Evening star., 1940-05-09
TRAILS END
by WILLIAM MAeL L>EoDRAlNE


He bawled to the boy who helped
him at the corral to bring mis- rifle
from back Of the door. Two other
men were on horseback waiting
to go.
Anne said to Rufe, "Its true,
then" There was despair In her
dead voice.
I'VE don't know what is true
yet" Jelks said. Reds horse came
back. Maybe he had an accident" "
you don't believe that"
HE might be alive" Rufe said
doggedly There's a chance His
eyes picked up the other two riders.
"All set, boys. Let's CO."
Jelks let his companions pass
through the corral gate ahead OF
him. You are sure he told you he
was going to take the Swanson cut
off?" he said to the white-faced
girl at his stirrup.
Find Blood On Saddle.
Eyes. And from the summit he
was going to leave the trail and
strike through the hills" she added,
in fiat monotone. What do you
think, Rufe? He's dead, isn't hep"
Don't quit hoping, girl" he COM
forted, his voice rough with feeling.
With that he swung his horse and
went through the gate, lifting it
to a gallop as soon as he reached
the dusty road.
Half a dozen men and boys were
in stall looking at Silcotts horse.
Some one raised an excited cry.
Look here, Bill! There's blood
on the saddle!"
Anne felt sick. She moved for
ward. her hands reached for the
fence to support her. When she
got to it, her fingers clamped them
sleeves around two palings. She
must not faint. The building
across the street tilted up to meet
the sky.
Blaze was a horse of solid color.
Red he was from the tip of his nose
to the tail, except for the one
splash of white on his face. Jim
had been keeping him at the Long
horn Corral lately during his stays
in Blanco, and Blaze liked the
good feed and the lazy life of town.
That was why when he had found
himself turned loose, terrified at
what he had seen, his head pointed
for Blanco rather than for the
ranch on lineup Creek.
Pixie snuggled down in front of
Jim as they left Blanco behind.
Accustomed to the saddle, the collie
was quite contented to be a pas
senger. Occasionally he turned his
head to lick the hand of his master.
Like most CANNES. he had supreme
confidence that all would be well
with him while he was so near the
lord Of his world.
Silcott sat the saddle lightly, at
loose ease, following the gunbarrel
road across the sage fiat. He was a
man fearless by nature, at times
reckless, but never foolhardy. AS
he Travelled, his gaze searched the
brush on both sides of the sand
ribbon which stretched before him
for many miles. 1t was not likely
that any of his enemies would lay
for him here. Too many settlers
rode or drove this way going to
or from town. The chances of being
seen would be overmuch.
When he came opposite a gap in
the hills, Jim swung from the road
through the gray vegetation. His
horse began to climb. for the coun-
try was now a rolling one as it
rose and fell in waves toward the
ridge in front of him.
Follows No Trail.
Silcott followed no trail, for he
knew this country as he did the
palm of his hand. Detouring widely,
he moved up and down the slopes,
taking such cover as the country
afforded. Nobody could be looking
for him in these huddled hills. Far
ther ahead there would be- danger
points, Rabbit Ear Gap for one,
and after that the canyon below.
Anybody who took the Swanson
cutoff had to go through the Gap.
There was no escape from it. since
peaks rose sheer on either side.
The sun rose high above Rabbit
Ear peak. Rocky ridges rose steeply
toward the pass. Jim pulled up,
to rest his horse and to let. Pixie
down for a run.
The Gap was looking just above
him now. A short stiff cliff would
bring him to the entrance of the
defile. Looking up at it, faint
chill ran down his spine. He won-
dered if this was warning, if
that sixth sense of awareness to
imminent danger, common to men
who lived on the perilous frontier,
was telling him to be vigilant.
Lightly he dismissed the thought,
but he travelled more slowly, scan
ming every rock and shrub to make
sure as possible that it did not hide
a foe. Smiling at the precaution
he drew the rifle from it's boot.
Silcott stopped Blaze and sent
Pixie forward to the pass. He
knew that if the pup met anybody
or scented anything suspicious he
would stand and bark. He might
do that If he saw chipmunk or a
rabbit, in which case his master
would have to make up his mind
what to do about 1t. But If the
collie, ranging over the ground,
raised no alarm he might be pretty
sure the cut was safe to travel.
Horse Runs for Town.
Pixie ran forward, nosing the
ground for scent, and turned to the
right. Called back by Silcott and
directed to go straight toward the
Gap, the dog advanced another
so yards before he went of at a
tangent. A third time the rider
headed the pup for Its objective.
Apparently Pixie now caught the
idea. for he trotted steadily to the
summit. just before reaching the
gateway he pulled up and lifted his
head. He was looking and listening
as dogs do, uncertain as to what
this unknown qnantity in front of
him was, some presence which he
Ill