New Britain herald., 1924-12-23
y MAX BRND,
BEGIN HERE TO-DAY

arthur. Harry Gloster returns to the camp, finds the bodies of his partners, and realizes that he will ne accused of the crime, So he tiees southward. En route he saves the life of q stranger, Lee Haines, from Macarthur's murderous hand. Clos ter does not know. however, that Macarthur is the slayer of his part ners.
 Joan" lives with an old recluse, Buck Daniels presumably her | father, in an t-of-the-way ranch | house. She complains 10 him that | she never Is allowed to so where | other girls go. That night she slips | from her bed and gazes through | her window at beautiful red glow | in the eastern sky.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY |. But no forest fire could spread 50 rapidly, and no forest fire at such | a distance could throw such a glow into the upper sky. For that mat ter, as she very well knew, there were no trees on the mountains nothing but a wretched scattering of shnburned brush and spine GOV fred cactus.
 1 Presently an orange rim pushed up, and then grew into great half circle which framed the ragged heads of three peaks. And then the moon went up until it stood all ex- posed, resting only on its lower edge upon the very tip of the highest peak.
 And the light fell fairly through the window upon Joan so that the white of her nightgown, when she looked down, had been changed 10 a softly shimmering rich color. Or so 1t seemed to her excited fancy.
 She could not stay. Something was whipping her out, The moon was lifting momently high and high CT up the sky. And now it lost all sense of weight It was floating on nothingness and pouring down bright and brighter light.
 At least, 1t gave her light enough for dressing. And when she was dressed and every move now swift and noiseless she drifted across the room to the bureau and picked up the hand mirror When she had brought it back before the window she had to turn 1t to a particular angle before she could see herself,
 k1en she, came out under the et q IA tN 11A lAA1 found her saddle in the dark, and passed on 10 the corral. There were q half dozen horses there, but she knew them all.
 Because where I'm going don't know and when I'll come back l don't know but l think it will be a longer way than I've ever rid den before. So you're the one for mo, Peter, dear"
 She rubbed the nose of a shining bay and he stood like a rock while she drew the saddle onto his back. and Ike well hammered horse re- fraincd from puffing out his body when she drew the cinchcs taut.
 One and all, the horses followed her to Ihe gate. And when she opened and led Peter out they crowded against her so that she turned her head anxiously toward the house.
 Oh, the wind Of that wild gallop in her face, and the fences pour ing past her as she rode south, and south! II seemed to Joan for while that this was all she wanted; when she jumped Peter over d gate and, glanCing lip, saw the stars blurred above her, she was doubIy sure that this was goal enough for her journey.
 A wedCc of the geese screamed black across the face Of the moon, .snd Peter looked up to them with prlcElng ears What was going on inside that wise hend of his? She felt that she would have given a treasure 10 know.
 There was q rattle of eingl"-trees not far away, and a swift drum mng of hoofs. The road was ont far behind her, and on this night
 
 The deeper the wilderness into which she could pass. tho better
 So she sent Peter away at that natcbless gallon, jumped another fence, and was on the very verge of swaIe which would shu, out all sound from the road when she heard what, had thrilled her hefors ~~ the high, light laughter of girl r. was almost inaudiblA, hut even through the distance tt traicd like hand across her heart. She stopped Peter with ' gaspinE word and listened There ir came again, heautlful as music over Wa : ter, and waIine, fading until t went out. Something had unlocked tho soul of that unknown girl and it let the laughter out. But the door was still closed in Joan. h. deed, could lt ever be opened
 CHAPTER V
 Tho NenturcSome Moth
 She had ridden three miles 10 the "St when she came suddenly on the place, for as Peter carried her over the top Of a dune, she saw the schoolhouse below her with light pouring out of every open open window. There were dozens of horscs and tuckboards tethered near the building and sS the dance started at this moment. she heard not only the music, but even the ', hisner of many feet acrnss tha floor
 - so plainly dId sound travel through the desert night,
 She skirted 10 the side until she reached a little forest Of cactus md scrub cedar tall enough 10 con csal her horse. There she left Peter with the reins thrown and reas- suring pat on his nose. Starting on sgaln, she became as cautious as T when she had stolen about in the