The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-02-19


wrapped in a blanket, merely lifted
his head. and stared moodily. Her
heart gave sharp bound, but she
refined up carelessly, as the Fellow
stepped into the trail. lie peereu
curiously into her face.
"H-t 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 holiness the best
card to play. my brother has been
shot"
"Sure. | heard that only they told
me he was dead; he amt hey? Had
rumpus with Injun Joe, didn't heE'
yes; | Just heard about ii. He
must have the doctor right away
"Where the HI yoa aim to hnd
one?"
lover 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 we're blindfold If he did"
~Just the same he'll come. II l md
heem." she said grimly, '"for I'll bring
heem, dead or alive. Who's out there
on the trailY
"'Red' Haines, an Stumpy, long
with a couple of Sioux. The boys are
bit jumpy just now with all them
sojers scoutin' the Bad Lands. Maybe
they'll try ter stop yer. but yer tell
'em said 1t was all right. Say. what
was goin' on last night-shOotin. ter
beat HI up the canyon, an there
was quite fire, too?"
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 reckOn?'
"Yes, he was in 1t; 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 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
4 under the ledge of an OutcrOpping
rock. Haines had been drinking and
was in a good humor, listening 10 her
story with broad grin. and dismiss
ing her willingly enough.
ITO HI, O. course yer kin go" he
snid thickly. "yer brother pulled me
out o. the Sowskin Onct. He's d-n
good scout of a Mex. Go to 1t, girl ;
you know the trail?"
"Yes, along the edge of the Bad
Lands
Sure better keep In the first gully,
er yer might run inter a sojer out
fit They're thicker than fieas out
there now, they tell me. So long
| sister"
1t had begun to snow, big, heavy
flakes. drifting with the wind, quickly
whitening the landscape. The slight
marks of the trail were almost instant.
4 ly obliterated, but the low range OF
] ~ 4,;n Io Il vi
and she forced her horse into swift
pace; riding with her head lowered
but with watchful eyes peerfne
I through the snow curtain.
She was alone now; free, with moth
ing intervening between her and Ger
lasche. Her heart bounded with the
elixir of success-she would bring
back the doctor TO Macklin. She fell
no doubt any more.
The direct trail circled just within
the outer range Of the sand hills
making II impossible for her to mis-
take the way even in that maze o.
snow. She rode more carelessly nov
. that she was safely out of sight. ant
free from any possibility of pursuit
, The horse. with lowered head, seemed
! to feel the urgency. and plunged for
ward eagerly. Suddenly as they swep
around a sharp corner, seeing ant
hearing nothing to warn of any othe
presence in that solitude, they cam
at full tilt against a halted column
of cavalry. Before Pancha cOul'
even jerk up her reins, a startle'
trooper had gri2ped the bit, and hell
{ her mount heiplessly paving the air
"weli, what's this?" he grOwled
Juggling at the frightened animal AM
} dragged half OF his feet In the ferc
. struggle. "A Mex! Say, fellows. thI
? looks like Arizona. Lay hold here
Z Mapesl Call the sergeant, somebody
II I've got this bird whoa therei nov
1 what's all this about. young ladyY
81 kWhat h Il summersT' The ser