The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-07-28

not been searched over; II could not
have been, for the fire still smoldered,
but the moment the Indians were able
to overhaul the wreck they would
discover that their victims had, In
some way, escaped. There would be
no charred bones, no singed flesh, to
tell Of dead bodies consumed In the
flames; they would not even find
Macklin's 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 revealment came.
She was cool, resourceful; had
shrewdly thought out every step. III
she was still unsupported, 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 ut all strange. or
course, the Hole was filed now with
strange fugitives-Indians 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, Laud's
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 I'm 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,
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 rifle. He
was white, a tapping hat brim shadow
| ing his face; the other, an Indian,
wrapped In a blanket, merely lifted
his head, and stared modify. Her
heart gave a sharp bound, but she
refined up carelessly, as the fellow
stepped into the trail. He peered
curiously into her face.
HI. young woman, you're out ID
early, amt your What's up"
There was nothing vicious In his
greeting, and her heart quit Its pound
ing.
"pm after 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
rumpus with Injun Joe, didn't hef"
Eyes; l Just heard about 1t. He
must have the doctor right away"
"Where the HI you aim to find
oneT
"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 IL he did"
"Just the same he'll come. II I find
heem," she said grimly, "for I'll bring
heem. dead or alive. Who's out there
on the trallr
"Red' Haines. an Stumpy, long
with couple Of Sioux. The boys are
n bit jumpy just now with all them
sojers scoutin' the Bad Lands. Maybe
they'll try ter stop yer, but yer tell
'em 1 said II was all right. Say, what
was goin' on last night-shootin, ter
beat HI up the canyon, an there
was quite fire, toof
"Row over the girl Macklin brought
In" she explained calmly, IAN the
old cabin got burned"
"Some more O. Injun Joe's cussed-
ness, l reckonr
Eyes, he was in It we'll, Adios SAM"
Out IOuC hcNCi CNch
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 her
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 an outcropplng
rock. Haines had been drinking and
was In good humor, listening 10 her
story with broad grin, and dismiss
ing her willingly enough.
u ~ 1T ~ h.