The Dolores star., 1920-04-09

lOu mean ne HIS
"Yes, that he has forced the girl
to assent to some form of ceremony
probably legal in this country. l 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"
at has been hellish affair all the
way through, and the only way In
which can serve her. II 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, should say. You
can't be left here alone 10 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
told the whole story, what chance
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"
81 reckon thet's true; 1 wasn't
thinkin' bout it."
Then there is only the one road
to take, Tim," I insisted. "We've got
to strike the trail together"
|. "NharT
Il cannot answer that now; haven't
thought 1t out yet. We can talk that
matter over as we ride. l 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 thet Kirby an
Gaskins must'r tied 'em thar"
Good; then you will go you agree
with me?'
Thar amt nuthn' else fer me ter do
-hangin' amt never bin no hobby o
mine"
Then let's start" decisively. "Plck
up one of those horses down on the
bottom and turn the other one loose.
III 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"
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
ncxt 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 I spoke her name 1t
brought no response.
l started forward on foot, leading
my horse, the others trailing after
through the darkness. Knowing moth
Ing Of the way, l was thus better able
to pick the path, yet l found this not
difficult, as it was rather plainly out
Lined by the forest growth on either
side. The trail was clay with a 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 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 un-
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 we'll. 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 a word,
for, although had no Intention of pro-
ceeding far in this direction, I could
discover no opportunity for changing
our course so as to battle pursuit. That
Kirby and Rale would endeayor 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 loomed up Immediately In our
front, and the trail plunged sharply
downward into the depths Of rugged
ravlne. ] was obliged to dIsmount and
feel my way cautiously tO fhe hottor,