Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1921-06-04


nor the forest service had taken ac-
tioa.
He hurried on. four miles farther.
The tran entered the heavy thickets,
and he had to ride slowly. 1t was as
Wild a section as could be found on
the whole Divide. And just as he
came TO little cleared space, three
strange. dark birds flung up on wide
spreading wings.
He knew them at once All noun
taineers come TO know them before
their days are done. They were the
huzzards. the followers of the dead.
And what they were doing in the
thicker just beside the trail. Dan did
not dare to think
OF course they might he feeding on
the body Of a deer. MORALLY wounded
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 10 relieve curl
Gus sense Of discomfort in his own
mind, he stopped his horse and dis
mounted
The twilight had started to fall, and
already its first grayness had begun
10 soften the harder lines Of forest
and hill. And after his first glance at
he curious white heap beside the
trail. he was extremely glad that 1t
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 in plenty to show what
had occurred. Dan didn't doubt for
an instant hut that 1t was the skele-
ton Of Landy Hndreth.
He forced himself to 60 nearer. The
huZZardS were almost done. and one
white bone from the shoulder gave I'M
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 had
been heard of the evidence that Landy
Hildreth was TO turn over to the
courts as to the activities OF the arson
ring. Some one-probahly Bert Gran
ston himSplf-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 to pay Cranston.
The Lennox house seemed very 81
lent when. almost an hour later. he
turned his horse into the corral He
had rather hoped that Snowhird would
he at the door to meet him. The dark
ness had inst fallen, and all the lamps
were lighted. He strobe into the liv-
ing room, warming his hands an in
slant beside the fireplace. The fire
needed fuel. It had evidently been
neglected for nearly an hour
Then he called SnowbIrd. His voice
echoed in the silent room, unanswered.
He called again, then went to look for
her. Ar the door Of the dining room
he found the note that she had left
for him
It told very simply and plainly, that
her father lay injured in his bed, and
he was to remain and do what he
could for him. She had gone for help
to the ranger station.
lie leaped through the rooms to Len
nox's door. then went in on tlptoe.
And the first thing be saw when he
opened the door was the grlzzled
mans gray face on the pillow.
you're home early. Dan" he said.
GLOW many did Won Cetp"
It 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
taken Of his spirit.
Good Lord" Dan answered. How
badly are you hurt?"
Not so bad but that Tn sorry that
Snowbird has gone drifting twelve
miles over the hills for help. It's
dark as pitch"
And r WIS. Dan could scarcely
make out the outline Of the somber
ridges against the sky.
They talked on, and their subject
was whether Dan should remain TO
take care Of Lennox or whether he
should attempt to overtake Snowhird
with the horse. OF course the girl
had ordered him 10 stay. Lennox. on
the other hand said that Dan could
not help him in the least, and desired
him to follow the girl
I'm NOT often anxious about her"
he said slowly. Put It IS a long walk
through the widest part of the Di-
vide. Some way-T can't bar accidents
tonight. don't like TO think of her
on those mountains alone"
And remembering what had lain he-
side the trail. Dan felt the same. He
Ind heard long ago. that any animal
that once tasted human flesh loses IT'S
fear Of men aud is never TO be trusted
again Some wild animal that suu
hunted the ridges had In the last
month, done just that thing He left
the room and walked softly TO tho
door.
The night lay silent and mysterious
over the Divide He stood listening.
The girl had started only an hour be-
fore and II Was unlikely that eha