The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-09-24
ef #eWEST
 % R C. MONTGOMERY GaAHA o@s.snezse WRIsy

was something she had overlooked. She had failed to try her horse with a rifle. The roan was certain ly gunshy and panicky. Some one had carelessly fired close to his head and had ruined him. Dona struggled to swing her rife around and bring itdown upon the black horse. The shot was a long one but she had to take a chance. Then the roan cut loose and bega nbuck- ing. With grim anger Dona let the rifle rattle to the ground and reach- ed for the saddle horn. She fought the roan savagely and without giv- ing him a chance. This was no time : for showmanship. This was des-~ perate stand with her fathers life at stake.
 A rifle cracked and Dona caught. a jarring glimpse of her father as | he pitched from his horse. A sec ond shot sent his mount staggering away, evidently wounded. Dona saw the black horse rear up and strike the air as it's rider pulled it around. The mans wide hat and dark chapps flashed once and he was gone.
 Furiously Dona fought for mas tery of the frantic horse beneath her. The roan had lost all reason in his fear of her rifle and plunged until his mouth was dripping with blood and his sides lathered. Final ly he landed stiff-legged after a mighty leap and Dona knew she was jared loose. Her grip on the saddle had given way and she prayed this would be his last plunge. Instead the roan shot up- ward again, twisting and sunfishing as he went. Dona'S arms were weakened until she could no longer hold his head up. AS he came down she knew she was to be thrown. The saddle met her as she settled back and instantly she felt herself hurtling over the horses head.
 She landed sitting up and opened her dazed eyes to find herself grip ping two fistfulls of grass. With an effort she staggered to her feet and looked ahead for her father. She saw still form lying in the tall grass 100 yards down the hill. Limping painfully, she ran toward the spot.
 Bending over her father, sobs choked her throat. Asper had fal- len on his face and had not moved. With shaking hands she turned him over. His face was white and, his lips parted in blue line. When she moved him he groaned and tried to move but his eyes did not open. Dona tore at his jacket and pulled it open. A red stain met her gaze and she began t oTip away his shirt. She found a ragged wound high in the shoulder. It was bleed- ing profusely and would have to be at once.
 Suddenly she became calm and her white face took on look of grim determination. She would set tie with Ball of Blind River and her settlement would be cold lead. She made a bandage from the torn shirt and twisted it tight with stick until the blood ceased to seep the cloth.
 Dad, Dad! It's D!' she spoke huskily. They were the first words sch had uttered since bending over him.
 The timber king continued to groan but he did not open his eyes. Dona began examining him for bruises and found one at the back of his head. Asper had landed in bad way and had suffered a severe shock in addition to the bullet " ouAus DOhd lliS llClu III iiCI lap and began to take stock of the 
 Ball would be lurking near. He |, was a man who would take an un- fair advantage that was plain, and 1t made her position more danger ous. Dona got up and laid ,Asper's head in a hummock of grass. Her own body was racked so that she could scarcely walk but she struck out in search of her carbine. At every step she expected to hear a gruff voice commanding her to halt but only the scolding of squirrel broke the silence.
 She spent 20 minutes hunting for the carbine but was finally suc- cessful. With it under her arm and ready for instant use, she returned to her fathers side and slumped down in the grass. Then she tried to think what she should do. She was alone and both horses had dis appeared. Asper Delo weighed 190 pounds and his weight would be the weight of a helpless man. She slipped her arms around his Shoul- ders and tried to lift him. The best she could do was to raise him from the ground.
 To carry him was impossible and she cast about for another plan. Rising, she tried to walk to high ground in hope of sighting one of the horses. She stumbled along, feeling very small and weak. On high knoll she halted and surveyed the trail up the canyon. There was n otrace of horse as far as she could see. Slowly she retraced her steps. She did not care leave her father for long. He might regain for an instant and she wanted to be. at his side if he did. She had a clutching fear that he might only be conscious once.t
 The sun had already left the meadow in the canyon and the air was beginning to chill. Dona felt in her pockets for a match. She found none and began to search in her fathers clothes while he con- tinued to groan and seemed to be to move. Not single match did her search reveal and Dona came to the despairing real; ization that he had packed his match box with his cigar case in saddle pocket.
 With night coming on and a cold chill setting on the high country she sat there helpless beside the form of her father. Bfs tears wellr ed in her eyes and she felt her courage deserting her.
 Gro Be Continued)