The Glenwood post. (Glenwood Springs, Colo.) 1897-current, 1921-01-15


Only one clump Of thicket sheltered
him. But because Dan had learned
the lesson of standing still, because
his olive-drab sporting clothes blended
softly with Tie cl.-.ed leaves, Grams
ton did not detect him. lie turned
and strobe on 'cs3Yn the trail.
He didn't mOte quite like a man
with innocent PURPOSES. There was
something stCutny, something sinister
in his stride, and The way he kept
such a sharp ioo.sout in all directions.
Yet he never ;s,aucId to lie trail for
deer tracks. H. lie would have done
had he bean limiting. Without even
waiting to su,.liate on the matter,
Dan started to shadow him.
Before one hundred yards had been
traversed, he could better understand
the Joy the cougar takes in his hunt
ing. 1t was the SAINT process-a eau
tious. silent advance in the trail of
prey. He had TO walk with the same
caution. he had to take advantage OF
the thlckets. lie began to feel a curl
Gus excitement.
Cranston seemed to be moving more
carefully now, examining the brush
along the train. Now and then he
glanced up at the tree tops. And all
at once he stopped and knelt in the
dry Shrubbery.
AT first all that Dan could see was
the glitter of a knife blade. Grams
ton seemed to be whiting piece OF
irt T,nn ,hn
he was gathering pine needles and
small twigs. making little pile of
them. And then, just as Cranston
drew his match. Dan saw his purpose.
Cranston was at his old trade-set-
ting forest fire.
For two very good reasons, Dan
didn't call to him at once. The two
reasons were that Cranston had rifle
and that Dan was unarmed. 1t might
be extremely likely that Cranston
would choose the most plausible and
effective means of preventing an inter-
ruptiOn of his crime. and by the same
token prevent word of the crime ever
reaching the authorities. The rifle
contained five cartridges, and only one
was needed.
But the idea of backing out, unseen.
never even occurred to Dan. The tire
would have a tremendous Roadway be
fore he could summon help. Although
it was near the lookout station. every
condition pointed to disastrous fire
The brush was dry as finder. not so
heavy as to choke the wind. but vel
S1n 10. a., ..
the tree tops. Tie stiff breeze up The
ridge would certainly carry the flame
for miles through the parched Divide
before help could come. In the mean
time stock and lives and homes would
be endangered, besides the irreparable
loss of timber. There We're many
things that Dan might do, but giving
up was not one of them.
After all. he did the wisest thing Of
all. He simply came out in plain sight
and unconcernedly walked down the
trail toward CranstOn. AT the same
instant, the latter struck his match.
AS Dan was no longer stalking,
Cranston immediately heard his step.
He whired, recognized Dan, and for
one long instant in which the world
seemed TO have time in plenty to make
a complete revolution, he stood per-
fectly motionless. The match f1ared in
his dark fingers, his eyes-full of sin
gular onjecturing-rested on Dams
face. No instant of the latter's life
had ever been fraught with greater
peril. He understood perfectly what
was going on In Crnnston's mind. The
fire-fend was calmly deciding whether
to shoot or whether to bluff II out
One required no more moral .coura ge
than the other. 1t really didn't make
n great deal Of difference to Cranston.
But he decided that the killing was
not worth the cartridge. The other
course was too easy. He did not even
dream that Dan had been shadowing
him and had seen his intention. He
would have laughed at the idea that a
"tenderfoot" could thus walk behind
him, unheard. Without concern. he
scattered with his foot the little heap
of kindling, and slipping his pipe into
his mouth. he touched the faring
match to it. It was wholly admir-
able little piece of acting. and would
have deceived any one who had not
seen his previous preparations. Then
he walked on down the trail toward
Dan.
Dan stopped and lighted his own
pipe. II was curious little truce.
And then he leaned back against the
great gray trunk of "A fallen tree.