The state herald., 1921-01-11

We're cougar. he wasn't acting true
to form. He was altogether too bold.
The animal on the trail behind her
was taking no care at all to go silent
ly. He was simply plt-pattlng along.
/ wholly at his ease. He acted as If the
fear that men have lnstIlled In his
breed was somehow missing. And
That Is why she instinctively tried to
hurry on the trail.
The step kept pace. For long
mile, up n barren ridge, she heard
every step 1t made. Then. rs the
brush closed deeper around her. she
couldn't hear II at all.
She hurried on, straining to the
silence. No. the sound was stopped.
Could 1t be that the animal, fearful ut
last, had turned from her trail? And
then for the first time a gasp that
was not greatly different from de-
spairlng sob ciiught at her throat. She
heard the steps again, and they were
In the thickets just beside her.
Two hours before Snowbird had left
the house, on her long tramp to the
ranger station. Dan had started home.
He hadn't shot until sunset, as he had
planned.
He rode one OF Lemons cattle
ponies, the only piece Of horse flesh
that Bill had not taken to the valleys
when he had driven down the live
stock. She was pretty bay, spir.
tied. high-bred mare that could whip
about on her hind legs nt the touch Of
the rein on her neck. She made good
time along the trail. And an hour be
fore sunset he passed the only human
habltation between the marsh and
Lennox's house-the cabin that had
been recently occupied by Landy Hill
dreth.
He glanced at the place as he
passed and saw that II was deserted
No smell of wood smoke remained In
the air. Evidently Landy had gone
down to the settlements with his
precious testimony In regard to the
arson ring. Yet II was curious that
no word had been heard Of him. AS
far as Dan knew. neither the courts
nor the forest service had taken ac
ton.
He hurried on, four miles farther.
The trail entered the heavy thickets.
md he had to ride slowly. II was as
wild n section as could be found on
the whole Divide. And Just as he
came TO little cleared space. three
strange. dark birds flung mp on wide
spreading wings.
He knew them nt once. All noun.
tnineers come 10 know them before
their days are done. They We're the
buzsarf-. The folilUers OF ihe dend.
And whai they were dolrg In The
thicket just beside the ufuil. Dan did
not dare TO tliInk.
OF course they might be feeding on
i'e body of deer, mortnly wounded
by some hunter. lie resolved 10 ride
by Wit put investigating. lie glanced
up. The buzZards were lowering IN
the sky. evidently waiting for him to
pass. Then. mostly to relieve n cur
Gus sense of discomfort In his own
mind. he stopped his horse and dis
mounted.
The twilight had started 10 fail. and
already It's first grnyness had betrr
10 soften the harder llres ~ fnrest
and hill. And after his n:-i :ancc Mt
'he curious white heal beside the
trail. he was extremely glad that II
had. But there was no chance 10 mis-
take the sthlng. The elements and
much more terrible agents had eacl
wrought their change, yet there WAS
grlsly evidence IN plenty TO show what
had occurred. Dan didn't douh, for
an Insian, but that II was the skele-
ton Of inndy Hlldrclh.
He forced himself 10 60 nearer. The
huzznrds were almost done. and one
white bone from the shoulder gave mn.
mlstnkable evidence Of the passage Of
n bullet. What had happened there
after. he could only guess.
lie got bnck quickly on his horse
lie understood now why nothing had
been heard OF the evidence that Lnnds
Hlldrcth was 10 turn over TO tic
courts ms to tho activities Of the arson
ring. Some one--prohably Bert Crnn
ston hlmself-hnd heen waiting on the
trnll. Others Ind come thereafter
And his lips set In his resolve TO let
this murder monsnre In the debt he
had 10 pas Crnnslon.
The ionnox house seemed very 81
lent wien. almost m hour inter. he
turned his horse into the corral. iic
Ind rlrhcr hoped thQt Suowhlrd would
he nj Tho door 10 meet him. The dark
asss Ind lust fnllcn. and all The lamps
we're lighted. lie strobe into the llv'
Ing room warming hls hands nm In
slant beside the fireplace. The nre
needed fuel. I, Ind evidently beer
neglected for nearly mn hour.
Then he called snowblrd. His voice