American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-04-08
BOOK TWo-THE DEBT.

CHAPTER I.-Dan, now thoroughly
proficient in woods lore, learns from Len
nox that an organized band of outlaws
of which Bert Cranston is the leader, Is
making trouble in the vicinity. Lanury
Hildreth, a former member of the gang
has been induced to turn states evidence.
On his way to the city Hildreth is way
laid by Cranston, shot, and left for dead.
Cranston, however, overlooked the ract
that Hildreth might have documentary
evidence on his person, and Is satsneu
that his enemy will never reach the city
to tell what he knows of the operations
of the gang.
CHAPTER ia cougar, on a personal
hunting expedition, finds Hildreth In q
thicket, where he had crawled after be-
ing shot by Cranston. h cougar nm
ishes Cranston's work, and In striking
down man becomes a forest outlaw
Failing. on his way home from a visit
10 'Snowbird's' lookout station, comes
upon Cranston in the act of starting a
forest fire. The men quarrel and nght'
Failing is no match for the STURDY noun
taineer and is saved from death only by
the Intervention of 'Snowbird," who
drives the outlaw from his victim by
threatening him with a revolver.
But the idea of backing out, unseen,
never even occurred to Dan. The fire
would have q tremendous Roadway be-
fore he could summon help. Although
II was near the lookout station, every
condition pointed to a disastrous fire.
The brush was dry as finder. not so
heavy as to choke the wind, but yet
tall enough to carry the flame into
fine tree tops. The stiff breeze up the
ridge would certainly carry the flame
for miles through the parched Divide
before help could come. In the mean
time stock and lives and homes would
be endangered, besides the %irreparable
loss of timber. There We're many
things hat Dan might do. but giving
up was not M of them.
After all. he did the wisest thing OF
all. He simply came out In plain sigh
and unconcernedly walked down thf
trail toward Cranston. At the SAM
instant, the latter struck his match.
AS Dan was 10 longer stalking
Cranston Immediately heard his step
He whirled, recognized Dan. and TO
one long instant in which the worlt
seemed to have time in plenty to maxi
a complete revolution, he stood per
fectly m~otionless. The match fiared II
his dark fingers, his eyes-full Of sin
gular conjecturing-rested on Dan
face. No instant of the latter's lif
had ever been fraught with create
peril. He understood perfectly wha
was going on In Cranston's mind. TIL
fre-iend was calmly deciding whethe
to shoot or whether to blum II GU
One required no more moral courag
than the other. 1t really didn't max
a great deal Of difference to CranstoI
But he decided that the killing wa
not worth the cartridge. The othe
course was too easy. He did not eve
dream that Dan had been shadowin
him and had seen his intention. Il
would have laughed at the idea that
"tenderfoot" could thus walk benin
him, unheard. Without concern, !
scattered with his foot the little hea
OF kindlIng, and slipping his pipe In
his mouth, he touched the harir
match to IL. II was a wholly ADM
able little piece of acting. and wou.
have deceived any n who had q
seen his previous preparations. The
he walked on down the trail towal
Dan.
Dan stopped and lighted his oV
pipe. II was a curious little true
And then he leaned back against Z
great zTay TRUNK OF q fallen tree.