The Bozeman courier., 1927-07-15

IN his hands with great tenderness and
kissed her with great passion.
She was glad that she had no oppor-
tunity Of seeing Miles Straker again that
evening, glad that she had abandoned
her 1nSistence for an explanation and
run away, carrying with her all the rap
ture and ecstasy Of the magic moment.
She knew in her soul that Miles would
never be able to go back on the promise
of that kiss, that he would never want to
go back on it. Soon-very soon-they
would meet again, secretly as lovers, and
he would clear away the mystery which
lay so incomprehensibly over them and
this strangely familiar land.
Yet, after all, it was Victor Gabrielli
who furnished the clew to Alison Nor
rows haunting. But for Gabrielli with
his fatal propensity for being trouble
some and getting himself into danger
Gus places and keeping everybody on the
qui vive for his next senseless prank, it
is unlikely that satisfactory conclusion
could ever have been reached.
AS it was, however, Roderick Blair was
able to make it the subject Of a long
chapter in his new book, and Prof.
Blount gave a lecture about it at his
university, lecture which had slightly
morbid success. Gabrielli, himself, eX-
pressed it in the form Of play so far un-
produced, doubtless owing to the fact
that the last act is still unfinished.
The picnic party was OF at half past
four In the morning. Gabrieli, who
turned over in bed and closed his eyes
again when he was first called, came
very near to being left behind, and
would have been if Prof. Blounts advice
had been followed.
But Straker was in a CAV mood of
charity towards all; besides, he liked Ga
brielli. Most people did, for a fortnight
or so.
Finally they started, only half an hour
later than had been intended, and it was
very nen1ItifTII and rnO1 GriTi0or fIarCrToI,
the tall pine forest, a misleading cool
ness which gave no hint as yet of the
broiling heat Of that same forest at noon
day.
Roderick Blair shared the front seat
with the driver; in the second were Ma
dame Duplessus, Alison and Gabrielli,
with Prof. Blount and Straker behind,
and Freckled Faces cooking arrange
ments, the provender for man and beast
and fishing tackle slung in a cradle un-
der the body Of the surrey.
They were all very hungry, for they
had started without even a cup of tea
or coffee to stay them and it was most
welcome when Straker called a halt by
the wayside not more than a couple of
miles from Blue River.
The place was natural picnic ground
carpeted thickly with pine needles, a
gurgltng stream running a few yards
from the read, with a picturesque back
ground Of cacti all in rich red blossom
enlivening pool of gray sand.
1t seemed to Madame Duplessus, who
had no longing at that moment for the
simple breakfast Of her native land, that
too much had been left to chance, but
her fears were relieved when Strakel
hooked the first trout even before Freck-
led Face had got the fire going under
the Dutch oven, and by the time the
biscuits and coffee were well on the way
half dozen speckled beauties were siz.
zl1ng in the frying pan.
| Everybody was so busy and interested
In the glorious progress breakfast wa.
making that Altson's mood was perceived
ana enjoyed by nobody but herself.
She sat apart from the general ACTIVITY
even Madame Duplessus was helping tt
hook trout-Overcome by a feeling o
sheer terror. Her hands were as cold a
ice and she shook from head to foot
Thls place, this horrible spot where the.
had stopped for a picnic breakfast 1t
familiarity was scared on her brain.
1t was the very goal which she, a poor
Wttless ghost, had been striving to reacl
all this time. The flaming cactus flow
ers, the rushing trout stream, the yer
tree against which she rested-here wa
her goal.
She closed her eyes; the smell Of cot
fee and frying fish made her feel as sh
had felt in the boat. Perhaps she wa
coming down with ague, the favorit
!, FlOridian complaint.
|
fast was ready and he finally notice
her. She rallied with a bright negativ
and managed to play her part in tn
meal, but her mind, her whole attention
} could not be detached from the brilliar
cactus flowers Springing so magnificent
l from their unwholesome looking stem
on the edge Of little gray pool Of sane
l picture formed in her mind-a pic
S ture Of man and a woman sittin
S where she was sitting now, against tn
! very same tree trunk, munching SAND
/ wiches and chatting in the fashion
good friends.
4 And she, herself, was running aboJ
/ with funny sort Of doll in her arms,
e doll made Of a dried gourd with a bar
/ danna handkerchief pinned around i
neck.
|, It was all so actual, so real in its bein
9 that this hungry, hilarious picnic part
: had nothing to do with Alison Morroy
S She was waiting now for what migl
happen next; waiting for her cloude
g consciousness to reveal it to her; som,
e thing too terrible to be put into wore
d had happened on this spot-yet what WI
e it?
q And then suddenly, to her own di
G may and the utter CONSERVATION
e everybody else, Alison was on her fe
: uttering piercing screams.
Come backbone backl" she erie
wringing her hands and livid with no
r ror. ''The ground will swallow you up
. you go there-it buried them, buriC
!. them alive!"
i Apparently Gabrielli had OCCASION
Y this insane outburst. He halted, poisl
like an alarmed butterfly just within
g hover Of the cactus plants, his announce
: intention having been to pick a coup
n Of the red blossoms to decorate himsC
? in tropical fashion. And as he halt
his feet began to slip in the fine gr
v. sand, and he, too, let out a shrek
1t match Alison's while Miles Straker al
s. Freckled Face launched themselves
le him as with a single thought. The sal
was well above his knees before th
10 succeeded in dragging him free Of
~ clutches.
Ir "Quicksandl" exclaimed Prof. Bloul
t. in stupefied accents. MY God, how
le the girl knowl'
Miles Straker showed them a "a
q which for all Of its tan looked at til
~ moment as white as paper.