The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1924-03-26
CHAPTER xIlI-Continued.

the direction of his upraised arm.
They're Kentucky mountain folks that
fist moved in-they say the sisters
quite pretty"
The preacher seemed to be studying
the place, with its wild wealth of ma
ture about 1t, his eyes straying at
length from the cabin to its tumbIed
setting of cliffs and down along the
opposite bluffs, mantled with half
sprung leaves, abloom with haw and
dogwood and wild apple. until, as he
twisted around In the saddle, the
whole beautiful panorama of the mar
row valley had passed in review be-
fore him back to the winding road by
which they had entered.
AS the girl followed his rowing eyes,
a black dead limb at the top of Eagle
Oak towering high above the quicken
ing foliage, came into view. She raised
the lofty landmark.
That's where the big gray eagles
ben comm every summer-sence
white men first come t. the Flatwoods,
guess. Look-jist over the top O.
that scrub poplar, stickin' up eg'nst
that white cloud"
II see IT." the man of books ex-
claimed. the simple gesture of point
ing out to the distant landmark re-
vealing the native grace that might
still have been his but for the stopped
and studious air that life had imposed
upon him. 1T stands out against the
fluffy whiteness plain as a flagstaff"
Nobody in the Flatwoods would
think of harmin'-"
She stopped, with low exclamation,
for the woodsman had suddenly
Strengthened in his saddle and had
jerked his hand toward the cabin
squatting against the bluffs up the hol-
low. The others followed the motion
of his hand and sat staring.
Loge Belden's sister had appeared
from behind the cabin and was running
toward them. She had nearly reached
the bushes that fringed what might be
called the front of the yard, when Bel
den appeared in the open door. He
threw up his hand and called ,uxt a
word or two, which did not quite carry
to the three riders.
The mountain girl stopped ana hest
tated; turned and went slowly back.
Belden stood aside; she entered the
door; Belden closed it.
Jack was watching the preacher.
He saw his quick grip on the bride
rein; saw him stiffen in the saddle
and glance uneasily about.
Astonishing. Quite extraordinary 7"
escaped him as the tense brisf drama
closed.
Mercy" Texie exclaimed, II never
knowed she was-crazy"
--She amt" the goodsBan NUT |
tered.
The preacher glanced around at him:
threw up his head and exploded his |
blarey laugh. 1t wss queer moment
for laugh, and a queer laugh for the
moment
Not bad philosopkg, that" he said.
People are not always as crazy as
.hey-act"
That the preacher IVES acting, the
Teedsman fully belie~ed. but the act
ng WAS just a shade sverdoAe-a cir
,nr1zstanae that could hardly escape
Ilck a man as Jack Warbope, gHarticu-
arlF after the chance clues that had I
rst Set his suspicious going. Why he
Tas acting and what part, the ,Yvoods- K
IAN Has not missing any chances to 4
nd cut
The three riders sat for some time
boxing toward the cabin in the ,pock- J
[. TeMe and the preacher discussing
he astonishing drama that kad dared + :
p for its tense moment in the elbow !
f the hills ,
But the DIANA evidently had but
he act. and uhat act WAS chased. IT
.emed TO the soodsman. as he covert
watched the preacher. lollixg with | v
-erdone awkwardness In his saddle, | b
at he showed just a shade Of relief
at 1t was elosed. 81
Ghe sun. a red warrior on tue heme- b,
Ind trail. had sourneyed far down n
2 paling Businesses of the sky. had
ekad behind a huge cloud bank 4 tn
ed like a breaSbworks across the i .oy
ST. Presently, fading a loop-ixole ra
the tsrreted cumuif- he glsred back m,
the pNsuing shadows; launched 4 lie,
1T that fell spent and Quivering I
IN Eagle run and shivered into th,
tering sp4inters upon the rifle. de
ilum at the missped shaft. the red su,
rrior took his eye from thu loop bai
e; drew farther back hehind the du'
,sed Notifications; unSrung his 10
:. The pursuing shadows stole GUS
N the bluffs: dulled the water; I
med the woods: walked the breeze her
shook the Wild apple twiGs till
white blossoms showed the grass
Tmbol of the hopes OF men. that r.
IN, promise fruit. die. cray
he girl noticed the shadows. Her Il
! left the cabin; glanced up and caus
n the opposite bluff, where, under WITH
brow of The wooded escarpment. deri
cts were already beginning to dim. nask
ne girls rowing glance stopped at In
lack walnut tree ten Or fifteen rode
g xx-bo | SION