The St. Johns herald., 1921-08-18

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 i; 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 unsuspected, 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. Of course, the Hole was filled now with strange fugitives 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 himl
 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. Lauds pony, no doubt. The next was her own, having scarcely stamina for such A-s- khA fRd hRV 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 a 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 a rifle. He was white. a Tapping hat brim shadow ing his face; the other, an Indian, wrapped in a blanket, merely lifted his head, and stared moodily. Her heart gave a sharp bound, but she refined up carelessly, as the fellow stepped into the trail. He peered curiously into her face.
 "H-l, young woman, you're out d-d early, ain't you? Whats upT"
 There was nothing vicious in his greeting, and her heart quit It's pound ing.
 "Tm after a doctor, Sam," she said swiftly, believing boldness the best card to play. My brother has been shot"
 "Sure, I heard that only they told me he was dead; he ain't, hey1 Had rumpus with Injun Joe, didn't he?"
 "Yes; I just heard about 1t. He must have the doctor right away"
 Where the h-l you aim to find oneT
 lover at Gerlasche. There is an army surgeon there"
 "Sure, but I'm bettin' the cuss won't come, Tess he brings the whole army Tong with him. He'd have ter mosey in yere blindfold if he did"
 "Just the same hee'll come, if find heem," she said grimly, flor I'll bring heem, dead or alive. Who's out there on the trailr
 Rcd Haines, an Stumpy, Tong with 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 lem I said 1t was all right. Say, what was goin' on last nlght-shOotin, ter beat h-l up the canyon, an there was quite a fire, tooT'
 "Row over the girl Macklin brought in," she explained calmly, "an' the old cabin got burned"
 "Some more O Injun Joe's cussed- ness, reckoR?"
 "Yes, he was in 1t; we'll. 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 under the ledge of an outcropping rock. Haines had been drinking and was in a good humOr, listening to her story with a broad grin, and dismiss ing her willingly enough.
 'HTo h-L O course yer kin go," he aGXa. i.-oAl...u ....lIo.a