The Lamar register., 1920-04-07
lie gesture OF appeal.
William Macleod R0ine

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
time loose-seated rider loungng In
the saddle with rife in his hands
drove them back. The second attempt
was almost disastrous, for the convict
was seen. The hum Of bullet whistled
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
to curry favor with her. to work upon
her pity, even while his furtive glances
told her that he was wondering wheth-
sacrificed her life.
From gulch to arroyo. from rock
cover to plneclad hillside he was
driven In his attempts to 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 vestiee Of manhood to
save the worthless life that would soon
be snuffed out unless he could evade
his hunters till night and in the dark
ness break through the line.
He know now that 1t had been a fatal
mistake to bring the girl with him. BE
might have evaded Bolts posses. but
now every man within fifty miles was
on the lookout for him. His rage
turned against Kate because Of IT. Yet
even in those black outbursts he felt
that he must cling to her as his only
hope OF saving himself. He had made
smother mistake In lighting a camp
nrs during the morning. Any fool
ought to have known tina: the smoke
would draw his hunters as the smell Of
ssrrion does a buzzard.
Now he made q third error. Dou-
bling back over an open stretch of HILL
side. he was seen again and forced into
the irst pocket that opened. 1t proved
to be a blind gulch, one offering no exit
at the upper end but = stif rock climb
TO blum above.
He whipped of his coat and gave 1t
to Kate.
"Put II on. Quicki"
Surprised. she slipped II on.
"Now ride back out and cut along
the edge of the hill. You've got time
TO make It all right before they close
in II you travel fast. Stop once-just
oncs-and I'll drop you in your tracks.
Now gitw
She saw his object In a dash. Wear
ing his gray felt hat and his coat, the
pursuers would mistake her for him.
They would follow her-perhaps shoot
her down. Anyhow. II would be a d.
version to draw them from him.
Meanwhile he would climb the cliff
and slip away unnoticed.
The danger of what she had to do
stood out quite clearly, but as q
chance to get away from him she wei
coined II gladly. From the lip of the
gulch she swung abruptly to the right
Her horse stumbled and went down
Just as a bullet flew over her head. Be.
fore she was free Of the stirrups strong
hands pinned her shoulders to the
ground She heard a glad. startled
cry. The rough hands became imme
diateiy gentle. Then things grew
black. The last she remembered was
that the mountains were dancing uI
and down in an odd fashion.
Her eyes opened TO see Curly. Sh,
was in his arms and his face wa,
broken with emotions Of love and ten
dsrness.
You're not hurtY" he implored.
"No."
He didn't-mistreat your Hi
voice was trembling us he whIspere,
II.
Mono"
And at that she broke down. A deel
sob shnok her hody-and another. Sh
buried her head ON his shoulder AM
wept.
without losing an instant the con
vIct set himself at the climb. HI
hnstr. the, swifi .lnnces shol hehin'
him. The appalling riId that mnde hi