The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-20
CHAPTER XII (ContinIled)
 The Return.

@-~N uttered endurance. He finally clench- ed his fist and swung out to the horse Come on,'' he said, tIn find her this evening or sonething'n break" That quality of sympathy in nature we observe when hopes are high IS i not always observable when hopes are dashed. The radiant young morn ing smiled too gaily for Henderson He plunged ahead through black miles, nervous1y mindf of theheart- 1 lessness of natures R3adness- For fully an hour neither he nor 1 Da1rymple spoke. Then the English l man broke the silence by a question What became of the twin when he disappeared in that mysterious l fashion after the man on the bay horse?" he asked curiously. Don't know" Henderson replied l uncornrnunicativeiy. 1 "Queer tangle.' Queer enough" 1 'tWas 1t Calder on the horse?" l Don't know | Cant you make a guess?" 1 No"
 1 There's no use in trying to do a problem when half the equations are missing" Dalrymp1e concluded. But I will Say that we seem to be in for an interesting solution l Don't joke!" Henderson exclaimed savagely.
 'T won't Dalrymple said apo1oget- 1 fca1ly- There's @ bit of dust over | there to the east. What is it ?' 'Horsemen riding this way Hen derson replied, after a quick glance. 1 Now we may hear something." l He touched up his horse to quicken the time of meeting. 1 When the distance was partly cov- | cred he turned to Dalrymp1e. Its the men," he said.
 '"They're rounding up for fresh 1 start"
 They may have news" Da1rymple suggested hopefully But the Englishman's surmise p1 owed wrong. Lariat Jim and his men were returning from a fruftIess search. They had seen nothing of either the girl or Calder. E'Noos,'' Lariat Jim retorted as Henderson pulled up his sweating pony, and flung out the anxious query: There ain't none. He'll take tn whole business. We all hev ben scourin' tn brush on twenty mile circuit. What we seen? Nuthin'!"
 Henderson stared hard at the morn ing smiling over the plains. No trace whatever of-Miss Dar- row" he asked in an oddly constrain- ed voice.
 'tI tells y'r-nop'
 f"Then we'll have to keep on hunt ing" Henderson said.
 Dalrymple, who had been sitting looking off into space, gave a start of surprise and interrupted Hender- son as he started to give fresh direc- tions.
 You won't have to look far," he exclaimed. Who's thato"
 He pointed toward a hil1ock of orlfted sand which obscured the view to the north.
 Two horses with their riders stood s1lhouetted against the sky, still pale1y tlnted with the poetry of the dawn
 Henderson observed eagerly that one was a man, the other. woman. Calder! Cece1ial
 He gave his pony a sharp dig that made the animal rear on his haunches then plunge forward. DaIrymple. Lariat Jim, and his men swung after
 The two riders on the sand hill had suddenly drawn up their horses, and both the man and the girl were gag ing down intently at the approaching horsemen. Would they take refuge in flight? No. For a moment they sat mot1onless then the girl gave her pony a sharp cut with her uuirt and pony and rider came pIunging down the descent, Calder followed less pre- cipitously, but with a certain assur-
 
 further trouble to Hend derson's an- xious mind.
 tBilly!'' Cece1ia cried as her pony leaped to the level.
 There was a note in her voice that dug painfully into Henderson's heart.
 'fCecelia!" he exclaimed in response Leaning over in the saddle he looked closely into her face. Its expression bewildered him. Radiant color dyed cheeks vet ha1 and constrained. She was blooming with vitality, yet strangely inantmate
 NCecelia! Good God! Where have you been?''
 Cecelia's face stiffened with anger.
 Ask h1m!" she replied, a sweep or her hand toward Calder's rigid figure.
 Henderson stared fiercely at Calder and Calders tudied the girls naughty profi1e- He attempted no explana- ton.
 Cecelia's lips curIed. TT got 1ost~ she said. He found me-"
 She paused. Then she added in a tone of passionate protest: 'I can't tell about it. I can't''
 Anger was 1eapfng from Hender- sons eyes. He seemed ready to jump from the saddle and settle the mat ter with fists. But he choked down his fury and, turning to CeceHa, ask ed that pertinent question which had haunted him for day and a night.
 Where were you when I was in the Nexican's hut?''
 Cecelia's lips moved in resnonse but no sound came forth. The sun. rolling splendid1y beyond the panor- anna of plain and butte mesa. and io- definite distance, poured gold upon her dropping head Henderson's forehead was knottsd in painful deduction. T don't under stand this" he said in q strained voice.
 don't want you to understand" Cecelia retorted in an agonized voice T want you to take me away. Take me to Rodeo-to the station. I must get away from this place. must get away from hinI''
 Henderson gave Calder a murder ous Book. 'FY ou've got a good deal -E-s