The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-06-20
510QQ-Little Brown { Company

But disaster still logged her trail
Ray Brent had been too wary of at
tack, tonight, to sink easily into deep
slumber. He heard the soft move
ments and with a startled oath sprang
10 his feet.
Still trying to hold the kyack of
food that meant life TO Ben, she
turned and darted into the shadows
Like a wolf Ray speed after her.
The moonlight showing her fleeing
figure in the trees, and shouting aloud
he sprang through the coverts to in
tercept her flight Emburdened by
the heavy box she could not watch
her step. She was hurled with stun
ming force to the ground.
Desperate and intent. but IN reai-
cation Of impending triumph, Rays
strong arms went about her.
Nelson and Chan were on their feet
now. and they regarded her in the
utter silence Of amazement. Breathing
fast, Ray came behind her.
"Build~up the fire. Chan he said
in a strange. grim voice. I'VE want
to see what we've caught"
Obediently Chan kicked the Goals
Il
heap on broken pieces Of wood.
Slowly the fires glow crept out to
her, revealing her wide. frightened
eyes and the dark. speculative faces
Of the men. Then Ray spoke sharply;
well, why don't you question
her?" he demanded OF Nelson. Il
suppose you know what she was DO
ing. She was trying to steal food. 1t
looks to me like she's gone over 10 the
opposite camp
Her father sighed. rs that so,
daughter" he asked simply.
I was trying to take some Of your
food-to Ben" Beatrice replied softly.
Hes in need of it."
You see they're on intimate
terms Ray suggested vic.ously. Ben
was in need of food-so she came
here to steal it."
But Nelson acted as if he had not
heard. Why didn't you speak 10 US
| and tell US you were safe" he
I asked. We've come all the way here
to find you"
Perhaps you did. II YOU had been
here alone. 7 would have told you
+ But Ray and Chan came ~ the way
/ here TO find Ben. They intend to kila
him when they find him. II didn't
Nwant him killed"
Slowly her father shook his head
! "Rut can't save him now. He
brought this on himself"
Remember. he was in the right"
the girl pleaded brokenly You won't
you couldn't be a partner TO muir
der
/ Nelson Strengthened. his eyes steely
and bright under his grizzled brows
/ Only too we'll he knew that this was
| the test Affairs We're at their crisis
at last
eff one of you dares to lay a hand
on Beatrice. I'll kill him where he
stands"
Even as he spoke his thought went
/ to his rife. leaning against a dead
log ten feet away. The jealousy and
rivalry and hatred between himself
and Ray had reached the crisis. --
Ray leered, his muscles punching
And say to you, you're a dirty
traitor" he answered.
Nelson Ieaped forward with all his
power and if his blow had gone
home, Ray would have been shat
tered beneath it like a tree in the
lightning blast But Rays arms
were incredibly swift, and his rifle
leaped in his hands.
The barrel cleaned. The roar re
echoed in the silence. Nelson's
head bowed strangely; and for a mo-
| ment he stood swaying. then pitched
forward in the dew-wet grass.
Beatrice's last defense had fallen.
seriously wounded; and Rays arm
seized her as, screaming. she tried to
flee.
The shot that wounded Jefferv
Nelson carried far through the forest
aisles. It came clear as d voice to
the cavern where Ben lay.
/ The man started violently in his
cot His entire nervous system
seemed to react.
! The truth was that the sound acted
much as powerful stimulant to his
retarded nervous forces. His mind
gave a great leap and remembered
its familiar world
The only possible explanation for
| the shot was that a rifle had been
fred by some invader in their valley
in all probability Nelson or one of
his men,
! He looked out of the door of the
cavern, trying to get some idea of
the 1ateness of the hour The very
quality of the darkness indicated that
the night was far advanced.
Instantly his keen eyes saw the
far-off CLEAN of the camp fire on The
distant margin of the lake. His
straining ear caught the faintest. al.
most inperceptible vibration In the
air-but Ben recognized it in flash
In the sullen light of that distant
camp fire, Beatrice had screamed for
/ aid
Swiftly he started down the glade
/ toward her
| Yet in moment he knew that I'M
less he conserved his strength he
could not hope to make a fourth of
the distance. At the first steps he
swayed, half staggering.
Likely he would come too late to
change the girls fate. Yet even now
he knew he must not turn back. !
the penalty were death, there must b
no hesitancy in him; ne must not with
| hold one step