Catoctin clarion., 1923-05-10

his level glance, fairly, with swift Ger
tainty that here stood man, four
square; or shiftily, according to thei
ease Of conscience, knowing his breed
Sandy was twO-gun man but he wa!
not killer There were no notche:
on the handles of his Colts. In ear
lier days he had shot with deadly ain
and purpose. but never save in self
defense and upon the side of law ant
poise was secure, but, In woman's
presence, Sandy Bourke's tongue was
tied save in emergency, his wits
tangled. Whatever he privately felt
of the attraction of the opposite sex
the proximity of girl produced ar
embarrassment he hated but could no,
help.
He gave Sam no chance for banter
Action was forward and 1t always
Strengthened out the short-circuitings
of Sandy's mental refeXes toward
womankind. He touched Pronto's
flanks with the dulled rowels he wore
and the pinto broke into lope. A
big bOwlder was perched upon the
nigh side Of the road. Grit came out
from behind it, barked, whirled, and
seemingly dived into the canyon.
Coming up with the mare Sam found
Sandy dlsmounted, waiting for him.
What had happened was plain to
both of them. The rotten, hastily made
road collapsed under the lurch of a
wagon jolting over outcrop uncovered
tic hoofs had paved in vain, tire
marks that ended in side scrapes and
vanished were evidence.
Sam got off the roam, the tired
horses standing STILL snufiing the
marks of trouble. Far down the
slope Grit gave tongue. The cliff
shouldered out and they could see
nothing from the broken road. How
anyone could have hurtled over the
precipice and be still able to call for
help without the aid of some miracle
was an enigma. They listened for an
other shout, but. save for the barking
of the dog, there was silence in the
grim gorge. In the sky, two buzzards
wheeled.
Sandy united the package Of food
slapped his hip to be sure of his
whisky flask. Aided by their high
heels. digging them in the unstable
dirt, they worked down the cliff,
rounding the shoulder.
A wide edge of 0utcrop jutted out
from the canyon wall jagged into bat
Elements. Piled there was a wagon,
on its side, the canvas tilt sagged in,
Its hoops broken. A white horse. ema-
ciated, little more than buzzard meat
when alive, lay with its legs stiff In
the air, neck fattened and head limp.
A broken pole, with splintered ends,
crossed the body of it's mate, bay,
gaunt-hipped high Of ribs. 1t lay still,
but Its flanks heaved, catching a flash
of sun on it's dull hide.
Between the wheels of the wagon
knelt a girl in gown of faded blue,
head hidden behind sunbonnet. She
leaned forward in the shadow of the
wagon. Sandy caught glimpse Of
a huddled body beyond her. Grit sat
on his launches, head toward the
road, thrown back at each bark. Sandy
reached the ledge first. The girl did
not turn her head, though his descent
was noisy. He touched her gently on
the shoulder, telling himself that she
was "just kid"
She looked up, her face lined where
tears had laned down through the
mask of dust. Now she was past cry
ing. Her eyes met Sandy's pitifully,
holding neither surprise nor hope.
"IIe's dead" She seemed to be
stating fact long accepted. Hes
dead. An he made me jump. You
come too late, mister"
The man lay stretched out, head and
shoulders hidden, his gaunt body
dressed In jeans, once blue, long since
washed and sun-faded to the green of
matrix. The boots were rusty,
patched. The wagon-bed, toppling
had crashed down on his
chest. Rock partly supported the
weight of it. Sandy picked up
gnarled hand, SCARED, calloused and
the hand of an old prospec-
tor.
"Yore dadT he asked, kneeling by
the girl.
yes" She stood up, slight and
straight, with limbs and body, just
curving into wOmanhood. "The
hawsses was tuckered out" she said,
cor Dad c'ud have made it. They
didn't have no strength left, 'thout
food or water. The ID road Jest
slid out from under. Dad made me
jump. I figgered he was goin' to, but
his bad leg must have caught in the
brake. We slid over like water slides
over a rock. He didn't have HI
chance" AS she spoke them the oaths
were merely emphasis. She talked as
had her father
Sandy nodded.
scot an ak with the outftT' he
asked. Then turning to Sam as the
girl went round to the back of the
fallen wagon and fumbled about
the rear opening Of the can