Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-14
CHAPTER XT-Continued

And she knew with sudden leaping
OF her heart that lynching was very far
removed from the fate that she desired
for Smell. All through the night she
saw flashing pictured visions Of his crow
footed laughing eyes. and heard his ban
tering voice.
Daylight came at last and with It calm
and sunlight and desperate resolve in
Ethels heart. she would in turn search
for SMELL.
Her fear was that ne had met with an
accident Otherwise It seemed Incredible
that an experienced moutnaineer would
stay so long on a search without re
turning with hope to the starting place.
She made up a bundle of lunch and
added a bottle from the medicine box.
Then she started.
Ethers task. seemingly so hopeless
was not 50 hard as II appeared. II Smell
were searching for her be would search
IN the valley. And as an experienced
mountaineer, he naturally would attempt
TO follow her tracks IN the soft earth
SO she took the same route that she
had followed the day before Several
times she imagined that she saw the
imprint OF a boot beside the faint tracks
of her moccssins.
Suddenly she was conscious Of the
sting of wood smoke in the clear morn
ing air. She paused for q moment IN
frownlnR iudecision, then hurried on.
She knew she was quite near the little
ranch on the road. She Immediately con-
cluded that some one had returned to the
cottage.
Then she saw smoke before her ard
stopped again. The fire seemed to be In
an immense pile OF jumbled windfall
Cautiously she advanced down the open
side o. fallen tree She could see the
flames around the tree trunk, Then she
saw a igure-and a movement.
An at once there was a strange burn
ing in her throat. She wanted 10 scream,
but instead she clamped her teeth upon
her trembling lower lip and took another
step.
Then she saw, and her stiaed scream
became a tender plying cry. She ran
forward ard threw herself cpon the
ground beside the figure half buried I'm
der the trunk Of the fallen tree.
"Oh. She'll" she cried her hands pluck
ing az his frozen coat. "Oh-ohw
Hello" came family from under the
tree. "You seem to be just In time
I've started something here-that don't
seem able 10 finish"
You're co-ghtI Oh, what can / dor"
The first thing you better put out
that ire. l started it to burn the tree
ia two-and Ia just about decided that
Il was going TO cook me"
Then she saw that his left arm and
shoulder were held between a large limb
and the tree trunk, and that the sleeve
Of the imprisoned arm was smoking.
Franticauy Ethel threw mud and wet
leaves on the fire. Then she found a
pool and carried water in SHELLS hat.
That's fine" inurmured Smell weakly.
"Now let's see X you can get me loose.
See If you can find something for a
lever"
She found a six-inch sapling that had
been crushed down by the falling tree.
1t was more than she could lift, but
she dragged IT up beside Smell.
"See if there is a little space between
the two logs--so you can get a pry."
She found a crack just beside the blood
stained shoulder Biting fercely upon
her lip, Ethel lifted the big end Of the
lever and worked 1t into the crack.
"Now get your weight on the end Of
it," directed Smell. Maybe we can twist
this lower log out"
But there was no perceptible move
ment.
No" announced Smell at last. you
manage to lift the weight up, but not
enough for me to pun loose"
ooh, can't l do something7" moaned
Ethel.