The Arvada enterprise., 1923-09-13
CHAPTER xvIl-contlnusd.

-1@
Stewart halted again. In the gloom
Madeline discsrned . log cabin, and
Iayond 1t spear-pointed dark trees
nisrcins the sky line. She could Just
.aks out Stewart's tall form a. he
I.aned against his horse. Either he
v,, listening or debating what to do
perhaps both. Presently he went in
dde the cabin. Madeline heard the
scratching Of a match; then she saw q
faint light. The cabin appeared to be
asserted. Probably 1t was one Of the
many habltations belonging to pros
p,ctors and foresters who lived in the
mountains. Stewart came out again.
F~ long moment he stood as still a.
q statue and listened. Then she heard
him mutter, "If we have to start quick
I can ride bareback" With that he
took the saddle and blanket of his
horse and carried them into the cabin.
~Get off," he said, In q low voice. As
hs stepped out Of the door.
He helped her down and led her In
ode, where again he struck a match.
Madeline caught glimpse Of a rude
fireplace and rough-hewn logs. Stew
arts blanket and saddle lay on the
hard-packed earthen floor.
"Rest a little" he said. "rm going
Into the woods a piece to listen. Gone
only a minute or so"
Madeline had to feel round In the
dark to locate the saddle and blanket.
When she lay down 1t was with
grateful sense Of ease and relief. As
her body rested. however, her mind
became the old thronging maze for
sensation and thought. All day she
had attended to the alert business of
helping her horse. Now. what had
already happened. the night, the 81
lence. the proximity Of Stewart and
bis strange. stern caution, the possi-
ble happenings to her friends ALI
claimed their due share Of her feel
Ing. She could not sleep; she did not
try to.
Stewards soft steps sounded out
side. His dark form loomed In the
door. As he sat down Madeline heard
the thump Of q gun that he laid be-
ade him on tho sill: then the thump
Of another as he put that down. too.
The sounds thrilled her. He turned
his ear to the wind and listened. Mo-
tonless he sat for what to her seemed
Aou1.
Then the stirring memory Of the
days adventure. the feeling Of the
beauty Of the night, and q strange.
deepseated. sweetly vague conscious
asss Of happiness portendins. we're all
burned out In hot, pressing pain at the
remembrance Of Stewards dis1racs in
hsf eyes. Something had changed
within her 20 that what had been an.
ssf at herself was sorrow for him. He
was such splendid man. She could
Aet feel the same: she knew her debt
to him, yet size could not thank him.
could not speak to him. She fought
an unintelligible bitterness,
Then she rested with closed eyes,
and time seemed neither short nor
long. When Stewart called her she
opened her eyes to see the gray Of
oawn. She rose and stepped outside.
Inc horses whinnied. In q moment
me was In the saddle aware Of
eramped muscles and q weariness Of
ambs. Stewart led of at q sharp trot
into the fir forest. They came to a
taii Into which he turned. The horses
unveiled steadily; the descent grew
Tess steep; the mrs thinned out; the
gray gloom frightened.
When Madeline rode out Of the firs
@e sun had arisen and the foothills
rolled beneath her: and at their edge.
"nere the gray Of valley began, she
ssw a dark patch that she knew was
'hs eanch house.