The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-10-27

. Ch eA A6ANy bO A<OAANs
 Dona joins the hunt and Is
 captured by Ball after attempt-
 ing to shoot him. He takes her
 to a cave. Swergin discovers the
 cave while Ball is outside and
 captures him, rescuing DOna.
 Swergin's men start to lynch Ball
 but Dona steps in and saves him.
 He takes her with him, but lets
 her have his horse to ride and
 Dudley follows her. He tries to
 shoot Ball, but misses. Dona is
 contrite and agrees to marry
 him. Dudley has ben rieding by
 himself 8 great deal. DOna agrees
 to marry him that evening. They
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XXXvIII
 Dona was up early and down to the corrals before the rest of the camp was stirring. Malloy was nowhere in sight so Dona saddled the roan herself. She galloped up the slope toward Pass Creek.
 She met the sunrise as she cam tered out at the top of Pass Creek divide. The world below her on each side was hidden in 8 misty shadow. Only the ridge was aglow with the golden spendor of the sun.
 Dona sat on her horse and looked down into the valley she was about to enter. She was sure adventure beckoned to her, sure that she would soon know the secret of all the trouble in the Three Rivers country.
 The trail was rough and unused for a half mile. Then several trails joined it, apparently coming from above, but from different angles, and it became beaten pathway that showed recent heavy use. Dona pushed on along this pathway for another half mile. She began to grow uneasy as the trail widened. She would be sure to meet someone on so well marked g. road.
 With 8 sudden feeling that She was about to come upon another rider she pulled out of the trail and took to the timber. This made the going slower.
 She came to the edge of the clearing she sought, guided to the spot by the roar of truck motor. Tho timber had become so heavy that it was impossible to see any trail marks or landmarks behind her. Dona thanked her luck that she had always had a keen sense of direction.
 Dismounting she hid the roan in a dense growth of brush and berry bushes. Her next step was to push forward in the direction of the truck. The job of forcing her way through the brush was a difficult one for a slender girl, but Dona was determined to see what was going on.
 She came to an opening in the trees and peered out. What she sa wmade her lips tighten. The clearing had once been piled high with cut lumber and poles. She could see the props and the blanks they had been piled upon. Several thousand feet of lumber still re- mained. Two big trucks were loading from the remaining stacks.
 Dona's eyes sparkled with anger as she watched the men at work. A heavy voice beloved an order and Dona stepped back quickly. She recognized that voice-Swergin was directing the work. It was plain that this timber was being sent out without checking, if it was not being deliberately stolen by the boss.
 Dona began to understand things more clearly than before. But she could not make up her mind. She must ride in and see her father. She would have straightforward talk with him. If Swergin was stealing from the company he would meet with a lot of trouble.
 She worked her way back to her horse and mounted. Her return was begun more carefully than her approach. She realized that if she was caught she might be dealt with roughly. Swergin would not hesi- tate to keep her prisoner until he had finished his job.
 She kept off the trail until she was well up toward the top of the ridge. When she could see the pass ahead she cut across the To- cated the pathway. Riding swiftly she topped the pass and halted. The roan blew noisily and paved to be on his way, but Dona quieted him with a pat on the neck for she was suddenly interested in the back trail.
 A stone rattled below and a branch snapped. Dona turned the roam and slid from sight over the pass, Someone was riding up from below and it might be swergin.
 The roan trotted along eagerly while Dona watched behind her. A stone came railing down into the trail from above and she glanced up the hillside. She caught flash of a black horse and the wide Stetson hat of a rider. Her heart jumped wildly and she starined her eyes, but the rider had vanished above her.
 Dona urged the roam a little faster and listened for sounds from above. She had the advantage in a race if she chose to let her horse cut because she was on the trail and the man above was in the rough timber.
 The battling of stones from above became very distinct as her persuer put his horse to a gallop to keep abreast of her. Dona's eyes suddenly lighted up. If that was Ball she would show him that he could not overtake her. She hated him thoroughly as ske remembered how he had looked as he promised to stay out of the country.
 Dona slapped the roan smartly with her quirt. He leaped down the trail and the race was on. They thundered out into q meadow and crossed it like e sweeping stam- pede. Dona caught sight of her pursuer breaking from the timber behind and to her right. He was bending over his horse's neck. urg- ing it on. The black horse was flying along with an easy stride that made pona sure Ball was pur'
 Into the timber the roan plunged while tho black came elatering after. Dona smiled as sho realised that her horse was equal to the black if not e little faster. She bent forward and urged the big fellow on,
 The roan laid his cars hack and