Cheyenne Wells record., 1922-12-28
By
EDISON MARSHALL
Author Of
"The Voice Of the Pack"
Copyright by Little, Brown. and Co.

fathomable. Bruce found 1t increas-
ingly hard to believe that the horses
eyes could make out any kind Of dim
pathway in the pine needles. The feel
ing grew on him and on Linda as well,
that they were lost and aimlessly wan
dering In the storm.
OF all the sensations that the wilder.
ness can afford. there are few more
dreadful to the spirit than this. It Is
never pleasant to lose ones bearings
and In the night and the cold and
Is particularly hard to benr. Bruce
felt the age-0ld menace of the wilder
ness as never before. 1t always seemed
to be crouching, waiting to take
man at a disadvantage; and like the
gods that first make mad those whom
they would destroy. 1t doesn't quite
play fair. He understood now certain
wilderness tragedies Of which he had
heard; how tenderfeet-lost among
run that had ended nowhere except
in exhaustion and death.
Bruce himself felt wild desire 20
lash his horse into galiop. but he
forced 1t back with all his powers Of
will. His calmer. saner self explained
that folly with entire cleurness. 1t
would mean panic for the horse, and
then quick and certain death, either
ut the foot of precipice or from n
blow from low-hanging limb. The
horse seemed to be feeling Its way,
rather than seeing.
They were strange. lonely figures
IN the darkness; and for long time
they rode almost In sllence Then
Bruce felt the girls breath as she
whispered.
Bruce" she saia Lets he brave
and look this matter in the face. Do
you think wevr got chance?"
He rode long time before he an
swered. He groped desperately for
word that might bring her cheer, but
1t was hard to find. The cold seemed
to deepen about them. the remorseless
snow beat into his sace.
"LInda." he replied. ut Is one of
the mercies Of this world for men al
ways to think that they've got
chance. Maybe It's only cruelty In
our case"
~ think 1 ought to tell you some
thing else. I haven't the least way
Of knowing whether we are on the
right trail"
II knew that long ago. Whether
we are on any trail ut all."
ave just been thinking. don't
know how many forks 1t has. We
might have already got on a wrong
one. Perhaps the horse is turned
about and Is heading back hOme-to-
ward Simon's stables"
She spoke duly. and he thrust his
arm back to her. Linda, try to be
brave" he urged. 1--WE can only take
chance"
The horse plodded few more
steps. "Brave! To think that 1t Is
you that has to encourage me-in-
stead Of my trying to keep up your
spirits. 1 will try to be brave, Bruce.
And II we don't live through the
night, my last remembrance will be
Of your bruvery-how you. injured
and weak from loss Of blood, still re-
membered to give a CHEEKY word to
me-"
I'm not badly Injured" he told
her gently. "And there are certain
things that have come clear to me
lately. One of them Is that except
for you-throwing your own precious
body between-I wouldn't be here at
all."
The feeling that they had LOST the
trail grew upon them. Once they
halted to adjust the blankets on the
saddle, and they listened for any
sounds that might Indicate that Simon
was overtaking them. But all they
heard was the soft rustic Of the leaves
under the wind.blOwn snow.
Linda" he asked suddenly. "Does
1t seem to you to be awfully cold?"
She waited long time before she
spoke. This was not the hour to
make quick answers. On any decision
might rest their success or failure.
II believe can stand it--a while
longer" she answered at last.
"But l don't think we'd better try
to. It's getting cold. Every hour it's
colder. and seem to be getting weak
CT. II lSIl Teui NOunu, Llluu -uut
1t seems to have knocked some Of my
vitality out of me, and I'm dreadfully
In need of rest. think we'd better
try to make camp"
"And. go on by morning light7"
"Yes"
"But Simon might overtake us
then"
1--WE must stay out of sight of the
trail. But somehow cant help but
hope he won't try to follow US on
such a night as this"
He drew up the horse, and they sat
in the beat of the snow. Don't make
any mistake about that, Bruce" she
told him. "Remember, that unless he
overtakes US before we come into the
protection OF the courts, his whole
fight Is lost. 1t doesn't alone mean
loss of the estate-for which he would
risk his life just as he has dozen
times. 1t means defeat-a thing that