The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-10-30

Had he fallen IN love with Thorne's
sweetheart? The idea came in Il flash.
Was he, all in an instant, and by one
Of those incomprehensible reversals OF
character, jealous Of his friend? Dick
was almost afraid to look up at Mer-
cedes. Still he forced himself to do
so, and as it CHANGED Mercedes was
looking down at him. With quick,
graceful impulsiveness she put her
hand upon his shoulder. Like her ap-
pearance, the action was new, strange.
striking to Gale; but it brought home
suddenly to him the nature Of graft
tude and affection in girl Of her
blood. It was sweet and sisterly. He
knew then that he had not fallen in
love with her. The feeling that was
akin to jealousy seemed to be Of the
beautiful something for which Mer-
cetles stood in Thorne's life. Gale
then grasped the bewildering posi-
bilities, the infinite wonder of what
q girl could mean to man.
The desert began to tighten. Gray
openings in the border of Shrubbv
srowtl,s changed to paler hue. In the
east q white glow grew brighter and
brighter. reaching up to line Of
cloud, defined sharply below by a
rugged notched range
'SenOr, / am cold" said Mercedes
Dick had been carrying his coat
upon his arm. He stopped the horse
and raised the coat up, and helped
Mercedes put it Oh.
~ should have thought of yOu." he
said. But | seemed to feel warm.
The coats a little large: we might
wrap it around you twice.
Mercedes smiled and lightly thanked
him in Spanish. He was about to start
when he observed that Ladd had halt
ed and was peerins ahead in evident
caution. Mercedes horse began 40
. stamp impatiently. raised his ears and
head. and acted rs if he was about to
+ neigh,
A warning "hist" from Ladd bade
Dick put a Quieting hand on the
horse. Lash came noiselessly forward
to join his companion, The two then
listened and watched.
Presently Lash went to the rear
and Ladd started ahead The prog
rtsS HOW. however, was considerably
slower, not owing to a bad road-for
that became better-but probably ow-
ing to caution exercised by the cow
hoy guide. At the end of Il half hour
this marked delberatiOn changed, and
the horses followed Ladd's at a gait
that put Gale to his best WALKING
PAGES.
His steps were halted by Ladd's ac-
tons. The cowboy refined in his horse.
listened moment, then swung down
out Of the saddle He raised eau
tiOning hand to the others. then
slipped into the gloom and disap-
peared. Gale marked that the halt
had been made in a ridged and c'lt-lp
pass between low mpSaS. TO the right,
up under the lodges some distance
away, stood two square black objects,
too uniform, he thought to be rocks.
While he WIS peering at them, uncer-
tain what ID think, the shrili whistle
Of g. horse peased out. to be followed
by the rattlfng of hOofs on hard stone.
Then II dog barked. At the same
moment that Ladd hurriedly up.
rcaretl in tho road !, light shonc out
and danced before one of the square
black objects.
'.keep close an don't make 10
noise he whispered. and led his
horse at right angles off the road.
Gale followed. leading Mercedes
horse. AS he turned he observed that
Lash also had dismOunted
To keep closely at Ladd's heels
without brushing the cactus or stun
bling over rocks and depreSSiOns WIS
Il task Gale found impossible It was
no easy matter TO lead Il spirited horse
through the dark. winding lanes wallet
by thorns. Dick saw, that the truva
was fast, but by no means noiselass
The pack animals ut times crashed anC
ripped through the narrow places. Il
seemed to Gale that anyone within