The Winslow mail., 1923-10-19

ger? What would his presence there
imply? The ranch was on no COM
monty used trail visitors never came
without a purpose. To reach there
at all required miles of desert travel,
with no little hardship. There must
always be an object in such a journey.
What could it be in this case? Was
the fellow a mere drifter seeking a
job? A fugitive from justice, hiding
from the law? or actually in Mea-
gers service? Surely he must be one
OF the three; nothing else would ac-
count for his presence under such cir
| cumStanceS.
| Yet she liked, and trusted him; felt
no fear of the man. SO far as his re-
/ lations with her were concerned not
a doubt of his absolute squareness as
sailed her. She believed his promise.
Outlaw, fugitive, border desperate, he
had won her faith already. The reac-
t1on she experienced from being help
IesSly alone caused her now to rest
all hope on this stranger who had so
mysteriously come to her rescue; she
cared not who he might be, or from
whence he came. Enough that he was
there, strong capable, fearless,
willing to befriend her, to guide her
safely. 1t was in this spirit of almost
blind confidence that the girl well
coined his return when he finally
emerged from out the black shadows,
leading two horses trailing quietly be-
| fhrnnph q
He saddled and bridled the two rap
idly, evidently accustomed to working
in the dark.
"Are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Put your foot in my hand This Is
my horse; he'll carry you fine. Now,
up you go. This your water bottle?
I'll strap it to the pommel where it
will be handy"
He swung into the saddle himself,
restraining the half-broken animal
with an iron hand.
"You know the way down the
mesa?" he asked, "the Nogales trail?"
"Of course"
"Then ride ahead, and I'll follow.
|
before he learns who is master. Just
go straight on out into the desert. I'll
not be far away"
She rode forward, never questioning
his right to command. The horse un-
der her moved steadily at a swift
walk, alert but well trained, obedient
to the slightest pressure Of her fingers
on the rein. Her courage was high;
she was no longer alone; the dread
of the desert had left her.
Deborah found passage down the
steep hillside and had advanced some
distance across the level, before Kel-
leen Joined her. No words were ex-
changed between them as he reined
his horse beside her own. Evidently
the man was satisfied with her knowl-
edge of the trail as well as the prog
ress made. He turned in the saddle,
gazing searchlngly back at the dim
outline Of the mesa, now barely visible
through the gloom.
There Is something wrong?" she
asked, troubled by his silence.
mo, nothing stirring 1 circled the
bunkhouse before leaving; the whole
outfit is still asleep. l was just get
ting directions fixed in my mind. We
are going route 1 haven't travelled
lately"
But the Nogales trail is not difficult
to follow
"That is exactly what is wrong with
it" he explained, his face now turned
forward. "It is so easily followed we
could never get far enough ahead of
pursuit to be safe. They will jump to
the conclusion that you have gone this
way, of course. I am hoping they will
believe you have gone alone"
do they know you were at the
ranch?"
Eyes, unfortunately but my disap.
pearance during the night will not
necessarily make them conclude we
have disappeared together He
laughed. II haven't reputation for
remaining very long in any one place.
so my going will create no particular
suspicion. Then I've covered things
the best I could. They'll be sure
you've gone this Way-because it's the
only trail you knew anything about
but they won't have the ghost of an
idea what has become of me. That Is
exactly what I'm aiming to do-get
the bunch riding this trail, thinking
you're going it blind, and that all
they've got to do In order to catch you
is to ride hard enough. Then they
won't stop to read 'Sign'-see?"
"But-but I do not" she ventured
doubtfully. ut seems to me we are
doing exactly what they expect US to
do"
"Sure; I'm counting on two hours
and half, or maybe three hours of
darkness yet. An hour will bring us
to Silver springs. Silver springs is
where we take a side trip, the sort
not many know about Two hours
ride from there the whole United