenly, out of the mysterious ms
rknesS which closed us in, another ste
we doomed up Immediately in our A
mt, and the trail plunged sharply thi