American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-04-15
PAGE THREE

He rode one OF Lennox's cattle
ponies, the only piece of horse-ieah
that Bin had not taken 10 the valleys
when he had driven down the live
stock. She was a pretty bay, a spir-
tied. high-bred mare that could whip
about on her hind legs Mt the touch of
the rein on her neck. She made good
tim along the trail, And an hour be-
fore sunset he passed the only human
hahitation between the marsh and
%I.ennox's house-the cabin that had
beer recently occupied by Landy Hill
dreth.
He glanced at the place as he
nassed and saw that II was deserted.
No smell Of wood smoke remained In
the mir. Evidently Landy had gone
down TO the settlements with his
precious testimony In regard TO the
arson ring. Yet II was curious that
no word had been heard of him. As
far as Dan knew. neither the courts
nor the forest service had taken ac
ton.
he hurried on, four miles farther.
The trail entered the heavy thickets,
and he had to ride slowly. II was as
Wild r section rs could be found on
the whole Divide. And just as he
came to n little cleared space. three
strange, dark birds flung up on wide
spreading wings.
He knew them at once. All noun
t~nineers CONF 10 know them before
their days are done. They were the
huzzards. the followers of the dead.
And what they were doing In the
thicket just beside the trail, Dan did
not dare to think,
or course they might be feeding on
the body OF a deer, mcrtally wouneed
by some hunter. He resolved to ride
by without investigating. He glanced
up. The buzzards were lowering In
the sky, evidently waiting for him to
pass. Then. mostly to relieve a curl
Gus sense OF discomfort In his own
mind. he stopped his horse and dis
mounted.
The twilight had started 10 fall, and
already its first grayness had begun
10 soften the harder lines OF forest
and hill. And after his first glance at
the curious white heap beside the
trail. no was extremely glad that IL
had. But there was no chance TO mis-
take the thing. The elements ana
much more terrible agents had each
wrought their change, yet there was
grisly evidence IN plenty to show what
had occurred. Dan didn't doubt for
an instant but that II was the skele-
ton Of Landy Hildreth.
lie forced himself to go nearer. the
huzznrds were almost done, n one
/ white bone from the shoulder gave nm
: ~mistakahle evidence OF the passage OF
n bullet. what had happened there
: after. he could only guess.
|" He got back quickly on his horse
. He understood, now, why nothing he'
:, been heard of the evidence that Landl
Hildreth was TO turn over to IN
y courts ms 10 the activities OF the arso'
= ring. Some one-probabiy Bert Crar
J, ston hlmself-had been waiting on IN
:. trnil, Others had come Thereafter
:. And his lips set In his resolve 10 le
: this murder measure in the debt h
a had 10 pay Cranston.
i, The Lennox house seemed very =
~ lent when. almost mn hour later. h
:, turned HIS horse into the corral. ii
- had rifher hoped that Snowbird woul
:, be nj the door to meet him. The darI
a ness had Just fallen. and all the inmT
were lighted. He strobe into the III
:. ing room. warming his hands nm II
- slant beside the fireplace. The III
y" needed fuel. II had evidently bee
10 neglected for nearly an hour.
al Then he chilled snowbird. His vote
% echoed in the silent room, unanswere
He called again, then went TO look Il
her. Al the door of the dining roo
20 ne found the note that she had lie
for him.
~ II told, very simply and plainly. TN
her father Jay injured In his bed, nj
he was TO remain and do what
ne could for him. She had gone for he
10 the ranger station.
a lie Ienped through the rooms TO lie
~ nox'a door. then went In on tipto
49, And the first thing he saw when
" opened IKE door was the grizzi'
- mans grny face on the pillow.
|Ih "You'ye home early. Dam" he sal
Viii "How many ala you getT'
VIII II wan entirely charncterist
lin Shaggy old Wool is too proud TO ho'
over the wounds hat lay him low. al
lRH this gray old hear on the bed had pf
lnH taken Of his spirit.
1IU Good Lord" Dan answered. "Ht
I badly are you hurtf"
HIM "Not 80 bad but that I'm sorry III
snowbird has gone drifting twel
miles over the hills for help.
dark ne pitch"
BI And n was. Dan could scarce
Xiii make out the outline Of the somt
II ridges against the sky.
They talked on, and their subj
N was whether Dan should remain
" take care Of Lennox. or whether
A should attempt 60 oyertake snowb
IL NTH fba haFga 0f r0urRa the d