Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-07-10


He Was Following the Cutoff Trail
That Led to cunnison.
away so abruptly. He had meant to
stop. then had changed his mind. He
had told her calmly she must meet
him here tomorrow, and II he were
late for the appointment she must
wait. His lmpudence was enough to
stagger belief. She would show him
about that II he wanted to see her
he must come to the Lodge and face
Lady Jim. Even then she would not
see him. Why should she, since he
was what he WASP
All. but that was the crux Of the
whole matteri Had he proved his in
nocence and been releasedf Or had
he broken prison, an alternative of
which he was quite capablef And,
guilty or innocent, what could be the
explanation Of his extraordinary de
mand that she should turn over to him
the stolen money? She OWNED again
the hint OF a mystery. Something
deeper than reason told her that the
unraveling Of II would prove him no
villain.
One immediate duty alone confront
ed her. She must confess to Lady
Farquhar that she had met and
talked with him again. II was likely
that she would be well scolded, but II
was characteristic OF her that she pre-
ferred to walk straight to punishment
and get II over with. No doubt she
had been too free with this engaging
scamp. The rules Of her set prescribed
a straight and narrow road in which
she must walk. She was TO know only
such people ms had the password. only
those trimmed and trained till there
was no individuality left In them.
From birth she had been rebel. but
an impotent one. Each revolt had end
ed In submission to the silken chains
OF her environment. Fret as she might.
none the less she was as much a
Gagged creature as Lady Jim's canary.
Jack strobe through the young al
ders to his horse. swung to the saddle
without touching the stirrups. and
was of instantly.
An hour of rapid travel brought him
to the Gunnison road. He swung to
the ground and examined the dusty
roadbed. Apparently he was satisfied.
for he took his sweat-stalned horse
back into the brush and tied II to a
cottonwood. From Its case beside the
saddle he drew rifle. He retraced
his own steps and selected carefully a
place among the thick bushes by the
roadside. With his pocketknlfe he
cut eyeholes In the bandana handker-
chief that had been round his neck
and tied II over his face In such a
way as TO conceal his features en-
tirely. Then he carefully emptied from
the rifle all cartridges II contained
and dropped them into his pocket
These preparations made. he sat
down and waited. There came to him
very soon the rumble of wheels. Pres
emily onehorse trap appeared ut a
curve OF the road. Captain Kilmeny
was the driver. Jack was within six
feet Of the road and he waited until
his cousin was almost abreast OF him.
Throw up your hands !"
The captain knew In an instant
what he was ~ against. A masked
man with a rife In his hands could
mean only one thing. Ned Kilmeny
was no fool. lie knew when to fight
and when to surrender. His hands
went into the air.
Kick that rifle into the road-with
your foot. not with your hands"
The Englishman did as he was told.
what do you wantY" he demanded,
looking sharply at the masked bandit.
Il want that satchel beside you.
Drop Il out"
Again the officer obeyed orders He
asked no questions and made no CON-
ment.
There's room TO turn here by back
ing. Hit the grit for the Lodge"
After he had faced about. Ned XII
meny had one word TO say before leav-
Ing.
II know who you are. and there's
JUST VuC uNbtC kNt ytat ~ ~
an out-and-out rotter."
"It's a difference Of opinion that
makes horse races captain" answered
the masked man promptly.
Ned Kilmeny. as he drove back to
the Lodge. was sick at heart. He came
OF a family Of clean. honest gentle
men. Most of them had been soldiers,
Occasionally one had gone to the devil
as this young cousin Of his had done
But there was something In this whole
AFFAIR % contemplate that Il hurt his
pride. The miner had traded on their
| faith In him. He had He'd to them
Even the elements Of decency seemed
to BE- lacking IN him.
india and Moya were on the veranda
when the captain drove up. One
glance At bis grim face told them