The Holly chieftain., 1923-10-25


imply? The ranch was on NO COM
monty used trail; visitors never came
without purpose. To reach there
at all required miles of desert travel,
with no little hardship. There must
always be an object in such journey.
What could 1t be In this case! Was
the fellow a mere drifter. seeking a
job7 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
doubt of his absolute squareness as
sailed her. She believed his promise,
Outlaw. fugitive, border desperate. he
had won her faith already. The reac-
tion she experienced from being help
lessly alone caused her now to rest
all hope on this stranger who had 80
mysterionsly come to her rescue: she
cared not who he might be. or from
whence he came. Enough that he was
| there. strOng-armed. capable. fearless,
willing to befriend her. to guide her
safely. 1t was In this spirit of almost
blind confidence that the girl wei
coined his return when he finally
emerged from out the black shadows,
leading two horses trailing quietly be-
hind, through the corral gate.
He saddled and bridled the two ran
Idly, evidently accustomed to working
In the dark.
Are you ready?"
| "Yes."
"Put your foot In my hand This IL
my horse; he'll carry you fine. Now,
up you 60 This yonr water bottle!
I'll strap 1t to the pommel where 1t
will be- handy"
He sApng into the saddle himself.
restraining the halfbroken animal
| with an Iron hand.
"You know the way down the
mesa? ?" he asked. ''the NogaIes trail?"
"Of course"
''4'hen ride ahead. and I'll follow.
may have trouble with this brute
before he learns who is master. Just
1 go straight on out into the desert. I'll
not be far away
She rode forward. never questioning
his right to command. The horse i'm.
der her moved steadily at swift
walk, alert but we'll ..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 refined
his horse beside her own. Evidently
the man was satisfied with her knokl.
edge Of the trail as well as the prog
ress made. He turned in the saddle.
gazing searchingiy back at the dim
outline Of the mesa, now barely visible
through the gloom
1 There Is something wrong?" she
asked, troubled by his silence
NO. nothing stirring. l circlesl the
bunkfibNse before leaving; the whole
outfit is still asleep. ! was Just get
/ thb6 ubGStsphs hASNi w
are going route haven't travelled
4 lately"
But the Nogaies 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 rar enough ahead Of
pursuit to be safe. They will jump to
the conclusion that you have gone this
way. OF course am hoping they will
believe you have gone alone"
DO they know you were at the
ranch?"
"Yes. unfortunately; but my disap
pearance during the night will not
necessarily make them conclude we
have disappeared together" He
laughed. II haven't a 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 d0-get
the bunch riding this trail, thinking
you're going 1t 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 do not" she venfured
doubtfully. at seems to me we are
doing eMlctly 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 ,ls
to Silver springs. Silver springs is
where we take side trip, the sort |
| not many know about. Two hours |
ride from there the whole United |
States couldn't find where you was