Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-02-24


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
MackIin'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. If
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 at all strange. Or
course, the Hole was filled 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
a 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 it. One of
them started up, at sound of the
horses hoofs and gripped rife. He
was white, 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.
Ill 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
I'm 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
with Injun Joe, didn't hep
Eyes; just heard about it. He
must have the doctor right away"
"Where the HI you aim to find
one"
cover at Gerlasche. There is an {
army surgeon there" I
"Sure, but I'm bettin' the cuss won't ,
come, less he brings the whole army /
long with him. He'd have ter mosey
n we're blindfold if he did" q
"Just the same he'll come, if l find S
leem," she said grimly, ''for I'll bring S
leem, dead or alive. Who's out there
m the trail? V
"'Red' Haines, an Stumpy, long
With a couple of Sioux. The boys are
bit jumpy just now with all them s.
oilers scoutin' the Bad Lands. Maybe n
heyll try ter stop yer but yer tell
I'm said it was all right. Say, what c,
yas goin' on last night-shoOtin, ter
eat HI up the canyon, an there 81
yas quite fire, too? tc
"Row over the girl Macklin brought
L." she explained calmly, "an' the
Id cabin got burned" d,
Some more o. Injun Joe's cussed-
ess, l reckon?" hi
Eyes, he was in it; well, Adios SAM" til
She rode forward, never even ven
ring to glance back. Thus far ev- tn
rything had gone easier than she tn
,uld have hoped. There were no or di
ers out against her, and these night or
lards were not even aware of what sit
i'd taken place. She guided her of
)rse under the veil Of falling water, II,
Id up the steep bank beyond, out as
to the valley of the Cottonwood.
here was little danger of meeting
lyone now, she needed to avoid, and CO.
zee beyond those watchers at the tn,
ad of the trail, the way would be oh
ZEN. She came upon these just be- sti
W the crest, grouped for shelter SET
der the ledge of an outcropping mu
elk. Haines had been drinking and
Is in a good humor, listening TO her lat
Dry with broad grin, and dismiss an
: her willingly enough. .
ITO HI, o. course yer kin CO." he ful
id thickly. "Yer brother pulled me dot
/ o. the Sowskin onct. He's a d-n len
cd scout of Mex. Go to 1t, girl; "
i know the trall?" Inc
Yes, along the edge of the Bad IS
nds." "
Sure; better keep in the first gully, "