The Trail to Yesterday

companionship, and despite the novelty of the sight she had become decidedly wearied of looking at the cowboys in their native haunts. Not that they did not appeal

out of the joys of this new life, had le

ibuted this change in him to the country-it was hard and rough, and of course it was to be expected that Langfo

his character during the first days of their acquaintance were quite correct-he was selfish, narrow, and brutal. He had accompanied her and her

assuring her that Duncan was not a "bad fellow," and though she had not taken issue with him on this point she had decided that

s morning saddling her pony at the corral gates wh

t me throw that sa

ing his presence known. "I prefer to put the saddle on myself," she re

paper, and proceeded to roll a cigarette. When he had

morning,"

the dark red in her cheeks. She continued to work with the s

ning," said Duncan. "We've got some strays penned up there. But your dad won

, pulling at the rear cinch, the pony display

rec

htening and facing him, "why you h

ng him, telling him what I know about it. There's a chance that I won't be with t

on all the knowledge of ranch lif

arkly, but d

hes she led the pony beside the corral fence, mounted

lt and sat in the saddle, looking down at him wit

s going with your

tment on his face. But without giving him any further satisfaction she urged her p

comfiture, reveling in the thought that for once she had shown him that

as also the first time that she really appreciated the vastness and beauty of the country. For the trail to the river, which she had decided she would follow, led through a fertile country where the bunch grass grew long and green,

discovered that its promise of continuing green was a mere illusion, for the grass grew here in bunches, the same as it grew on the Double R side of the river. Yet though she was slightly disappointed she fo

its banks, searching for the shallow which she had crossed some time before. A dim trail led along the river and she felt certain that if she followed it long enough it would lead her to the crossing, but after riding half a

and in time she would come in sight of the Double R buildings. Certain that she had missed the shallow because of her interest in other things, she urged her pony about and cantered it slowly over the back trail. A little later, seeing an arroyo which seemed to give p

it was dry and made fairly good footing for her pony. The animal acted strangely, however, when she

through the clear water she could easily see the hard, sandy bottom. It puzzled her slightly to observe that there were no wagon tracks or hoof prints in the sand anywhere around her, as there would be were the crossing used ever so little. It seemed

ung to desperation the pony stood erect for an instant, pawing the air frantically with its fore hoofs, and then, as the quirt continued to lash its flanks, it lunged fo

was merely exhibiting obstinacy, she applied the quirt to its flanks. T

ll clear in spite of the pony's struggling, and sat suddenly erect, stifling cry of amazement. The p

er of the river splashing against her booted legs. And now knowledge came to her i

membered now that Duncan had warned her of the presence of quicksand in the river, but the chance of her riding into any of it had seemed to be so remote that she h

them in books, and knew that the pony was hopelessly mired. But it seemed that there could be no immediate danger, for the river bottom looked smooth and hard; i

sand and the water darkened around it. She tried again in another spot, putting a little more weight on her foot this time. She went in a

utting her eyes on the desolate world around her, battling against the great fear that rose within her and choked her. When she opened her eyes again the world was reeling and objec

must have come fifteen or twenty feet in the two or three plunges it had made. She found herself wondering how it could have succeeded in coming that distance. Behind her the water had

the right and left the grayish-black sand spread far, but only a short distance beyond where she

to her, however, and her heart sank when she reali

ers. The animal whinnied appealingly and she stifled a sob of remorse over her action in fo

deep in the sand of the river bottom. With a cry of fright she drew them out and crossed them before her on the pommel of the saddle. With the movement the pony sank several inches, it seemed to her; she saw the water suddenly flow ove

the surface of the sand, the water would flow over them and obliterate all

n, and this time it seemed there was a new note in the sound-a note of hope! She raised her head and looked up. And

y or laugh, finally compromising with the appeal

lease get us

oice sound sweeter in her ears; at that moment she almost f

LEASE GET US

coil his rope and recoil it again into larger loops.

the very edge of the quicksand, and as she raised her hands she saw him twirl the rop

"I'm sorry-but it can't be helped. Get your feet off to one side so that y

ordeal, dreading still more the thought of her

Sheila slipped off the saddle and into the water, trying to keep her feet under her. But she overbalanced

ground and was at her side before she had cleared the water, h

said frigidly, as h

she fumbled with the rope and finally threw it

grateful to him, but that was no reason why he should presume to speak familiarly to her. She really

at him and trying her best to be scornful, he seemed to be laboring heroically to sti

s and in the sudden, curved lines that had come around his mouth. "Still, you couldn't expect to look d

hat I have amused you!" sh

face, but was instantl

n't forgotte

turned her back to him and looked

t again?" he s

and looked at him,

ou were human you would be trying to get my pony out of th

r. Evidently he observed it for he smiled as he walked to his pony, coiling his rope and hanging it from the pommel of the saddle. "I

save the pony first

her with an amused glance, "with

ater from her skirts, trying to get her hair out of her eyes, feeling very miserable, and wishing de

quicksand. She watched him as he rode to the water's edge and looked a

t anything of him above the sand but his head and a little o

do something?" she pleaded. "Couldn't you p

you reckon would have happened to you if I had

ward him melting under the warmth of her affection and sympath

his left, I reckon. Pulling him out by the neck would break it, sure. And it's never a nice

ace with her hands, for his words

aid and bec

nt, watching her, his f

ould thank me for doing it if he could have anything to say about it." He walked over close to her, speaking in a low voice. "You can

. He relapsed into silence, and stood grav

She certainly could not walk to the Double R ranchhouse, even to satisfy a desire

nsible for your safety in this country he isn't showing very good judgment in letting you run around alone. There are

nger over his present solicitation for her welfare, as

some self-respect, after all. Contrition, too, she th

ou, anyway," he said

woman's name not 'hurting'

that's all. But I haven't told anybody about what happened-I haven't even hinted it to anybody. And I told the parson to get out of the country, so he wouldn't do

im did not lessen the gravity of the offense in her eyes. She told herself that she hated him with a remorseless passion which

ng for you if I did die-or get killed. But I'm not allowing that I'm ready to die yet, and certainly am not g

when she saw his lips suddenly straighten and

s a mighty good thing that you didn't-for your father. Like as not if you'd tell him he'd get some riled and come right over to

ike you shot that poor fellow in

"You saw me shoot Blanca, of course, for you were there. But you don't know wh

pose you take a certain pride in your ability to murde

murdered," he drawled, usi

you have others in mind-whom you will sh

s eyes the reckless gleam which she had noted that night while in

" she said, holding her chin high and averting her fac

d," he returned, mimicking her

mile, which she saw by glancing covertly at him while pretending to arrange the stirrup strap. When she

me," he said with mock bi

a grimace at him.

irely welcom

n her pony on a day some weeks before, and when she turned he waved a hand to her. A little later she vanished over