The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-03-15

more definite shape. Sandy picked VI
Grlt's trail once again. The collie
wrlggled, shot up its muzzle, whined
licked Sandy's face.
"Nigh there" suggested Sam. Sandy
nodded and let the dog get down. Grit
raced off, nose high, %streaking around
a curve. When they reached II he
was out of sight. The road rose at a
steep pitch. cliff to the right, preci-
pice TO the left, stretching on and up
tO the summit of the pass.
Grit, unseen, ahead, gas barking In
staccato ~yolIeys. There was another
sound. a faint shout, Enthusiastically
human. The men looked at each other
with eyebrows raised.
That amt no mans voice." said
Sam That's a gall He looked
quizzieaIly at Sandy, knowing his
chum's inhibition.
Sandy was wOman-shy. Men met
his level glance, fairly, with swift GER
tainty that here stood a man, four
square; or shiftily, according to their
ease Of conscience, knowing his breed.
Sandy was a two-gun man but he was
not a killer. There were no nOtches
on the handles of his Colts. In ear
lier days he had shot with deadly aim
and purpose, but never save in self
defense and upon the side of law and
right and order. Among men his
pOise was secure. but, In a 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 a girl produced an
embarrassment he hated but could not
help.
He gave Sam no chance for banter.
Action was forward and ii always
Strengthened out the ShOrt-circuitings
of Sandy's mental refexes toward
w~Omankind. He touched PrOntO's
TANKS with the dulled rOwels he wore,
and the pinto broke into a lope. A
big bOwlder was perched upon the
nigh side Of the road. Grit came out
from behind 1t. barked. whirled, and
seemingly diyed into the canyon.
N'''hS w wv" NiN binl y cbi Jun !
Sandy d~ismOunted. waiting for him.
What had happened was plain to
both of them. The rotten, hastily made
road collapsed under the lurch of a
wagon joltlng over outcrop uncovered
by the rains. Scored dirt where fran
tic hoofs had paved In vain, tire
marks that ended in side scrapes and
vanished were evidence. J
Sam got off the roam, the tired
horses standing still. shutting 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
preclpice and he 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 tie
grim gorge. In the sky, two buzzards
wheeled.
Sandy united the package Of food
and the leather medicine kit; Sam
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 outcrop tutted 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 Its nate, a bay.
gaunt- hipped. high of ribs. 1t lay still.
but Its tanks heaved, catching a fash
of sun on Its dali hide.
Between the wheels of the wagon
knelt q girl In a gown Of faded blue.
head hidden behind a sunbonnet. She
leaned forward In the shadow of the
wagon. Sandy caught q 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
hOt tuIH hTF Hcuu, tHotku Ills ueScent
was noisy. He touched her gently on
the shoulder, telling himself that she
was "just q kid
She looked up her face lined where
tears had laned down through the
mask of dust. Now she was past cry
Ing. Her yes met Sandy's pitifully
holding neither surprise nor hope.
I
.He's dead" She seemed to be
stating q fact hong accepted. "He's
dead. An he made me jump. You
come too late. mister"
The man lay stretched ont. head and
shoulders hidden. his gaunt body
dressed In jeans, once blue, long since
washed and sun-faded to the green of
turquoise matrfx. The boots were rusty.
patched. The wagon-bed. toppling
sidewise. had crashed down on his
chest. Rock partly supported the
weight Of II. Sandy picked up a
gnarled hand. SCARED. calloused and
shrunken. the hand of an old prospec-
tor. |