The Winslow mail., 1923-12-14
CHAPTER XilI-Continued.
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The latter came down the slanting
bank gingerly and made for the near
est wafer hole, the girl slipping
quickly from the saddle and seeking
10 quench her thirst farther upstream.
The water. slightly brackish, but still
fairly clear and pure, brought new
life. the animal wandering about in
his fresh environment, nibbling con-
fentedly at the scattered tufts of
grass, while Deborah studied her sur
roundings with awakened interest.
Old Tom Meager. in their rides to-
gether, had taught her some of the
fundamentals of plainscraft, how to
observe this thing and that, when
alone In the wilds. Now she applied
these lessons eagerly. searching for
some evidence of that trail which she
felt convinced must run up this lonely
valley. Nothing could be better
adapted to the purpose of these out
saws than the course of this desolate
stream. mere thread extending
through leagues of sand, lying suffi-
their movements, and yet furnishing
water for their stock. Surely they
must have left some trail behind.
But If so no trace remained along
che western shore. Convinced of this,
Deborah leading her horse. crossed
the narrow stream, stepping from rock
10 rock, and clambering up the level
Dlateau on the other side. Even here
little was visible, and she would have
overlooked even these signs but for
old Toms training Evidence was
found-the scattered dead ashes of a
fire: the mark of a sh0d horses hoof,
an open sheath knife, the blade not yet
Fusted from exposure, and a half
sSozen emptied cartridge shells. Later,
upstream q few rods, she found where
d dozen horses had been tied to a
picket rope stamping their hoofs into
the soft sod. But beyond this point
the soil ceased, and, whatever trail
there was vanished on surface of
hard rock which left no trace. Never
fheess she mounted once more, and
rode on. still with her course to the
south.
How terribly exhausted she was,
reeing in the saddle from faintness.
felt strangely dizzy. Twice she dis
mounted to bathe her face in the run
ming water, but had found it so diff
cult to climb up into the saddle again
she dare not venture third time
She could only cling tight to the pom
mel. with eyes closed and let the
horse pick his own way along the out
Jaw trail. Box canyon Could this
he Box canyon? She opened her eyes
80 took up the great cliffs towering
so high above she could scarcely gain
glimpse of a ribbon of blue sky 1t
vas like twilight where she rode, the
walls purplish blue nothing clearly
visible a dozen yards ahead. She
shuddered at the dreary loneliness,
the awful silence. If this was Box
canyon. then she Esd come too late
Gfiere were no soldiers there.
She closed her eyes again, struggling
for control for courage clCtching at
tlle pommel to hold herself upright
Then the horse stopped as though
gripped by hand. and a voice said
shortly:
"Gee! but it's a woman. Say, wake
op sister, and tell us what yer doin
here
She stared at him dumbly, a boy in
Khaki, his hand grasping her bride
rein. a short rifle in the hollow of his
other arm, his face featuring aston
ishment.
asleep. was yer? HI of place
GER sleep
"Are you a soldier?" she asked,
struggling with her dizziness, "a cav
airyman?"
"Sure-U. S. You're Yank too,
amt yer? That's what bothers me !;
BOW If yer was Mex, I'd know what
to do"
"WhatT
"HustIe yer on to the Lieut.; he an
the rest of 'em are back there"
ayes, yes. | know" she exclaimed
excitedly You are here to intercept
gun-runners across the line IL have
been hunting for you all night. He
he is dead-killed"
"Deadl Who's dead?"
Captain Kelleen."
She reeled in the saddle, everything
black before her. The trooper sprang
and caught her as she fell.
CHAPTER XIV