The evening world. Newspaper, January 31, 1914, Page 9

oe Se naman i 8 A ING iy ROT OTE TTP AAR SIT a “SThe Evening World Daily Magazine. Saturday: January 31, 1914 LOMPLETE NOVEL EACH WEEK 4 omnos—————10 000 2230p 0 nono =. MAI DS oO F The adventures of an exiled American, | | “ a C ase OOOOHOOD: DAY 4 THE TRAIL TO ‘Adventures of a Real Man and a Real Girl = ; inaReal Country” | By Charles Alden Seltzer Author of “The Two-Gun Man.” Etc. (Coprright, 1018, by Outing Publishing Co.) - OBHDHHHOHODHHDOTDOHODHSHOGHHOHI 2) GOO? PA RADISE thrown on his own resources in wartime France; and the roles two wonderful woren layed in his life drama. This is one of By Robert W. Chambers pos Sos—0 fos B0) Te into te [Begins Next Monday in The Evening World hold the reader's breathless interest. iF instalment is filled with action and will oo nos ho 0 0 8 0 0 0 00 00 =I based that, too; she could almost feel “This means"—he pointed to Lang- lived in Altany before he went West. he could not consider anybody! But nobody came, and the his fingers, and the words he had ford—"that we're going to have a His father, William Keegles, was in feelings, And in spite of wees he ialahoe AEGGNE (he cull EFSW 00 Obs uttered then were fresh in her mom- little talk—about things.” the hardware business with a man had gone he was stil determined te ory: Sheila rome. “I don't care to hear named Langford—-Dbavid Dowd Lang- secure revenge Preasive that she felt she must “Pve treated you mean, Sholla— any talk; I am not interested.” ford, You see, [ couldn't be mis “One day Langford came to Kee. cream, about as mean as a man could treat — “You'll be interested in MY talk,” taken in the name of the man—it's gles with a proposal, He had seem whi darkness succeeded dusk a woman, am sorry. | want you d Dakota, such an uncommon one,” eoxles Kill one man, and he wanted she lighted the keroseen lamp, placed to believe that. And maybe some riounly, he seemed to be invested He smiled significantly at Sheila, to hire him to kill enother—a maw » day-—when this business is over with a new cha Just now he and an odd expression came into her named Doubler. Keegles agree, ® bar over the window, secured the you'll understand and forgive me.” an he had been face, for she remembered that on the the purpose of getting door fastenings, and seated herself ‘There hag been m: "i i it hE tt “il wey at 3 CHAPTER XIV. Doubler Talks. FTER the departure of the doctor Sheila entered the cabin and closed the door, fastening the bare and “ drawing @ chair over near the:table. Doubler seemed to be rest- easier, though there was a flush hte cheeks that told of the pres- of fever. € ° , he breathed more regu- and with less effort than before coming of the doctor, and as a uence, Shella felt decidedly al the table, determined to take a short nap. It seemed that she had scarcely dropped off to sleep—though in real- ity she had been unconscious for more than two hourse—when she awoke suddenly to see Doubler sit- ting erect in the bunk, watching her with @ wan, sympathetic smile. ‘There was the light of reason in his eyes and her heart gave an ecstatic leap. “Could you give me a drink of water, ma'am?” he said, in the voice that she knew well. She sprang to tho pail, to find that it contains very little. She had lifted it, and was about to unf. the door, intending to go to the ri to procure fresh water, when Doub- ler'’s voice arrcoted her. “There's some water there—I can hear it splashin’. It'll do well enough just now, 1 don’t want much. You can get some fresh after a while, i want to talk to you,”, She placed the pail down and went over to him, standing beside him. “What ie it?” ashe asked. “How long have you been here? I knowed you was here all the time—I kept seein’ you, but somehow things was a little mixed. But [ know that you've been here quite a while. How jong?" ¢ “This is the second night.” the first time, and though she could not yet understand it, she had dis- covered that there were forces ut work in his affairs which seemed to indicate t he had not told her that for the purpose of attempting to jus- tify his previous actions. Evidently, whatever the mystery that surrounded him, her father and Duncan were concerned In it, and this thought spurred her on, for it gavo her a keen delight to think that she was arrayed against them, even though she were on the aide of the man who had wronged her. He, at least, had not been con- cerned in the plot to murder Doubler, When she reached the last rise—on the crest of which she had sat on her pony on the morning following her marriage to Dakota in the cabin from which she had seen the parson riding away—she was trembling with eagerness and dread for fear that something might happen before sho could arrive, It was three miles down slope, and when she reached the level there was Dakota's cabin before her, fhe drew her pony to a walk, for she saw men grouped in front of the cabin door, saw Dakota there him- self, standing in the open doorway, framed in the light from within, ‘There were no evidences of the con- flict which she had dreaded, She tery in hia ac- the night she had met him the first night of her coming he had made tho tn tions ever since she had seen him ‘be hi i marry him—than he had been since. Only, she felt as she watched him standing quietly in the middle of the room, the recklessness which hay r that other time irely disappeared, have been replaced by else—determination, the drooping mustache lines of his lips; they always seemed hard to her, and now there were little curves at the corners which hinted at amusement-~ im amusement, Hin eyex, too, were ferent; the mockery had departed from them, ‘They were steady and unwavering, as before, and though they still baf- fled hor, she was certain that saw @ slumbering devil in them, as though he ponsessed some mysterious knowl- edge and purposed to confound Sholla and her father with it, though In h own way and to suit his convenience. Yet behind ti Hi there lurked « certain gravity—a cold deliberation that seemed to proclaim that he was in no mood to trifle and that he pro- posed to follow some plan and would brook no Interference. Fascinated by tho change tn him, Sheila resumed her seat on the edge of the bunk, watching him closely. K He drew a chair over near the door, tilted it back and dropped into it, thus mutely announcing that he in- tended keeping the prisoners until he : Dakota heattated, for Langford od Keoglen got aick and risen to his fort and stood ieokiag at took me into his confidence. Ho him, his eyes bulging, hie face livid wasn't In the West for his health, he "You!" he said, t é anid. He was a fugitive from the tng vol “you-you i hee Ki law, accused of murdering his father, gles! You you WV hh; - It wasn't «a nice story to hear, but nesitated and passed 9 id uncer. he told it, thinking he was going to tainly over tis, fo looking die.” from Shella to Dakota with singed Dakota amiled enigmatically at oyex, Shella and coldly at the now shrink You-you are a liar!” he ing man seated in the chair beside vamed, hie voice raised (ae the fireplace. 1 opiteh. “Tt tan't so! You— “One day Keogles went into his fath- of you--have conspired aval ex's office, His father’s partner, David : A <% Dowd Langford, was there, talking to |" Walt!) Dakota got to his feet, hie father, Thoy'd bad hard words, Walked to a shelf and took down @ Keegle’s father had discovered that *Mall glass, u pair of shears, a shave Langford bad appropriated a large !9® cup and a ragor. sum of tho firm's money. By forging While Langford watched, starting eyes, his partner's signature he had es- *t him with fearful, wondert caped detection until one day when Dakota deftly snipped the he elder Keegles had accidentally dis- Mustache with the shears, lathered covered the fraud—which was the day D* Ip and shaved it clean. on which Ned Keegles visited his he turned and confronted Langtord father. It isn't necessary to go into | The latter looked at him with one detall, but it was perfectly plain that long, intense gaze, and then with a Langford was gullty. dry sob which caught In his throat “There were hard words, as I have and seemed to choke him, he covered id. The elder Keegles threatened to hie Tace with his hands, ‘shuddered rosecute, Langford seized a sample COnVulsively, and without a sound knife that had been lying on the elder pitched forward, face down, at Dae ‘a desk, and stabbed him, kill. kota’s fect. ing him inatantly. Then, while Ned Koegles stood by, stunned by the sud- CHAPTER XVII dennens of the attack, Langford cool- . At intervals during the night “You found me layin’ there—in the gave him quantities of the medi- door. I dropped there, not bela’ abi to go any further. I felt you touchin’ whieh the doctor had left, but _,, in’ e— drag me. The $ ) when the fover ecemed to in- cise btn Whee f forcing the liquid through ‘The doctor and Dakota. lips. Several times she changed {;Where's Dakota now?’ . “At his cabin, I suppose. He didn't the bandages, and once or twice dur- say here long—he left right after ne img the night when he moaned sho brought the doctor, I im pulled her chuir over beside him and know why he didn’t id notified had arrived in time att he iy walked to @ telephone an Into the Unknown. Convinced of this, she felt for the PAd delivered Himeelt Of tnmtied to {ho police of the murder, Hanging up babs first time her physical weariness, and }6 jn his mind. the receiver, he raised the hue and A TER a time Sheila rose she leaned forward on her pony, hold- "“Giancing fyrtively at her father, CtY, and @ doxen clerks burat into the the bunk on which she ing to its mane for support, &D- ghelin obmerved that he appeared to oe Se te ankaat been altting and stood in proaching the cabin slow! baerved, have formed some sort of a conclu- the Knife ) the centre of the floor, ldok+ Her father was there, she observed. sion regarding Dakota's actions also, ‘Me ing down at her fath as she drew nearer; and three for he sat very erect on his chair, | “Langford accused Ned Keegles of at her father. strangere—and Allen! And near Al- staring at the latter, an intense in- the murder. He protested, of course, Dakota had not moved, len, sitting on his horse dejeciedly, torent in his eves. | but seeing that the evidence was He stood also, watching Langford. was Duncan! becor led ; against him, he fought his way out of ro father told her about sending Duncan needed now more than ever, Then, “One of Duncan's arms awung oddly ,,snelle fad become Wntereed fon; Teele o and escaped. He went to ny race Pale and grim, und he did emoothed his forehead, soothing him. ®frald that you would recognize him to Lazetie for the Sheriff, “If you at his side, and Shella thought in- f ss 1 met hot speak until Sheila had “ accuse him.” 9 hurrying as best she could with the yet Dakota's firat words disappointed Dakota—where I me! ma. addressed: ‘When the dawn came it found her “™Accuse him of what, ma'am?” oy (oking for him. 1 want to tell weight of the pail, she returned to the Maing near is curse when he had been her_somehow they seemed irrevelant. | He hesitated and looked steadily at him twice, heavy eyed and tired. “Of shooting you." : By we ainole suont aber. 2 mains oem Tossing. “This isn't such @ big world, after Langford. “What are you going to do now?” was Duncan. Doubler told me so not cabin, Evidently Allen's bullet had struck 41) is itp “Do you see how the trails bave she said dul LJ now’ fi i 50. "— relieved him. i$ t rossed— rooked and the ly. “It is for you to say, “But ‘Allen hed spurred kis pony Deuvier bed fecnest t ery a Sheila's presence at Dakota's cabin 9, ie ad po de ger Noe one? oe you know. You hold his Iife in your forward, : wan now unnecessary, for it was evi- father, though he looked at neither. y heatar” te wan outoe Bearing detente: nding she paused long enough to allow him Jan thet am understanding had been His tone was quietly conversational Langford was leaning forward . hia She went to the river and procured He smiled. “I reckon, ma‘am, that “fwesh water, washed her hands and face, prepared a breakfast of bacon aad eoda biscult—which she found “Dot” He smiled bitter; hee. to tell h hat Duncan had entered reached with Allen, and Shella ex- and when he received no answer to y at {me tin-box in a corner of the cabin, shy by "”— ihe enka; etintha end oMahella lingered: ‘at the water‘ edge, the aba aay after she had left it, De a Cares aversion to ap- Ld pealad he looked up with a quiet teeth and pene ee ‘a we Micr you do? I have waited ised = at ly - for ring among the men. “4 q this a aad then, as Doubler seemed to be ainiy crect, a mysterious elation fill- tobe Lie indies ald ES He had attacked Doubler, but had Pearing orhet pony, sho was about “That has been sald by a t ve ‘I didn't i the ana day. It must goes* deing nicely, she saddied her pony tf erat Kill him! Ned Keegies"— ‘ iy. ing her, h es wide with surprise and she was no longer lonesome. been interrupted by Allen, who had to ride away, intending to return to many pie, hasn't it? I've heard it Kill him! Ned Keegieg ee on. his “The or a&@ took a short gallop. Returning, and delight and a fear that Doubler tood on the bank of the river, suddenly ridden up. Duncan had Doubler’s cabin, when Allen turned many Rimes, 1 reckon you have too. oneip and walked to a shelf, from « ond vir eke Ar.tered the cabin, to find Doub- might have been mistaken. “Why, I gazi long at the shadowy rims of heard him coming and had concealed “od saw her. He spurred quickly But it's a fact just the same, The Svit, See tox, reversing to ‘Yes, the end,” he sald gravely. ; & 5 restiesaly. oon Dakota Ge the river trail just the distant mountains, at their peaks, himnelf behind the door, and when is (ong Lenya! Slag’ a world {e,8 amall Place, ‘Take us three, hee . “He"—Dakota pointed to the press ; crgeare Rim a dose of the medi- “fled just lett me. Ho hadn't been mist” of ‘ihe ‘night; at the, plains, Allen had enlered Duncan had struck the cabin ‘door, wou wut here from albany ferestie® ey ) trate feure—‘must sign = written — 4 extra large one—but it had gone more than ten minutes or 80 stretching and fading into the him on the head with the butt of his “It's all right, ma’am, sald. @ ranch. You," he smiled at Sheila, ooo po blad Confession. Py effect, quieting him only mo- when Duncan rode up—comin’ out of mysterious shadows of the distance: gix.,hooter, knocking him down, pt a ho exclaimed “came with your father as @ matter Ct "knite was “And then?” eatarily. Evidently he was grow- j'Cei!"nod been hisin’ there. I was shimmering ike, wer aativer'ce bund The blow had been glancing One, fignt.” “You certainly rode some, ‘aoe Ned Keegies,” ho sald slowly, “These “He will return to answer for bid ; he looked again at Lang- * worse, The thought aroused ap- cleanin’ my rifle; we had words, and of glowing ribbon winding in and out howover, and Allen had recqvered didn’t you, ma’am? night have bought @ ranch in father’s ‘blood. t eat toemt ne ae: ford, blood. Look at tuem!” he tat a prehension in her mind, but she when I set my rifle down just outside and around the moon-touched buttes quickly, seizing Doubler’a rifle and | She did not answer. She saw her another part of the country. You did ra bad turned ,,Sbeile ehuddered and turned them ie fought it down and stayed resolutely the shack he grabbed it an’ shot me. of the canyons, Npiie, to bein down the. would-be father look at her, noted hie start; not need to buy this particular, one, Rais ene tat toe TAD him with bowed head. 5 8 ‘ por "Oh!" sh id irrelevantly, “he observed . e, I epent five “ont” waid at last; at the sick man's side. Aree exrept that some one was ian't so bad after all!” z murderer as ho fied. Peloness overspreading bis fac. yours In Dakota before I came here, ,,At the command he amine arcund tog horrible! “My friends’ tn the a Through the slow-dragging bours touchin' me—which must have been Stooping over again to fill the pail, While attending to Doubler’s ban- looked from him to Duncan — I've been here five years, 4 L toyed atory,” he sneered. —they will’— ne the morning she sat beside him, she heard a sharp clatter of hoofs gages Sheila repeated the conversa- the latter flushed and turned his ta wanted me to 0 * “A man up in y he turned . “Your friends,” he sald with ing him th Doss! 10 glad!" Then Allen's voice reached kota’s laugh when he return fo best care ible she sald, “I am so glad!" behind her. A horseman was racing had had witt ~ head. en All ice stay there; said he'd do most any- Thon he an onana bitterness. “Could your : as thinking now of Dakota's toward the river-toward her—bend- tion she had had with Allen cone her, as he spoke to Dakota ting for me {f 1 would, But l dida't g5°cnat same laugh had chilled her ‘ald than my friends the circumstances, but in spite 8h i tuation in which he had left “Spuis young woman has rode they J arting words to her the night before ing low over his pony’s mane, riding Ing the situation in whic! ey sat like Dakota; something kept he bad heard it during her y thought that I had Jee ber efforts the fever steadily rose, Pa"tne crest of the slope above the desperately. Sho placed the pail down Dakota, and instantly the nester's twenty miles to-night to wave YOnk ine that L ought to move around when le e bad heard it during ber yawn fatter in cold bloed fife at noon ho sat suddenly up in river—of his words, of the truth of and watched him. Apparently he did gnxiety for his friend took prece- Pde dis oot ; run away?" ow tle, I came here, I liked the place, e cabin, with Dakota alt Re bunk and gased at her with biaz- his statement denying his gullt, and not see her, for awerving suddenly he hospitable, you'd” aa. I've stayed he: the table-a bitter, mockt Sar ncud oy the was gind that she had not spoken made for the crossing without slack. dence over any thoughts for bis own Allen's volge seatie re " jaugh i that neither of you are controlled _ “I was innocent,” he 4 i spa. some of the spiteful things which had ening speod. immediate welfare. tant to Shella. the, Sraree, of, ue eae ey ane mune OF ron, Pe tanec aa te it a savawery con a grave omile | “You're a iar!" he shouted. "“Da- heen in her mind, How she had mis- He had almost reached the water's “There'll be trouble sure, now that ‘ren In (in h t es } 8 square! judged him! edge when there came a spurt of ajjen's left there,” he sald, “Dakota tried to reeled in the saddle, happened to me, but I've told you od abruptly and walked to “phe “[ reckon It's something to be glad flame from the door of Doubler’s cab- herself, failed, and that much Just to, prove my gouteer bie che egpagaueres story, were’ accused 2, ea ea a ecrwemn of, Tene Aa for, vemalled Doubler, miaunderstand- in, followed by tho sharp whip-like Won't be a heap easy with them depu- toppled imply forward over the laces It surely tent ao very bic When But it hasn't ali been told. With # &nd you can bel "1 yee ake from him, But recovering, {ng ner elation, “but T’reckon owe crack of a rite? ties.” pony’a neck an exolarhation, aaw Da- You conalder that three persons can beamirohed name and the thoughts abe sald, comin, ‘him, went to him, seizing his should i¢ to you—I'd have pulled my freight In the doorway of the cabin, clear- He told Shella to let the bandaging in pring Suddenly from the door- meet up like we've met—our trails which w with him all the time, Phy Bee tat the di will and forcing him back into the gure, if you hadn't come when you ly outlined against the flickering llght go until later, but she refused. Joyful one fer © him, . felt his arms around her. She leading us to the aame section of the life wasn't exactly PS Ris ; *' An’ I told you not to be comin’ of the interior, . And as §) i Mp . try fight Ned Keegies, He was young, ; in ane a eae ite tear an fits any more.” He laughed. “Ain't Shella watched another streak of fire “Dakota'll be needin’ you @ heap siruasied Or Ma ebe drifted into sq) how that concerns us,” nd it all preyed oa his ind 5 Sn. can i : te pay any a’ bit odd how things turn out—some- burst from the door and sho heard more than I need you,” he insisted, Oiyion! me . eaid Langten impatiently. ftor © while It Rareenee Bi at ¥ ‘do not but be mumbled, inexpressivel: times. I'd have died sure,” be re- the shrill sighing of the bullet, heard refusing to allow her to touch the —_—_——- “No,” returned Dakota, and now ‘d bit town w! Tes ee mntned, Pakele. She Pee ‘and he'd drink whiskey undil bi a ee wolem, you Sepik nes Lota ot ee tt he, cqulda’t, fOrEe Liven For, etter ail be te my a. Some Memories. don't sce, But there are trails that ot on seer Fane ths only tee 1 over 5 ? EN Bholla recovered con- lead everywhere. Fate marks them Li"iaiiets, living over and over | “But my vengeance,” he sald, eclousneas she was in Da- out—blagcs them. There ure tralle iain “the incident, of the murder, bitterness of his smile softening as that lead us into trouble, others that got so he couldn't stay in Dakota. looked down at her. kota’s cabin—in the bunk in jead us to pleasure—straight trails, Jie SOl Be Ni Si ahd tried to “Your vengeance?” She came which she had lain on an- crooked trails, trails that crome—ell forget, It was just the same—there to him, looking up into his face.“ other night in the yesterday Kinds, Folks start out on 4 crooked wax no forgetfulness, we to judge—to condemn? trail, trying to Ket away from some. “One night when he was on the trail the power which led us three i“It ain't so, I tell you. He's just me, an’ any man which could Mke he talked to me ain't—I a » the horseman curse. oo 5 f are going to live a tong while,” “"Huthe did not atop in his fightana DAndage®. “There'll bo the devil to CHAPTER XVI. 01 oe said. And then, to his gurprise, jy gn instant he had crossed the P&Y if any of them deputies try to A o bent over and kissed his fore- river, She saw him for an instant rush Dakota's shack. I want you to he said, shaking bis head, leaving his side festantiy, ber as he was outlined against the clear go down there right now. If you head with @ vigorous, negative mo- ay 1 her eyes allgt remo. oxy in the moonlight that bathed 6M walt i'll mebbe be too late.” | tlen;, “you're a heap mistaken—you mysterious Ae. | Te CoreMselzed tho crest of the slope and then he Was sheila hesitated for a moment and '¢ got him right at all.’ water pall Dropping the pail, Bhiela ran to- then, yielding to the entreaty in ‘He was quiet for a time after this, “«7 will get some fresh water, ward the cabin, fearing that Doubler Doubler’s eyes, she was at bis alde, toward the middle of the after- said, with a quick, smiling glance ®t naq suddenly become delirious and re of her life in this country, She rec- ¢hing, but pretty soon another ti : the power which you are toon @heile saw that his gase was him. ‘You'll want a freab drink, and had attacked Allen. pressing his hand. near here he met a woman, It was " * ognized it instantly. crosses the one they are on—maybe it call ‘Fate;' the power that Hoon Whelle wars ane paced softly Your bandages must be changed” “hut it secmed to her that tt had Ride, ma'am!" he told her, whon Of it oe en anny dio on the table, Wil be a straixht one that crosses a a ee ni toot ine trail which you bave followed wy fhe opened the door and stepped not heen Allen who had raced away she was ready to go, his checks theirs, with a straight man riding it. {Tt ues ing he queationed her, the yesterday of your life—will nog forth in the cabin. down into the darkness. from the cabin, and she had not flushed with excitement, bia eyes there wore the famillar chairs, the ~The man riding the crooked trall yi. "" discovered that she was the this power judge him—punish him? Ro you're stuck on that Langford — There was a moon, and the trail to gong moro than half way toward it pright. fireplace, the shelves upon which and the man riding the straight one Guichter of the man who had mur. “Please,” she plead , are you?” he demanded, laugh- the river was light enough for Hel © when sho saw another horseman “er pony sorted with eurpriso Were Dakota's tobacco tins and meet at, the place where the trails Gored his father-the daughter of MY sake, for—for”—her Tae ied se 1 see plainly, f coming. She halted to wait for him, sua cross, Such trails don't lead to any ‘~ and she came forward and fag. ‘Well, it won't do you any 08 Hiner clump in which Doubler Soy when he hulted and drew up be. When she brought her riding whip matches; there was the guitar, with to morrow; they are yesterday's David Dowd Langford!” sochina at?Cite onan te: we Ee peod, Dakota, ahe's—well, she's some jjaq gaid Duncan had beon hiding she gigg her she saw that it was the down against its flanks when turn- ‘ts gaudy string, suspended from the trails, and before the man riding ghejia, who was looking straight at Your wife's sake.” at you for something. She whuddered and made a detour to ghorier, ing from the corral gates, but it wall. If it had been raining she the crooked trail and the man riding tt it "He looked down at her for ai ti e. nything which is avoid passing close to it. “Who was it?” she demanded js from bd Dakota, her eyen alight with knowl i her tant, the hard lines of his. face t iieten t t of ded no second urging, and its pace might have Imagined that she was the straight trail can go any further gage, wtant, This took her some distance Out O° breathlessly. Ree I there has kot to be an accounting. °°F breaking into gentle,’ sympat ald about you. her way and sbe reached tne. river “Duncan! Allen cursed pictur. When tt splashed through the shallow just awakening from @ sleep in that yere TAM HON Te Oe an eed here, _ "Ned Keegles kept his silence, as cies hen his arma wout ‘The laughter died out of his eyes; ind w! eaquely and protanely. "Wher T got water of the crossing wus fully as other time, Sho folt a hand on her You"—he amiled gravely as he looked He had kept it for ton years” Fee jor, ung sho lenned against him, Ber , i for a deep acces- . ‘4 atk sumed Dakota. y became cold with menace. Aistance, searching f to the shack he was inside, stand- great as that o( Duncan's pony, which forehead, a damp cloth, and she 4t Langfrd—“have been riding a or head against his shoulder, while éhe “{ ain't Nstening to any more of sible spot into which she could 41D ine over Doubler, strangling him. The had previously’ passed through At. ae her eyes to gaze fairly Into crooked trail, T have been hanging ihe woman Eepughs park tae War went softly, sorta talk, I tell you! the eel) ing over which SKUNK! You waw right.” he added; Gncg on the hurd sand of tho river Dakutu' onto the straight one an beat Be en aot An hour later, standing side by ij The shallow crossing "it was him who shot Doubler!” ace on the he aboles's, could, Now we've got to where the fomfort. As he drank his "0 in the open doorw fo my Noyes open. Why!" he sho had ridden many times was not “ii6 continued rapidly, grimly, tak- trail it settled Into # long, swinging “Don't, please,” she said, shrinking. trails cross.” se, starting up, “he i fae away, and arhen (abe Siacbee ee tng a piece of puper from a pocket gallop, under which the milles flew by trom bin, {Meaning that you want an ox. Sroulbien Caneel efare Himesuage hie Langford, having: shea 1} juddered an‘ + and writing something on it. . ORE WY. planation of my actio burning ae - re. & Confession dictat y pa eoesenly he sald. “You—you “ht splashing, and looked up to ter “My men have got Dakota corraled rapidly and steadily, Shella drew the it occurred to her that she had Ut- that signed agreement, | suppoue? ; treat iid futee the woman mounted his pony and rode pres ¥ pee ene) beck,” Be sate. yo a horseman riding Into the Weer in his cabin. If he tries to get away Snimal up on the rises, breathing it tered the ume words to him before, sneered Lankford, looking, up. eee ee ie tar ne niured that it UP the river trail toward Laxette, —* And profanity gushed from bis from the cuponie ‘Tnstant she dis- they will do for him. I don't want sometimes, but on the levels she and, closing her eyes for a moment, “Still trying to ride the crooked Waid be a blo Khe father's mide, He slowly passed the timber clump _ jog Brag Bsn tba covered him, and once over the ford that to happen: there's too few urged it with whip and spur, and in she remembered. It had been when trast gmlleg Dakotm, WEe ine frat Te it hadn't been for a cowardly par. peat the cabln, and With bowed Bead and lay silent an jonieas. a th In the country as it is, : 1 * ; of o etl dor A the wihisuay the marrih elled up the long slope whic! sroct of the jumble of disconnected be turned his horse and rode directly eT nie" he held out the paper to S2mething more than an hour after he had tried to assist her out of the heard in his voice since he had begun Wud” never have. occurred Ned t the rise upon which, in another a Cui jeaving Doubler’s cabin, she flashed water at the quicksand ¢ rT id ft on t it bit », She “ halted her- ‘and get down to Dakota's cabin i q WANG CHOMPING, Ani speaking. m not worrying & Keegles would not hav hought of it me, Sheila caught her last @eatences Shella was able to gather aa tony Fev yroe yep ere halted with it, cilve it to Aud-one of ray by the quicksand crossing, which she uy on thut occasion his answer was about that agreement. Why, ian. tint he didn't hurt the woman; sh glimpse of the parson. ‘wo things of importance—perhaps his pon: ) meré-and toll him to scatter the estimated as being not more than I'd have shot mynelf before I'd have 44, a amen tal It was in the cold, bleak moy you re Langtree daughter, T Cthora and try to head cf Duncan i¢ twelve miles from her Journey's end, ‘he same, thot Doubler. “He's my friend—-tho (eft Him pure as she came-—mentally ei toring whon deskneen Ga " firat was that some one had bar she returned, seeing that he he comes that way. I'm aster him!” She was tired after her long vigil jon § won't. only real friend I've had in ten Langford slowly rose from his chair, 80t ¥ and the dawn not come, lHclty {i ” The paper fluttered toward he at Doubler's side, but the weariness She luy for 4 jong time, looking years." his lips twitching, his face working #o¢ Langford looked strangely dego~ him of Dakota's complicity in wae.6 J eng if he said shortly; Snatched at it, missed it, and sto was entirely physical, for her brain straight up at the ceiling, utterly Then when you signed the agree- gtrangely, his eyes wide and gluring, [ate out there on the trail fie plan to murder him and that he ,, (I'm Ber Aven county. What to take it from the ground. When Waa working rapidly, | filling | her tired, wondering vaguely what had ment you didn't monn to keep ea way she married him--Ned alune with thoughts more desolate she stood erect she saw Allen and his thoughts with picturesque conjec- become of her father, Duncan, Allen questioned Langford incautioualy, Keegies?” he said, his voice hich than bis surroundings, > pony silhouetted for an instant on ture®, drawing pictures in which she and the others. She would have disarmed by Dakota's earnestness. Keyed and shrill. He t J to Sheila Sheila shivered and snuggled closer the crest of the ridge on the other #&#W Dakota being shot down by Al- given much to have been able to lle ‘Ten yours ago a boy named Ned after catching Dakotn's nod. “Ia thin to Dakota, tle looked down at Rew aide of the river. ‘Then he vanished, 1¢h'# deputies, And he was Innocent! there for a time—a long time—and lea went to Dakota. Lam glad true? he demanded sharply, “Did With a sympathetic amile, + “She did not blame herseif for Dako- rest. e that you are familar with the you marry hii * eee she felts Keen Pe jut that was not to be thought of. he added WB OS snlie ss aia" ‘would amount to ve ued regret over ‘her treatment of him, She struggled to a altting positi rd started and stiffened in his a seeyey eset enough (4 oe ig “put hie face For Dakota, r her unjust suspicions. He had and when her eyes had beco his face suddenly ashen, 8h ully, and Langford sank limp- wal Penn cite ee Mare ‘at hia hat anna really peer. In earnest when he had customed to the light she knowing Keogles will nave mo jy into his chair, time they watched the huddled ble to supply the missing threads, was T in @ state of anxiety told her the night before on the river father sitting in a chair near explaining w lot,” continued Dakota. Dakota smiled with flashing eyes of the rider, They saw him “Well d to believe his friend capable ‘doing here?” Touch depravity, The second was “1, 7ou Se nee. of Ben Doubler, t he knew who had shot him; he ane said; “he has been" — o knew the man who had informed he ain't dead, of course,’ : Dako! id Sheriff, interrupting her. It es ba! te's duplicity—though S017, tu.o gholle that there waa rellof CHAPTER XV. 4 this man says you T married him,” returned I@hetla despaired of him supplying >rim. and excitement over thein- trail that he was not guilty—that place. Keegien went to Dakota— the crest of the rise--reach it. i “He ta very much better now,” she cident of Duncan's attack ¢verybody had misjudged him. Vivid — The door waa closed---barred, Sheila r » for it seemed that he was so14 him, scarcely able to conceal her I was, Ho was eighteen and ‘Then from the mountains in the hen “] " in her recollection was the curious glanced again at her father, and th wasn't very strong, a8 young men Idly, “because ho thought she Eastern distance came @ shaft of y growing worse, and wi delight. ‘Rut he has been very bad.” on Doubler and the subse- expression on his face whon he sald Guestionnaly at ‘Dake ‘vl iy a go. But he got a job punching cows was Langford's real daughter i light, striking the summit of the ree dusk came she began to feel a ‘Able to talk? Q quent shooting, togéther to her just before leaving her that watching her from the centro of the and [ got to know him pretty well— ile looked at Sheila with a glanco Where the rider bestrode bis pa of remaining with him in the King tO with a realisation of Dakota's dan- DURGA a pelleye pat oom, his face inscrut aned ty bunk with him. He took & of compassion, throwing both Into bold Tell6f, “Won't yo me?" joe» this mean? Where are to me because ook an ih- “Laver, when Keegles discovered For 4 moment the rider Ger, Gheila did not lose her composure. and that other time, when he had the others?” she demanded. fn him that the ‘woman was only Langford's pony, turned, glanced back an ” @he ran te the river and secured taken her by t! thd water, aware that it might be steadily into dere and looked “Allen and hi in hi ne back didn't like the work, because astopdaughter, he rine ‘ry, and was gone. romans to Lasetin® retusned Dakots quistiy, be bad been ‘reised diferentiy. “He Not for Lasetord, however, because ‘the tna) , a RIPE! ETT! ;