The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-11-03
In Peril
By VICTOR REDcLIFFE
"a, 1920, Western Newspaper Union.

"a. 1920. Western Newspaper Union.)
It was a novel yet perilous position,
that in which Merrill Page found him
self ut Lone Prairie. The leading
lawyers Of a New Mexico border city
had sent him to the settlement: ,desig-
mated secretly, to visit certain Lem.
uel Ward whom he would find slowly
dying, take his statement under, oath
and quietly return with the evidence,
that would adjust disputed title to
ranch -
| Jem Dymond was the acknowledged
leader Of an unruly, desperate group
at Lone Prairie, and Page was eyed
with suspicion when he registered at
the one rough-and-ready tavern Of the
place. He located a little hut where
Le,nuel Ward was lying in bed from
which he was destined never to arise.
| Page made sure that he was not OBJ
served as he lodged In through the
| open doorway. % ~. -.t..
II am glad you have come" said
Ward, as soon as Page revealed his
| identity. ''At times the house has
| been under the surveillance Of Jem
| Dymond, and I have been practically
prisoner since threatened to get
to the city and see the lawyers"
'Ttam to take your deposition, as I
understand it." said Page.
Eyes, and a deed I've made out, and
all there Is to do is to; sign and have
you attach your notarial SEAL" and
the invalid drew some papers from
under his pillow. "You risk a good
deal coming here, and II Dymond sus-
pected 1t, you'd never get back to civil
lization. Should I die without send.
ing the lawyers those documents, the
land would go to him." ~
The papers were signed and Page
was ready to depart, when his host,
CHANGING to glance through the open
window, half rose up. go the rear
way, and qulckly," he uttered in con-
Germ. three men mounted-see
them? Dymond and two others. They
have followed you here. Don't go
back to the hotel. Get out of the dis
trict with those precious papers at
| once"
Page recognized his peril. He sped
through a rear doorway. There was
creek lined with willows short dis
lance away near railroad spur. The
line ran twenty miles to point to
! the north, used only to ship horses to
a waterway by which they were trans.
ported to sales markets.
Page made dash for the light
timber as shout told him that the
three men had espied him. There was
a call to halt followed by a shot, as
he reached some cars on a siding. He
planned to conceal himself among the
willows, but stumbled, his ankle turn.
! ed, he limped few steps and then,
unable to proceed further. pulled him
self up through the half-open door.
way Of the nearest car and lay inert
and helpless
He saw the three men rushing along,
scanning the willow space. Then there
was Jar, a locomotive had backed
and coupled on the cars. A woman's
form showed moving about within the
car. She was attired in frontier rid
ing habit, was exquisitely nodded as to
form, with a face fresh and beautiful
as befitted a girl Of the prairie and
forest.
"Who are your" she Intercepted.
curiosity rather than fear in tone and
manner, and by her confidence inspir-
ing glance influenced Page to reveal
his entire story.
"You did well to seek this refuge
from Jem Dymond," said Bertha Will
! ton. 1T is on his account that we
are leaving Lone Prairie. He robbed
my father, who is moving by wagon
to Wolverton. l nm going ahead in
the box car to deliver Wildfire to q
| circus buyer who is to pay us a large
price," and the speaker Indicated a
superb black steed ut the other end
Of the car. 1--WE make only one stop
between here and Wolverton. That Is
at Elkton. Keep out Of sight to the
terminus and you will get clear Of
Dymond's territory"
!. Page appreciated his environment
as the train proceeded slowly. There
was long stop at Elkton. Two rough
looking, sinister men came alon~ the