The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-01-22

to assent to some form of ceremony,
probably legal In this country. ! over
heard enough between him and Rale to
suspect it, at least, and she is even
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"
''It 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?"
considerable, I should say. You
can't be left here alone 10 face the re-
suit of this nights work. If Gasklns
is dead from the blow you struck him
these two fellows will swear your life
away just for revenge. Even If you
told the whole story, what chance
would you nave? That woZid 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"
81 reckon thet's true; wasn't
thinkin' bout it."
"Then there is only the one road
to take, Tim," l insisted. "We've got
to strike the trail together"
"Whar?"
II cannot answer that now; haven't
thought it out yet. We can talk that
matter over as we ride. 1 have a 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. IL you only had a horse"
"That's two critters down in the
crick bottom. I 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.
NINE"
"Then let's start" declsively. "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"
1 picked up the trailing rein Of my
horse and slipped my arm through it.
Tim faded away In the gloom like a
vanishing shadow. The young woman
next me, strapped securely to her sad
die, made no movement, exhibited no
sign of interest; her head and body
dropped, yet her hands grasped the
pommel as though she still retained
some dim conception of her situation.
The face under her hood was bent for
ward and shaded and her eyes, al
though they seemed open, gave no heed
to my presence. / touched her hands
thank God, they were moist and
warm, but when spoke her name it
brought no response.
1 started forward on foot, leading
my horse, the others trailing after
through the darkness. Knowing moth
| ing of the way, was thus better able
to pick the path, yet 1 found this not
difficult, as it was rather plainly out
lined by the forest growth on either
side. The trail was clay with n few
small stones embedded in it, and the
| horses made little noise in their de-
| scent, except once when Elsie's animal
| slipped and sent q loosened bit OF rock
rolling down to splash in some pool be-
| low. We came to the bank Of the creek
at last, a narrow stream, easily ford
able, but with rather steep shore line
beyond, and waited there moment I'M
| til Tim emerged from out the black
woods at our right and Joined us. He
was mounted, and, believing the time
had arrived for more rapid movement,
l also swung up into saddle and ranged
the girls horse beside mine.
They were not stock to be proud of,
yet they did fairly well, Tins mount
evidently the best of the four. The
going was decidedly better once we
had topped the bank. We may have
ridden for two miles without word,
for, although l had no intention of pro-
ceedlng far in this direction, 1 could
discover no opportunity for changing
our course so as to battle pursuit. That
Kirby and Rale would endeavor to
follow us at the earliest opportunity
was most probable. They were neither
of them the sort to accept defeat with
out struggle. and, after the treat
ment they had received, the desire for
revenge would be uppermost. Nor
thus far would there be any difficulty
in their picking up our trail, at least as
far as the creek crossing, and this
would assure them the direction we
had chosen.
Then suddenly, out Of the mysterious
darkness which closed us In, another
grove doomed up Immediately in our
front, and the trail plunged sharply
downward into the depths Of a rugged
rovino 4 uvoo ohIi0od tf dicp,ount ond