The Snowflake herald., 1922-12-15

ing to the SHADOW or the tlmDer Ut
first.
Simon walked almost parallel to the
dark fringe for nearly a mile; then
turned off into the titled lands. She
rode opposite him and reined In the
horse to- watch.
When the distance had almost OBJ
scured him. she saw him stop. He
waited long time, then turned back.
The moon went in and out of the
clouds Then. trusting to the distance
to conceal her, Linda rode slowly out
into the clearing.
Simon re-entered the timber, his in
spection seemingly done, and Linda
still rode In the general direction he
had gone. A curious sense Of i'm
pending events came over her as she
headed on toward the distant wall of
forest beyond.
Then. the clouds slowly dimming un-
der the moon. the light grew with al
most impercept.ble encroachments. AT
first it was only bright enough to
show her own dim shadow on the
grass. The utter gloom that was over
the fields lessened and drew away like
receding curtains: her vision reached
ever farther the shadows grew more
clearly outlined and distinct. Then
the moon rolled forth into wholly
open patch of sky-a white sphere
with a sprinkling of vivid stars around
it-and the silver radiance poured
down.
It was like the breaking of dawn
The fields stretched TO Incredible dis
tances about her. The forest beyond
emerged in distinct outline; she could
see every irregularity in the plain.
And i'm one instant's glance she knew
that she had found Bruce.
His situation went home to her in
,ne sweep of the eyes. Bruce was
not alone. Even now a great. tower
ing figure was creeping toward him
from the forest. Linda cried out,
and with the long strap OF her rein
Iashed her horse into the fastest pace
it knew.
Bruce did not hear her come He
lay In the soft grass. waiting for
death. A great calm had come upon
him; strange, quiet strength that the
pines themselves might have lent TO
him; and he made no cry. In this
dreadful last moment of despair the
worst Of his terror had gone and left
his thoughts singularly clear. And
but one desire was left to him: thar
tie Killer might he merciful and end
his existence with one blow
1t was not a great deal TO ask for;
but he knew perfectly that only by the
mercy of the forest gods could it come
to pass. They are usually not so kind
TO the dying; and it is not the wild
animal way to take pains to kill at
The first blow Yet his eyes held
straight. The Killer crept slowly
toward him; more and more of his
| vast body was revealed above the tall
heads of the grass. And now all that
Bruce knew was a great wonder-a
strange expectancy and awe of what
The opening gates of darkness would
reveal
The Killer moved with dreadful
,lOwness and deliberatiOn. He was no
longer afraid. 1t was just as it had
been befOre-a warm figure lying still
md helpless for his own terrible pleas
1re. A few more steps and he would
De near enough to see plainly; then
after the grizzly habit-to fling into
he charge. He paused his muscles
nd
denly rang with the undulations of
his Snarl.
| Almost unconscious. Bruce did not
understand what had caused his utter
ance. But strangely, the bear had lift
ed his head and was staring straight
heard the wild beat of hoofs on the
.urf behind him.
He didn't have time to turn and
.ook. There was DO opportunity even
for flood of renewed hope Events
followed upon one another with star
tling rapidity. The sharp, unmistak-
| able crack Of pistol leaped through
the dusk, and bullet sung over his
| body. And then a wild-riding figure
swept up to him.
1t was Linda, firing as she came
How she had been able to control her
| horse and ride him into that scene
| of peril no words may reveal Per
| haps, running wildly beneath the lash,
| his starting eyes did not discern or In
| terpret the gray figure scarcely score
| of yards distant from Bruce: and IT
Is true the grizzly's pungent smell
thing to terrify much more and to
be interpreted more clearly than any
kind of dim form in the moonlight
was blown In the opposite direction.
Perhaps the lashing strap recalled the
terrible punishment the horse had un-
dergOne earlier that evening at the
hands of Simon and no room was left
for any lesser terror. But most likely
Of all, just as In the case of brave
soldiers riding their horses into bat