The Dolores star., 1924-06-20

| 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 II
| would lift
Ii did. A whip of wind raised 1t
| like strong arm throwing OF
blanket. She sat up and brenthed
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 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
and was headed her way. In the ex-
element of what he had just done
Drazk was less responsible than usual.
Hello, Zenr' 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 TIL use whip on you!"
"Oh, how naughty! YD. all over
Never mind. dear. like you all the
better for that. Who wants n 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.
"Will you let go?" the girl said,
speaking as calmly as she could, but
in white passion. "Wil you let go of
that bride, or shall | make you?"
He looked her full in the face. cad.
but you're a 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
hissed, jus 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 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 unhors!ng 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
managed 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 we'll, Zen, d-n YOU
you fight well," he cried. 80 Won
might. You played with me-vou
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 minute
l guess you'll be good,' he threatened.
I'm half drown you, Zen, if have
to-"
Go ahead" she challenged. "Tn
drown myself, IL have to-"
Not just yet, Zen; not Just vet.
Afterwards 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
to swim for the shore. Drazk held TO
both reins with one hand, still clutch
Ing his victim with the other. More
than once they went under water to-
gether and came up half choking.
Zen was not good swimmer, but
She would gladly have broken away
and taken chances with the current
Once on land She would be at his
mercy. She was using her head fran
tically, but could think of no device
to Toll him. 1t was not her practice
to carry weapons; her whip had al
ready gone down the stream. Present
ly she saw long leather thong flout-
Ing out from the saddle of Drazk's
horse. 1t was no larger than whIp.
lash; apparently II was a snara Iooo