The state herald., 1921-01-18
BOOK TWo-THE DEBT.

CHAPTER L-Dan now thoroughly
proficient IN woods lore, learns from Len
nox that N organized band Of outlaws
sf which Cert Cranston is the leader. is
making trouble In the vicinity. Landry
Hildreth. a former member OF the gang.
has been Induced TO turn states evidence.
On his way TO the city Hildreth is way
laid by Cranston. shot. and left for dead.
Cranston. however, overlooked the fact
that Hlldreth might have documentary
evidence on lbs person, and is satisfied
that his enemy win never reach the city
to tell what he kn;ps Of the operations
OF the gang.
CHAPTER u.-A cougar. on a personal
hunting expedition. finds Hildreth In
thicket. where he had orawled after be-
ing shot by Cranston. The cougar TN
ishes Cranston's work. and In striking
down man becomes forest outlaw
Failing, on his way home from a visit
10 'Suowblrds'' lookout station. comes
upon Cranston In the act OF starting a
forest hre. The men quarrel and fisht
Failing is no match for the sturdy noun
taineer and is saved from death only by
the intervention OF "suowblrd." who
drives the outlaw from his victim by
threatening him with revolver.
CHAPTER III. -craas,on grossly insults
the rih Failing promises her he viii
punish him when he has fully recovered
his strength. nrd the Firl looks on the
promise HG q compact 4 few days later
silns Lennon. while ehoppinE wood in the
forest. Is pinned under a falling branch
and badly hurt "suowbird" hnds her
father and gets him safely to the house
ana 10 bed. .,..
CHAPTER GY.-rhe girl sets out across
the Divide, IN the darkness. TO bring
physieiHn Sine has "A sense that she Is
being stall,ed By soma animal. snd bo.
comes untnEy. Dan. who lad been shoot.
ing. nrriyth home and AndH Lrnn1N. Both
Lennon nnd Dan fear Tor "snowblrd's''
safety. ana Dan NJ once acts out 70 over.
take her Tho animal ltRliins The glri ~
the cougar which had finished Hudreth.
now become hunter of man. FAILING
arrives only just In time 10 save The girls
ilfe, and ln that manner pays part of thr
1pbt he owes hor Az evidence OF Dams
roturnius aircngih he stranEicH tho agI.
mai. which. though wounded by a revolver
shot from "fHowhrda" weapon, was a
most formidable enemy
He walked twelve feet, then turned
back. out OF the corner OF his eye II
seemed 10 him that he had caught o
fash Of white, near the end OF great.
dead log beside the path that the
wounded lildrelh had taken. For y
moment he searched In vain. Evident.
ly n yellow leaf Ind deceived him.
Once more he rctraceh his steps. try.
Ing 10 find the position from which his
eye had caught the glimpse of white
Then he dycd straight for the rotten
end OF the log
Into n little hollow IA the bark, on
the undorsidc Of the log. some hand
hnd thrust small roll OF papers
They were rnin.soaked now. md III,
ink Ind dimmcd and biottcd: hut Oar
realized their Significance. They wcr,
tho complete evidence that ilildrctl
had accumulated against the nrsor
ring--lettcrs that hnd passed back npt
forth between himself md Crnnston
n threat Of murder from the former Il
Uildreth turned stnte's evidence. nn'
n signed stntcmen, Of the nrsop nctlv
tiles OF the ring by Hlidreth himself
They were not only enough TO brcal
up the ring and send iis members Il
prison: with the Md OF tho empty shcl
nnd other circumstnntin, evidence
they could In nil probability convict
Bert CrnnsioD Of murder
For long time he stood with th'
shadows Of the pines lcngthenlnl
nbout him, his gray eyes In curiou
shndow. For the moment n glimpse
was given him Into the deep wells oI
thc human soul: md understandings
came to him. Was there no bnlnl f0l
hntrcd even In the moment OF death
-asl svs--r--~--