New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-03-04

already its first grayness had beg IN
Ia soften the harder lines of forest
and hill. And after his first glance nj
he curious white heap beside the
trail, he was extremely glad that II
had, But there was no chance to mis-
take the thing. The elements and
much more terrible agents had each
wrought their change, yet there was
grisly evidence m plenty to show what
had occurred. Dan didn't doubt for
an Instant but that it was the skeie-
ton of I.andy Hildreth.
He forced himself to go nearer. The
buzzardS We're almost done, and one
white bone from the shoulder gave un-
mistakahle evidence of the passage of
a bullet. What had happened there
after, he could only guess.
He got back quickly on his horse.
He understood, now, why nothing had
been heard of the evidence that Landy
liildrcth was To turn over TO the
courts as to the activities Of the arson
ring. Some one-prohably Bert cram
ston himSelf-had been waiting on the
trail. Others had come thereafter.
And his lips set in his resolve to let
this murder measure in the debt he
had 10 pay CranstOn.
The LennOX house seemed very ST.
lent when, almost an hour later, he
tttrn,I hi. IDrca Int, tIn corral He
had rather hoped that Snowhird would
be ut the door to meet him. The dark
ness had just fallen, and all the lamps
were lighted. He STROBE into he liv
Ing room. warming his hands an in
slant beside the fireplace. The fire
needed fuel. 1t had evidently been
neglected for nearly an hour,
Then he called S%nowblrd. His voice
echoed in the silent room, unanswered.
He called again, then went to look FOR
her. Al the door of the dining room
he found the note that she had left
for him.
1t told. very simply and plainly, that
her father lay injured In his bed, n
he was to remain and do what he
could for him. She had gone for help
to the ranger station.
He leaped through the rooms to Len
noX's door, then went In on tlptoe,
And the first thing he saw when he
opened the door was the grizzled
mans gray face on the pillow.
you're home early, Dan" he said.
GLOW many did you getT'
1t was entirely Characteristic.
Shaggy old Wool Is too proud to howl
over the wounds that lay him low, and
this gray old bear on the bed had par
of his spirit.
Good Lord" Dan answered. GLOW
badly are You hurt?"
"Not 50 bad but that I'm sorry that
Snowbird has gone drifting twelve
over the hills for help. It's
lark ms pitch"
And II was. Dan could scarcely
make out the outline of the somber
ridges against the sky.
They talked on, ana their subject
VAS whether Dan should remain 10
AXE care Of Lennon. or whether he
attempt To Overtake Snowbird
With the horse. OF course the girl
rad ordered him to stay. Lennoy, on
he Other hand. said that Dan could
not help him In the least, and desired
lin to follow the girl.
I'm not often anxious about her"
lc said slowly. "Eut II Is n long walk
hrouLh the Widest part of the hi.
.ide. Some way-I can't bar accidents
| don't like TO think of her
n those mountains alone"
And remembering what had lain he.
ide the trail. Dan felt the same. He
al heard. long ago, that any animal
hat once tasted human flesh loses lis
of men and is neve TO be trusted
gain. Some wild animal that still
united the ridges had, In the last
lonth, done Just that thing. lie left
he room and walked softly to the
DOR.
The night lay silent and mysterious
yer the Divide. He stood listening.
he girl had started only an hour be-
ore. and it was unlikely that she
nuld have travcrsed more than two
lilies of the steep trail In that time.
Though the horse ordinarily did not
limb n hill more swiftly than a hui
ian being, he didn't doubt hut that
p could overtake her before she
emf three miles farther. But where
his duty-with the Injured a
, the house or with the daughter on
or errand of mercy II the darkness?
Then the matter was decided for
i'm. SO faint that II only whispered
the dim, outer frontiers of hearing.
sound came prlcking through the
lrkness. Only his months of listen
TO the faint sounds Of the forest,
ID the incredible silence of the night
,abled him TO hear IT at all. But he
new what IT was, the report of a
stol. Snowbird had me an enemy
the darkness.
CTO BE CONTINUED)