Western news and the Libby times. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1920-1933, 1931-03-12

Along the hardwood knoll where the
Lussans had gathered their fuel, TOT
nette sped like graceful nymph, her
long hair streaming about her In the
sun until at times Jeems saw nothing
but It's beauty: and In the contempla.
tion OF Its loneliness shuddering
horror ran through him. In the stump
field at home I1ensihah had told him
how both the English and the French
had begun to make use OF women's
hair. and that many a gentleman and
courtly dandy wore shining curls
taken by the scalping knife In wilder
ness orgies of rapine and murder. In
the narrowness of Toinettes escape
the thought oppressed him with sick
ening force.
Soon her lack OF endurance COM
PEELED them to slacken their pace, and
when they reached the rocky ascent
which led to the crest OF the ridge.
Toinette's breath was breaking sob
bingly from her lips and for while
she could 20 no farther She gazed
In the direction from which they had
come, unterrlfed. and almost With
challenge In her look. her breast Wild
ly throhbing. her hand reaching out
to Jeems
Each Of the few minutes that passed
seemed an hour to him.
Then they climbed to the crest of
the ridge Here Jeems picked bis way.
choosing the places where their feet
would not touch scattered stones or
grass or soil. until half an hour of
slow and tedious progress lny between
them and the point where they had
come from the valley
If they come this far. they will
think We have taken (the wider and
easier country" he explained. Can
you hold out little longer?"
IT was the running that turned me
faint" said Tonette. II am as strong
as you are now. .Ieems But may
stop and braid my hair7 II is cum
br0us and warm. and ! wish you
would cut 1t off !"
Il would cnt Off my arm first" de-
clared .Ieems I'VE will be safe
farther on. and If von will wait nntl
we have rai ourselves beyond that
mass af raks Oft there E
Ills wartls remained unfinished
From Ie1fititi them come Il cry It was
moi fierce nor one that seemed e. carry
menace. and bore with il strange
and almost musical softness .leems
knew its meaning. The Mnhawks
were on the ridge. One Of them was
calling his scattered companions to
evidence Of their passing which he had
discovered
.Teems FASTENED Toinette over the
rocks.
'''fhey have found some sign OF u.s."
he explained. 1T may he one Of Odds
claw marks on stone or the scratch
from nail In your shoe. Whatever
II is. they only know we have come
this way and will still believe we have
taken to the plain"
Toinette saw how desperately he
was, trying to keep from her the real
nearness OF their peril.
II have seen Indians climb over
rocks and windfalls. They are like
cats--and am 50 slow and clumsy"
she said. You can move faster than
any Indian, Jeems Hide me some
where among these rocks-and 60 on
alone. I am sure they will not harm
me II they should happen to discover
where | am
Jeems did not answer. They had
come to the rocks which he had
spoken OF few moments before.
Here, X anywhere. was place for
conceament II was filled with dark
and cavernous refugees. and where the
boulders met and crushed together
were hidden pockets where their bodies
might lie unseen. Toinette perceived
these things with heart that light
ened with relief and hope She looked
into Ieems' face as he paused for d
moment TO study the ground about
them.
dozen steps from where they stood
were three bOulders apart from the
others One Of the three had split
Itself 50 that one half OF 1t was a
slab that formed roof for the crevice
between the other two
Jeems' eyes revealed a deeper ex-
element as he pointed 1t out to
Toinette.
I'VE will hide-and In therei' he
cried. Make haste. Toinettel 1t Is
smooth rock and will leave no sign
behind US. Go In and keep Odd with
you Y
He began to throw loose stones
about the huge boulder heap Some
he flung over the top OF It so that
they fell on the opposite side and at
last he sent few into the edge OF the
valley, each farther than the other
He finished by shooting an arrow
which descended In an open space at
the foot Of the ridge.
Toinette watched him In amazement
and alarm Until he commanded her in
a sterner voice to crawl quickly under
the stones. She waited no longer but
pulled herself few inches at time
beneath the boulders. Jeems, thrust