The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-02-15

still on the trail. But the horse k'l'ed.
flight would be impossible. and what
would transpire thereafter she did not
dare to think. She had not forgotten
Simon's threat in regard to any attempt
to go down into the settlements. She
knew that 1t still held good.
OF course, IL Bruce made the excur-
sion, the sentry's target would he
somewhat different. He would shoot
him down as remorselessly as he would
shatter a lynx from n tree top.
The truth was that Linda had
guessed just right. It's the easiesr
way" Simon had said. They'll ne
trying to get out in a very few days.
Ii the ~man-shoot straight and TO xiii
II Linda. plug the horse and bring her
here behind the saddle"
Linda turned softly, then started
backs She did not even give u sec
ond's thought to the folly OF trying to
break through. She watched the SEN
tinel over her shoulder and saw him
turn about. Far distant though he
was, she could tell by the movement
he made that he had ~disco-crea her.
she was almost -four hundred yards
away by then. and she dashed her
horse into IA gallop. The man cried
to her to halt, a sound that came dim
and TRANCE through the burn, and
then a bullet sent up n cloud of ashes
a few feet TO one SIDE. But the range
was too far even for the Turner's, and
she only urged her horse TO a faster
pace.
She flew down the narrow trail,
turned into the main trail, and gall
loped wildly toward homo. But the
sentry did not follow her. He valued
his precious life too much for that.
He,had no intention Of offering him.
self as a target to Bruce's rifle as he
neared the house. He headed back to
report to Simon.
Young Bill-for such had been the
identity Of the sentry-found his chief
in the large field not far distant from
where Bruce had been confined. The
man was supervising the harvest OF the
fall growth of alfalfa. The two men
walked slowly away from the workers,
toward the fringe of woods.
ut looks as IL wen have to adopt
rough measures. after ALL" Young Bill
began.
Simon turned with flushing face.
"Do you mean you let him get past
you--and missed him? Young Bill, II
you've done that"
Won't you walt till I've told you
hAxt 10 bannapnI q +. IL xxtaGpst Vlt.xraa. IN
was Linda. For some reason | can't
dope out, she went up In the big burn
back of me and saw me-when ] was
too far Off to shoot her horse. Then
she rode back like "a witch. They'll
not take that trail again."
III means one of two things" Simon
said after a pause. "One Of them Is
to starve 'em out. 1t won't take long.
Their supplies won't last forever. The
other Is TO call the clan and attack
tonight"
"And that means loss OF life."
mot necessarily. | don't know how
many guns they've got. If any OF You
were worth your salt, you'd find out
those things. / wish Dave vas here"
And Simon spoke the truth for once
in his life he did miss Dave. And Ii
vas not that there had been any love
lost between them. But the truth was
although Simon never would have
admitted 1.-THE weaker mans cunning
had been OF the greatest aid to his
chief. Simon needed II sorely now
And we can't wait till tomorrow
night-because we've got the moon
then" Young Bill added. "Just a new
moon, but 1t will prevent a surprise
attack. suppose you still have hopes
OF Dave coming back?"
II don't see why rot I'll venture
to say now he's off on some good piece
of business-doing something none Of
the rest of you have thought OF. He'll
come riding back one of these days
with something actually accomplished.
l see no reason for thinking that he's
dead. Bruce hasn't had any chance
at him that ! know OF. But IL I thought
he was-there'd be no more waiting.
We'd tear down that nest tonight"
Simon spoke In his usual voice
with the same emphasis. the same un-
G rtones OF passion. The truth was
that he had slowly become aware that
Young Bill was not giving him his full
attention, but rather was gazing off
unfamiliar speculation In his eyes
toward the forests beyond.
Simon's impulse was to follow the
gaze; yet he would not yield to 1t.
"Well?' he demanded. I'm not talk.
ing TO amuse myself"
The younger man seemed start.
His eyes were half-closed ana there
was a strange look of i~ntentness about
his facial lines when he turned back
to Simon. you haven't missed any
stockT" he asked abruptly.
Simon's eyes widened. "No. Why2'
"Look there-Over the forest
Young Bill pointed. Simon shielded
his eyes from the sunset glare and
studied the blne-green skyline above
the fringe of pines. There were many
grotesQue, black birds wheeling on
slow wings above the spot. Now and
then they dropped down. out OF sight
behind the trees.
"Buzzards! !" Simon exclaimed.
"Yes." Young Bill answered quietly,
"You see, II isn't much over a mile