Washington telegraph., 1921-03-18

discover that their victims had, IN
some way, escaped There would be
no charred bones, no siuged flesh, 10
tell of dead bodies consumed IN the
flames they would not even find
Muckins remains. And Laud was no
fool. The truth, in some form, would
come to him at once; he would know
they had got safely away; nor would
he ever stop until he again found
them. And he would suspect her;
perhaps had seen her face when she
fired that fatal shot. Her only chance
lay now, before this reyealment came.
She was cool, resourceful; had
shrewdly thought out every step. II
she was still unsuspected, no one
would stop her. She had always been
free to leave the valley. Often she
had taken early rides, and none of the
ordinary guards would consider her
going forth as at all strange. or
course, the Hole was filled now with
strange fugitives-Indans hiding from
the soldiers, suspicious of every white
face. These might cause trouble, but
she must take that chance. There was
but one way to save Macklin's life
the doctor at Gerlasche. Shelby had
told her so, and nothing else remained
fixed in her mind. Mother Of God, she
would save him
There were three horses In the little
stable shack back Of the cabin. She
crept cautiously up through the fog
unable to see in the gloom, but To-
eating the animals by touch. One
was still moist from riding, Lauds
pony, no doubt. The next was her
own, having scarcely stamina for such
trip, but the third was the bay
Juan had always been so proud of.
| She led the animal out saddled and
bridled him in the darkness and then,
mounting in the gray dawn, with
| PRAYER in her heart for help and
| guidance she rode slowly out into
| the trail. A fire burned in front of
| the little house beside the falls, a
mere flicker Of half-burned logs, with
two men lowering over 1t. One Of
them started up, at sound Of the
horses hoofs and gripped a rifle. He
was white, tapping hat brim shadow
ing his face; the other, an Indian.
wrapped in a blanket, merely lifted
his head, and stared moodily. Her
heart gave a sharp bound, but she
reined up carelessly as the fellow
stepped into the trail, He peered
| curlously into her face.
HI, young woman you're out ID
early, amt you? What's up"
There was nothing vicious in his
greeting, and her heart quit its pound
! ing.
"rm after a doctor, SAM" she said
swiftly. believing bOldness the best
card to play. my brother has been
shot"
"Sure, l heard that, only they told
me he was dead; he amt, hey? Had a
rumpus with Injun Joe, didn't he?"
yes; l just heard about It. He
must have the doctor right away"
"Where the HI you aim to find
one?"
"Over at Gerlasche. There is an
army surgeon there
"Sure, but I'm bettin' the Cuss won't
come. less he brings the whole army
long with him. He'd have ter mosey
in yere blindfold if he did"
"Just the same he'll come, If find
heem," she said grimly, for I'll bring
heem dead or alive Who's out there
on the trailT
RED Haines, an Stumpy, long
with couple of Sioux. The boys are
a bit jumpy just now with all them
soiers scoutln' the Bad Lands. Maybe
they'll try ter stop yer, but yer tell
em l said 1t was all right. Say, what
was goin' on last night-shootin, ter
>eat HI up the canyon, an there
was quite a fire, too?'
Row over the girl Macklin brought
| in" she explained calmly, "an' the
old cabin got burned"
"Some more o Injun Joe's cussed.
ness, l reckon?"
Yes, he was in it; well, Adios Sam
She rode forward, never even ven.
! turing TO glance back Thus far ev.
erything had gone easier than she
could have hoped There were no or.
ders out against her and these night
guards were not even aware of what
/ had taken place. She guided t'T
| horse under the veil of falling water
and up the steep bank beyond, out
into the valley of the Cottonwood
There was little danger of meeting
anyone now, she needed to avoid, and
once beyond those watchers at the
head of the trail, the way would be
| open. She came upon these just be.
low the crest, GROUPED for shelter
under the ledge of in outcroppng
rock. Haines had been drinking and
was in good humor. listening TO her
story with a broad grin, and dismiss.
ing her willingly enough.
ITO HI. O. course yer kin GO" he
said thickly. Yer brother pulled me
out O. the Sowskin onet. He's a d-n
good scout Of a Mex Go to It, girl
you know the trau?"
Yes, along the edge of the Bad
| Lands"
| "Surp better keen I'm the first gullv