New Britain herald., 1921-09-08

band might be feeding. Not a hors | NaS in sight.
 | "Cleaned out!" This was all she said when Ga, olned her, no later than it had taken him to saddle and follow. Unable to offer comfort. at loss fo, | an excuse, the old ranger, caught nan. ping for the first time in his long and varied life, hung his head in shame After her mind had raced throueh the possibilities of averting the dis aster, she saw and pitied and turned | to him.
 Cheer up, T. Weed.' Gloriana forced a confident note into her voice that surprised even herself. Were not licked yet! A couple of hundred Srade-horses don't leave a pussy-foot trail. Brush the rest of that dope out of your eyes and take an earful Of instructions!"
 She would ride to Gilson's camp. get water and supplies, then take up the trail of the horses. Tumble Weed was to ride to an Indian camp not far off, gather band of young bucks. take the supplies in his hut and fol- low her trail-overtake her as soon as possible.
 At Gilson's camp she found only Alonzo Funk. She got her supplies and told her story.
 When MT. Gilson returns,' she said, tell him to go after the man who is behind the drive" and rode away.
 She believed Rudd was at the bot tom of it.
 It was o'clock by G1oriana's wrist watch when the first real discourage ment came. Con descended over an embankment into dry wash, crossed 1t and c1im bed a horizontal shelf to a low mesa, where all sign of the trail had begun following abruptly ceased leaving the sand as unmarked as a freshly polished floor.
 Five o'clock found the desert still tra1lless, the heart more stif1ing her own spirit wilted. Con, too, seemed to sense that they had lost their only clue, to be depressed by their situa- tion. For the first time he stopped of his own accord.
 Gloriana rose in the stirrups and peered around her, for a time finding nothing upon which to focus her gaze in the utter desolation. As she was about to settle back into the saddle for more of the well nigh hope less criss- crossing, an object growing straight up in the desert caught her eye.
 When she realized that she was rid ing down upon one of the Gilson- placed water sign-posts. she urged her mount forward that she might the sooner read it's message:
 FRESH WATER SPRING
 GRASS IN SEASON
 THREE MILES DUE WEST
 USE COMPASS
 U. S. GEOL. SURVEY
 Halfway there, her eyes opened to a sight that thrilled, then filled her with a thought so daring that she scarcely dared consider it. Conf1agra- tion, caressed by her spur, sprang ahead.
 Just within the shadow cast upon the desert fringe by the Cathedral range, for which the foothills looked to be architectural supports, ran the desert monarch, Streak at the head of a greater troop than ever she had seen him head before.
 The Streak's band appeared to be headed for the very barranca which Gloriana already had decided led into the promised land of water and grass to which the sign-post directed. And if they should enter first-if the park beyond should prove a cul-de-sac, as so many of them did
 And then, before her very eyes, the miracle happened. With head erect and tail flying, the outlaw king seemed to float into the barranca, the entire band trailing.
 Stopping just long enough to un- sling her rife, Gloriana again pur- sued, hoping against hope, although no longer chiding herself that she did hope.
 But the Streak had not thrown all caution to the wind. AS they neared the barranca, she and Con, he trotted out to sand upon rise of ground. There he stood with head high, nos trils sniffing, foretop f1aring, tail flow ing to his heels.
 Steady, Cont" cried Gloriana as her rife raised.
 Carefully the girl took aim. When the sights lined with his foretop, she fired.
 For a few strides, the king beast continued; but the strides were auto matic. Within a dozen yards he crashed to the ground.
 T just did it-just barely did it.'' she exclaimed.
 To her it would have been a crime to kill so splendid a creature, as like the Con she was caressing as parent may be like son. She had accom- plished what she intended-had brought him down without taking his