Nogales international., 1935-01-26

cream AcOlcred roadster hau been FOUND
wrecked in the sea at the foot Of
Ing appears st the deser town Mars
ton She has bought, sight unseen.
ranch iraa1ed thirty miles away.
Barry Duane. her nearest netghbor
and his man Boone PStry procure
reliable woman for her and in Barry's
car, loaded down with supplies, they
start across the desert In iarston
he. reticence has aroused suspicion.
Barry's chair went back with
rasp. ''I'll be with you" he said
briefly, and was close on Petfy's
heels as he went back to the cor
raj. 1t was the same corral where
Comet had formerly been kept, and
from which he had whickered
shrill welcome whenever Garry had
approached. The sound came at
that instant, as clear as q bugle
cali -.--
That's not Captain"
They exchanged quick glance.
There were only a dozen horses in
the corral. Captain was there, close
to a riderless horse.
Without a word the two men
examined him. Comet had come by
a rough way. Saddle and stirrups,
glossy hide and dainty hoofs, they
missed nothing in their quick search
for evidence.
The saddle is all right" said
Barry presently. His throat felt
harsh and dry. "It couldn't have
slipped. OF course-she might have
been thrown"
Comets awful sure footed" !"
Petry was cautious. And he don't
buck, sca'cely ever. See that:?" He
pointed to a streak on one hoof
"Wherever else he's been, he's
come through Pulpit Pass. There
amt another stretch of dirt like that
In fifty miles. Better go that way"
Barry was already in the corral.
He was saddling Captain, his fingers
working with swift precision.
"Ling!"
Ling came pattering at the
peremptory call.
Light up every room in the
house. The lady at Trails End
Is lost"
That was all that he would admit.
! The illuminated house might be a
futile gesture but if she had strayed
anywhere near the Perch she might
see that blaze Of friendly light and
take. comfort.
! Take a gum" he said to Petry.
Then we can signal to each other.
The one who finds her will fire two
shots and the other will answer.
Single shots will be location
signals"
! A scurry of hoofs and he was Off
They branched into different trails.
peering, shouting, calling her name.
Only echoes answered.
All that Barry could be sure of
was that Anne must have been TAX
ing the same route that they hLd
followed on their first ride, since
that was the only trail which would
be likely to take her through Pulpit
Pass. If she were unconscious, or
worse, he might easily pass her by,
but it was impossible to wait calmly
for the light. Just one thing was
becoming increasingly clear to him,
and that was that the most precious
thing in the world to him was Anne
Cushing, and that the thought of
harm coming to her was unbearable.
} He raised his voice in a call.
."Anne! Anne!"
! The echoes flung it back at him
mockingly. Anne! Anne! Anne!"
! Hope had slipped from Anne with
the vanishing sun, How many miles
she had walked and climbed and
stumbled since she had faced that
blank wall of rock she had no
means OF knowing.
And then night had come. Her
clothing was torn by thorny branch
es, and she fairly reeled with fatigue.
Martha vii! know that some
thing is wrong" she reminded her
self firmly. Perhaps Comet will
go home. Of course he will"
She caught her breath sharply as
the realization pressed home. There
was no telephone at Trails End.
No car. Martha could do nothing,
unless she could catch and saddle
one of the old horses and find her
way to Eagles Perch.
A chill wind set the tree tops
whispering. Anne shivered and be-
gan looking around for a sheltered
spot in which to spend the night.
; On her left, halfway up the
slope, there was a dark blotch
which looked like clunlp of close
growing evergreens. She made her
way toward them cautiously.
There was tiny clear space in
side, shut in md ringed around by
those shaggy branches.
One might even feel around for a
comparatively soft spot and lie
down, curled into a snug ball. Any
thing for rest.
Little by little, sheer WEAKNESS
overcame her. The rustling sounds
OF the night los their menace, and
grew fainter and fainter. Anne
slept.
It was not a peaceful sleep. Now
i II, 4 ~