The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-02-25
THE
LOWER
TRAIL
By /. M. CROSS
d b short story Pub. go

the mountain top, the other
along the mountain side, some
times dipping to the creek, sometimes
climbing to join the upper trail.
Wilma Herslip usually took the
shorter, lower trail, but this day she
wanted to think, with only the blue
sky above her and the mountain peaks
stretching upon every side
"a Symphony in Khaki" Lawrence
Falk had called her, and, in her khaki
habit and cap she and JEFF, the buck
skin broncho she rode, seemed a part
of the dull, ochre-colored mountains,
page OF natures great symphony.
Her feet swung clear of the long,
cowboy stirrsupE Hiram had taught
her to ride that way, for safety. Jeff
was sure-footed as only broncho
can be: Hiram had spotted him as
being the best of band of wild
horses. had lassoed, busted trained
him, until he was the best cow-pony
in Montana. Wilma paid no attention
to him, and he picked his own way
over sharp Lodges, down crevices so
steep that he slid on his four feet
with knee and gambrel joints stiff as
steel, again climbed an almost perpen-
dicular wall, digging his tough hoofs
into the seams Of rock.
She reached out slim brown hand
and touched the lasso wound about
the saddle horn-Hiram had braided
it of rawhide and taught her to use
it. He had sent to Mexico for the
saddle under her, none good enough
could be bought nearer.
Faithful Hiram! What had he not
done for her? She had never had a
thought for any other man until Law
renee Falk came, not three months be-
fore. She remembered so well the
first time she saw him, the day he
rode up to her fathers ranch house.
1t was dinner time and the cowboys
were in the yard She heard their
shouts and yells of derlsion:
"Hey The Grasshopper has come!
Where dye larn that style. Tender
foot?"
He bore their gibes so good-na-
turedly that they soon left off, and 1t
was not long until, whether roping
steer or busting bronco, he was the
equal of any Of them-except Hiram.
In one thing he could surpass even
Hiram-making love. The first mo-
ment he saw Wilma his eyes spoke
admiration his voice was full Of
caresses. He was tender, passionate.
eager wooing her by a thousand arts
and Establishments, where Hiram had
only his simple blunt honesty Yet
a feeling of mistrust would come over
Wilma when she was away from the
influence of his winning, rollicking
presence.
SIS he all right? Is he honest"
She asked herself, many times, but
of Hiram she always thought with
perfect trust.
JEFF pricked up his ears, turned his
head towards the edge of the cliff and
gave low whinny.
what is it, Jeffg What do you
hearY' Wilma asked. and stopped him
to listen. She heard angry voices,
curses. below her, and dropped
from the saddle, threw herself upon
the rock and leaned far out over the
edge of the cliff. Upon the lower
trail, where it was so narrow that
only the surest footed horse might
venture, Hiram and Lawrence Falk
had met. Hirams voice rang out
angrily:
''If you were decent I'd never say
a word, but you're bigamist; you es-
capped :"
Oaths leaped from Lawrence's
handsome lips. Wilma looked at his
face distorted with rage, and shud-
.dered. IF hadn't been fool enough
to leave my revolver behind me you'd
never repeat that. You're jealous be-
cause Wilma loves me. I'm going to
marry her just to spite you, not be-
cause care anything for her. Now
back up and let me pass"
''Bacx up yourself You'l have to
back only rod and the trails wide
enough for both of us; I'd have to
back more'n thirty rods" He took his
heavy riding quirt, held 1t suggestive
ly and looked at Lawrence with a
concentrated anger that Wilma had
never seen before upon his face.
Lawrence's face became like a
devils. He backed his horse along
the trail-a mere rim on the long
declivity dropping to the creek The
horses hoofs crowded each other and
the nervous thoroughbred trembled.
Wilma watched, too frightened to
make a sound, hardly knowing that
she was praying for Hiram. Sudden
ly Lawrence drove the spurs into his
horse and gave the rein yank to
force the horse between Hiram and
the mountain. Quick as the action
was Hiram met him with his bronco
crowded against the mountain wall,
They met with force that sent thor
oughbred and bronco upon their hind
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