Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1924-07-31

Moya's forehead. She was not fright
ened. but she was beginning to get
worried. A rising wind and a falling
temperature were not good omens.
Moreover, one of those swift changes
common to the Rockies had come over
the country. Out Of q leaden sky
snow was falling fast. Banked clouds
were driving the wintry sunshine to-
ward the horizon. II would soon be
night, and II the signs were true q
bitter one of storm.
TITS getting cold. We must find the
road and hurry home" Joyce said.
Yes" Moya's voice was cheerful,
but her heart had sunk. An Icy hand
seemed TO have clutched II and tight
ened. She had heard the dreadful
things that happened during Rocky
mountain billiards. They must ind
the road. They must find II.
She set herself searching for II.
conscious all the time that they might
be going In the wrong direction. For
this unfeatured roll Of hills offered no
guide. no landmark that stood out
from the surrounding country.
Moya covered her anxiety with
laughter and small jokes, but there
came time when these did not avail.
when Joyce faced the truth too--that
they were lost In the desert. two help
less girls, with night upon them and
a storm driving up. Somewhere, not
many miles from them, lay Goldbanks.
There were safety, snug electric-light-
ed rooms with great fires blazing from
open chimneys. a thousand men who
would gladly have gone into the night
to look for them. But all Of these
might as well be a hundred leagues
away, since they did not know the
way home.
The big deep eyes Of Joyce shone
with fear. Never before In her shell
tered life had she been brought close
to Nature in one Of her terrible moods.
From her soft round throat sobbing
words leaped "We're lost. Moya.
We're going to die"
Nonsense. Don't be q goosie,' her
downright friend answered sharply.
but-Wnat small we uoF
Scudding clouds had leaped across
the sky and wiped out the last mar
row line Of sunlight along the eastern
horizon. Every minute II was getting
colder. The wind had bitter sting
20 II.
1--WE must find the TRAIL" Moya re-
piled.
"And II we don'tr'
"But we shall" the Irish girl as
sured with n finality that lacked con-
viction. you walt here. Don't move
from the spot. I'm going to ride round
you at a little distance. There must
be a trail here somewhere"
Moya gave her pony the quirt and
cantered Off. Swiftly she circled. but
before she had completed the circum-
ference the snow. now falling heavily.
had covered the ground and obliterat-
ed any path there might be. With a
heavy heart she started to return to
her friend.
Owing both to the lay Of the ground
and the Increasing density she could
not VIC Joycc. AuftSc SIG SuuVu w
fore faint answer reached her ears.
Moya rode toward the voice. stopping
now and again to call and wait for a
reply. Her horizon was now Just be-
You'd the nose Of her pony. 90 that II
was not until they were only q few
yards apart that she saw Two Step
and its rider. Both broncho and girl
were sheeted with snow.
"Oh. thought you were gone. I
thought you were never coming"
Joyce reproached In wail Of despair.
ibid you and the roadr'
"No. but I've thought OF something.
They say horses win find their own
way home II you let them. Loosen
the reins. dear"
Moya spoke with a business-like
cheerfulness meant to deceive her
friend. She knew Il must be her part
TO lead. Joyce was as soft and about
as competent as kitten to face a
crisis like this She was a creature
all curves and dimples. sparkling with
the sunshine Of life like the wavelets
Of a CLASSY sea. But there was In
her an instructive shrinking from all
pain and harshness. When her little
world refused to smile. rs very rarely
II did for her. she shut her eyes.
stopped her ears, and pouted Against
the implacable condition that con-
fronted them now she could only
whimper her despair.
They waited with loose reins fo~
the ponies TO move. The storm beat
upon them. confinlng their vision to
space within reach OF their out.
stretched arms. Only the frightened
walls OF Joyce and the comforting
words of her friend could be heard In
the shrek OF the wind The ponies.
feeling themselves free, stirred rest
lessly. Moya clucked TO her roam and
patted his neck encouragingly.
Good old Billy. Take us home. old
fellow" she urged.
Presently the horse began TO move.
almlessly at first. but soon with q
steadiness that suggested purpose.
Moya unloosed with her chill fingers
the rope eoiled TO her saddle. and
threw one end to her friend.
Tie Il tight 70 the saddle horn.