The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1924-10-22

tnNnt Ne could not believe his cyra.
Tor horsc and rider melted hoadfisst
into the face % Rainbow Clfg. aa "A
knife slices into a surface and dis.
appe1rvd' Caldwcll's voice came from
the heart u Tho vail. far away ana
muffisd. calling "Coo-ec coo-ec'-
frovino edged In against the steers.
shouting. he followed suit. a. 20
movement, tho he did not speak. and
The dark blot of the mass began 10
flow into the solid rock OF the spine
that crowned Mystery Ridxei
Sheriff Selwood had solved the
mystery % the disappearing steers
knew 20 a certainty Who were the
rusilers % Nameless Rivcr-and he
could not set away with his knowl.
edEe quickly enough.
Therefore he refined his horse away
20 the left, dropped back along the
herd. edged OF "A blt-a biz more
sided into a shsdow-alippcd behind
tho pine that made it-and putting
The hay 20 a sharp walk. went down
The mountain.
As tho sounds behind him lessened
b drew a good breath aud struck a
spur 20 his horses flank.
And right then. when there was
most need. the good bay who had
served him 90 long and faithfully. be.
trayed him.
lie threw up his head. flung
around toward tho strange hoSos no
was leaving. and nelRhed--a sharp.
shrill sound that carried up the slope
Ike a buglc.
Al tho mouth Of tho Fiango Big
Basford stopped.
His own mount answered.
once more came that challenge
from below and Sud Provlno came
hack out Of the hidden passage on
tho jump.
God damn he shouted. shat
alnt a SKY Line horse, Boys-we'ru
caught Come quick
selwood. far down tho Trail. knew
with a surge OF rage that tho game
was UP and that he was in Tor Il. lie
knew In the same second. however.
that his own horuc was fresh. while
those others were not.
lie elapped down hard with both
spurs. got a good Strip on his old gun,
and sailed down tho steep traIl--"holI
bent for election" as no though,
grimiy.
lie had a fair start and meant 10
make the most OF n.
And he knew his horse.
Knew this lonE.legEed bay was
the best horse In the country. save
and except sud provinces gray geld
Ing with the filed shoe. and perhaps
the rangy black which his new friend
Smith rode.
lie could have wished that the gray
was not behind him.
II was dangerous work taking ths
slope Of Mystery az a run. but there
was danger behind and he chose tho
lesser evil
As n 20 make Up for is detection
the lean hay stretched and doubled
like a greyhound and SelwOo1 leaned
low on is neck as best he could Tor
tho pitch-for he was listening for
lead.
lie knew he Was out OF sixguu
range. but he knew also that sud
proyinc carried a rife always on hts
saddle.
The roar Of horses running undeg
dltficuliy--leaping, stift.lcgged, slid
ing here and there came down like
an avalanche OF sound. but thers
were no voices mingled with Il, The
sky Line men were riding in silence
20 grim that Il sent chill 20 Sci
woods heart. They meant death
and were avid Tor IL.
lie knew he was holding bis OWL
IN the brcakneek race. and presently
I Il seemed he WIS gaining slightly. lie
came az near to praying as ono Of
his TX could do. that the good bias
horse might keep It's feet, for a fai
now would be as fatal as capture.
The trees sailed by against tbs
stars. rushing up from the dim dark
ness below 20 disappear into Il above
and the wind sang in his ears like q
harp.
Il seemed Incredible that the tedi
ously climbed slope could be *
quickly descended Tor he saw tbs
thlckening shadows Of the noun
tain's foot racing up toward him. th'
pale gleam OF water beyond which
meant the river. And then no heart
what he had been dreadlng-th'
snap OF u rifle. the whine OF ball
sky Line. giving up capture. wa
trying for destruction.
II was Provine he felt sure wit
held the gun.
He dug in his spurs cruelty an
Tho bay responded with surge o
speed which seemed certain death
but kept It's feet miraculously. One
more came the snap and whine
Iagain-and again - and again--a
fast as the man behind II could pumi
the rifle.
And then. Just as the bay strucl
the waters Of Nameless with n lea
and roar. II seemed to selwood TIM
the heavens opened up, that all tn
fire In tho universe famed In hi
brain.
He swung far out 70 the left,
terrible lever OF weight 10 the gaI
liant animal floundering beneath him
and made the supreme physical effor
OF his life TO get back into his saddle
Ills fingers dug into the wet man
like tnlous, he clawed desperatel,
with his right heel and felt the spu
hook.
For what reason no could no
have said, he opened his mouth an
screamed-a hoarsc. Wild sound, lik
tho SOULS farewell TO It's flesh. PEI
haps no thought It was.
Sud Provlne. sitting his shiverin
horse where he had drawn II TO
sliding stop on the trail above. dellt
erateiy showed his gun into It's saddle
straps.
/ al, -. .t.,,s, 81, tnat NJ yoif m