The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-07-16

full of roaring.
When Zen reached the water the
smoke was hanging low on 1t, and she
drove her horse well In. Then she
swung down the stream, believing that
by making a detour in this way she
could pass the wedge Of fire that had
interrupted her and get back on to the
trail leading to Landson's. She was
coughing with the smoke, but rode on
in the confidence that presently 1t
would lift.
1t did. whip of wind raised 1t
like a strong arm throwing Off a
blanket. She sat up and breathed
freely. The hot sun shone through
riffs in the canopy of smoke; the blue
sky looked down serene and unmoved
| by this outburst of the elements.
Then as Zen brought her eyes back
to the water she saw man on horse
back not forty yards ahead, Her first
thought was that 1t must be one of the
fire fighters, driven like herself to
! safety, but a second glance revealed
| George Drazk. For a moment she had
an impulse to wheel and ride out. but
| even as she smothered that impulse
tinge of color rose in her cheeks that
| she should for moment have enter
tanned 1t. To let George Drazk think
she was afraid OF him would be ut
most humiliation.
She continued straight down the
stream, but he had already seen her
Tn o.
element of what he had just done
Drazk was less responsible than usual.
Hello, Zenv he said mighty
decent of you to ride down an meet
me like this. Mighty decent, Zen!"
81 didn't ride down to meet you,
Drazk, and you know it. Keep out of
the way or I'll use whip on you'll"
ooh, how naughty YD. all over!
Never mind, dear, like you all the
better for that. Who wants a tame
horse? An as for comm down to
meet me, what's the odds, so long as
we've metz"
He had turned his horse and blocked
the way In front of her. When Zen's
horse came within reach Drazk caught
him by the bride.
"Wlll you let go?" the girl said.
speaking as calmly as she could, but
in a white passion. "Will you let 60 of
that bride, or shall make you"
He looked her full in the face. cad,
but you're stunner" he exclaimed.
I'm glad we met-here."
She brought her whip with biting
cut around the wrist that held her
bride. Drazk WINGED, but did not let
go.
Jus for that, young Y.D.." he
Kissed, Gus for that we drop all
formalities, so to speak,"
With dexterous squirting he |
brought his horse alongside and threw
an arm about Zen before she could |
beat him off She used her whip at |
short range on his face, but had not |
arm-room in which to land a blow.
They were stirrup-deep in water, and |
as they struggled the horses edged in
deeper still. Finding that she could
not beat Drazk off Zen clutched her
saddle and drove the spurs into her
horse. At this unaccustomed treat
ment he plunged wildly forward, but
Drazk's grip on her was too strong to
be broken. The maneuver had. how
ever the effect of endorsing Drazk.
He fell In the water, but kept his grip
on Zen With his free hand he still
had the reins of his own horse, and he
also to get hold of hers. AL.
though her horse was plunging and
jumping, Drazk's strong grip on his
rein kept him from breaking away.
"You fight well, Zen, d-n you
YOU fight WE'LL" he cried. $50 you
might. You played with me-you
made fool of me- Well see who's
the fool in the end" With a mighty
wrench he tore her from her saddle
and she found herself struggling with
him in the water.
"If l put you under for a minute
l guess you'll be good" he threatened.
"Tll half drown you, Zen, If I have
to-"
go ahead" she challenged. "I'n
drown myself If l have to-"
Not just yet, Zen; not just yet
you can do as you like"
In their struggles they had been
getting gradually into deeper water.
At this moment they found their feet
carried free, and the horses began
70 swim for the shore. Drazk held to
both rens with one hand. still clutch
ng his victim with the other. More
han once they went under water to-
,ether and came up half choking.
Zen was not good swimmer, but
she would gladly have broken away
md taken chances with the current
)nce on land she would be at his
mercy. She was using her head fran
cally, but could think of no device
o foil him. 1t was not her practice
o carry weapons; her whip had al
eady gone down the stream. Present
y she saw long leather thong float
ng out from the saddle of Drazk's
lorse 1t was no larger than whip
ash; apparently 1t was spare lace
,f,icb Drank carried and which had |