OCR Text |
Show TURNING POINT fl 0W)i MarV ,m,ay Taylor 3S.W? W.N. U. RELEASE t-yj 4 THE STORY THUS FAR: Sherwln tells Mac that Stenhart Is bis cousin. It was Stcnhart's testimony Lhat convicted con-victed Sherwln of killing their uncle. After eight years, he escaped from prison pris-on and finally tracked Stenhart to the ranch to kill him. They went to the tables and got two horses. Old Mac led the way to a trail that led up to the cliff. Hobbling their horses they proceeded proceed-ed on foot to a hidden cabin Old Mac had known about for years. But Jordan was In the cabin! Jordan escaped again. Mac advised Sherwln to skip at daybreak. day-break. "I don't believe you did It," Mac aid as he rode away, leaving Sherwln to tare after him, Sherwln bedded down In the brush to wait out the night. CHAPTER VII There was small likelihood of Jordan Jor-dan following so far, and Sherwin turned back to the mountain path at last, with a feeling that Mac, at least, was safe. It was half an hour later when he found himself near the cabin again. He had approached from the ledge and stood In the shadow of a live oak, listening intently. Personally, he had no thought that Jordan would return here, for Jordan did not really real-ly know how many had been in the attacking party, and he must know that the sheriff was after him with a posse. Sherwin reasoned that he would scarcely venture back that night and, on the other hand, Mac thought that he, Sherwin, meant to leave at daybreak. He smiled grimly, grim-ly, he wanted Mac to think just thatl Meanwhile, he hid his food pack and his blanket; he should not starve while he waited. And he intended to wait here until he met Stenhart again face to face. He advanced cautiously, made sure that the cabin cab-in was empty, and, determined to take no risks, found a spot in the redwoods where he could look out on a scene as bright as day with moonlight, himself unseen; and unrolling un-rolling his blanket, he lay down there to rest. He wanted to smoke, but the chances were against that, although he believed himself to be utterly alone. He clasped his hands under his head and lay there thinking think-ing steadily, not only of his purpose, pur-pose, but of the past. He recalled his uncle's violent end. The old man had made a will in Stenhart's favor, having quarreled with Sherwin's father, fa-ther, then, when his father died, the eccentric old man sent for him, liked him, and spoke of altering his will and dividing the property between be-tween his two nephews. No ene knew of this. He had spoken only to Sherwin, and, when he was found dead, Max Stenhart accused the cousin who was, he said, cut off and disinherited because of a quarrel. He had come upon Sherwin just after aft-er the latter discovered the dead man, and he swore the knife was in his cousin's hand. Perjury? Yes! Sherwin could have believed that his cousin had killed the old man to make sure of his Inheritance before be-fore the will was changed, but Max had proved his alibi. There was no one to testify for the newcomer, the nephew who was little known In the neighborhood. Sherwin had escaped from jail by a mere accident. Two other convicts con-victs had tunneled a way out, and at the last moment they Invited him to join them. The thought of liberty lib-erty had set him wild; he had taken their chances, jumped Into the river with them, got ashore In the dark and, with their help, changed Into another suit of clothes. He had one faithful friend who had taken care of the little money he had of his own. He had got that secretly and, against the pleadings of his friend, started west after Stenhart! Search for him had been so far fruitless; he had been advertised, tracked all in vain. The fates were with him; he would not be taken until un-til he had reckoned with his enemy, the man who had sworn away his liberty. He had found him! Found him making love to a girl who could not know how vile he was, the liar! And that girl? Sherwin rose and began to walk to and fro; he had forgotten the outlaws, out-laws, what were they to him? He was himself an outlawl Jane had recoiled as If he were In very deed the criminal Stenhart's black He had made of him. Love is so close to hate that he almost hated Jane In the passion of his shame that she had scorned him for Stenhart's sake. More than once, when he had looked Into her eyes, his stern purpose to kill the man had wavered. She had roused the best that was In him, but now her shudder of horror at the crime had turned him Into a human tiger. He wanted blood nothing else but Stenhart's blood would satisfy his fury. He would kill him. Jane had passed a sleepless night, new experience for her cheerful youth, and she rose early, dressed In her riding-suit and slipped out into the hall long before breakfast time. She was going out and she did not want questions asked. She had 'phoned to the stables to have Tex saddled and waiting. The wide old hall was flooded with morning light and, almost unconsciously, uncon-sciously, her eyes turned toward Jim's desk. She seemed to see Sherwin. standing there as on that first night. She stopped a moment and stood looking at it, remembering remember-ing every word that he had said. She was still there, motionless, when she heard a step behind her. She looked up, startled, and saw Stenhart ! "I didn't know you got about so early," she exclaimed. "How much , better you are!" He took no notice of her little halfhearted half-hearted attempt at lightness. He came close, looking down at her with his stormy eyes. i "Where are you going, Jane?" he demanded gravely. She flushed hotly. "Out for a canter can-ter before breakfast," she answered shortly. He did not believe it, she saw that in his eyes, and her flush deepened. He leaned his hand on the desk beside be-side hers. She could feel the emotion emo-tion that shook him and she dreaded dread-ed it. She tried to escape. "I must be going " she began nervously. "Jane! " She raised her eyes reluctantly to his. "You're not fully yourself yet, Max. you look pale sit down here, let me call Fanny ' He laughed bitterly. "You can't evade me, Jane. I'm here for my She was still there, motionless, when she heard a step behind her. answer. Will you marry me now at once?" "Are you quite generous? I asked you to give me timel" she parried. "I've given you time! I'm human, hu-man, Jane, I can't endure this any more. Will you marry me now?" He had laid his hand over hers on top of the old desk. She felt it trembling as she drew hers sharply away. "I'm sorry," she said in a low voice, "but I can't!" "Do you mean not now? Or never?" nev-er?" he was breathing hard. Jane felt a sudden fear of him, a fear she had never felt of Sherwin, Sher-win, though Sherwin was a convicted convict-ed murderer! She tried to give him a friendly smile, but her lips shook. "I mean never. Max." There was a moment of intense silence. The sweet morning air coming In through the window lifted the soft hair on her forehead; she was pale but her blue eyes shone. Something in his look and his manner man-ner angered her. "I know why, Jane!" he exclaimed ex-claimed bitterly. "I'm sorry, Max, I must go I'll see you again at breakfast." He caught her wrist violently. "You shan't go! You're in love with tfcat fellow!" "You've no right to say that to me!" Jane flashed at him angrily; then she remembered that he had been ill, and relented. "It's all over, Max; can't we be friends?" He shook his head, folding his arms and standing there, motionless. motion-less. His expression was sullen, but there was a strange Light in his dark eyes. "Oh, if you don't want to be friends!" Jane turned away proudly. proud-ly. "I'm going out now. Max!" She lifted her chin scornfully. He was behaving like a sulky boy, she thought; she liked to see a man lose like a good sport, like well, like a brave man! Stenhart said nothing at all, but she was aware of his tall figure motionless mo-tionless there behind her. She felt his eyes on her back, but she hurried hur-ried away, ran down the slope to the stable and swung herself into the saddle. "I'll be back presently, Jose," said she lightly, giving Tex his head. The vacquero stood watching her ride off, a smile on his dark face. "She some rider!" he thought. Tex had cleared the bridge almost at a bound. The horse was full of pep today, ready to run, but Jane rode like a boy. The man stood watching, shading his eyes with a hand burnt block by the sun. He was surprised at the way she went. So surprised that he Jumped when a voice spoke sharply at his elbow. "Saddle one of the horses, I want one right ofTI" The vacquero stared. "You able to ride, Meester Stenhar'?" "Get a move on you! Saddle up." Jose grinned, saddling a steady horse for this sick man. "He catch up with senorita, eh?" The grin widened into silent laughter. But he was amazed at the ease with which Stenhart mounted; he did not knuw that sheer rage can carry even a sick man far. But, after crossing the bridge, Stenhart slowed down his horse. He had glimpsed Jane far ahead and she might turn and look back; it was no part of his purpose to have her look back! Besides, in spite of his bravado, he was almost swaying in the saddle. Illness had weakened him and the sunshine seemed amazingly amaz-ingly vivid; his eyes ached. But his will power kept him erect on the horse, and he rose steadily. Now and then he lost sight of the rider In front but he knew there was no cross-road and he could afford to give her a long lead. She was not riding so fast now; in a way he sensed that she was looking for some spot, or expected to meet some one. He had had that in mind from the first! The flame of jealousy within him leaped up and tortured him. He saw nothing of the beauty of the day, the near hills green and brown, the distant blue peaks against the blue sky, the shadows in the canyons, the wooded spurs, the slopes of Las Pa-lomas Pa-lomas falling behind him. Presently Present-ly his horse forded a wide stream. It ran swiftly, and it seemed to him his ear caught the sound of a cataract somewhere in the ravine, then he saw Jane so close ahead that he reined In violently. His horse plunged and he was near discovery. But, happily for him, the girl took no thought of being followed; she had found an unused trail and turned into It. For an instant Stenhart thought he had lost her and his heart beat stormily, then he sighted her through the trees. He dismounted, hid his horse in the brush and followed fol-lowed on foot. Ten yards up the trail she had slipped from the saddle sad-dle and vanished up a steep ascent. as-cent. Passing Tex, where he was cropping grass, Stenhart crept after her, treading softly, and, as he climbed, the tumult of the cataract came nearer and nearer; it must be below him- now, hidden by the trees. Far up he caught a glimpse of a slender figure still ahead and he followed doggedly. Sherwin had slept heavily, physically phys-ically exhausted, and it was sunrise when he awoke. The solitude of the wooded height seemed drenched in peace. He saw only great tree-trunks tree-trunks about him, and the sun had not yet penetrated their dense shade. Somewhere a bird sang sweetly. For a moment it seemed Impossible that he had fallen asleep with hatred in his heart, but his first waking consciousness broght it all back; he was to stay here, hidden, until he killed Stenhart! Nothing less would satisfy his thirst for vengeance. He opened his food pack and ate sparingly; there was a lovely spring close at hand, and he lacked for nothing now. His meal finished he rose and began to explore the place; it was evident that Jordan had not returned. There was no sound but those innumerable small noises of life in the woods, and the music of the cataract far below him. He moved on in profound leisure, and since he did not now Intend flight he had ample time on his hands. Presently he came upon a rocky ledge and, as he climbed, his foot slipped, and he rolled down Into some brambles and felt a strong current of air. Only slightly bruised from his fall, he rose to his knees and found that he had torn the brambles away from the open mouth of a cavern. The keen breeze that came from it lifted the hair on his forehead; there must be another opening somewhere. Curiosity made him explore carefully. No one had known of this spot; it was webbed with cobwebs, choked with roots, and he pushed them aside and entered, stooping. To his surprise, he found himself in a cavern cav-ern of considerable size. Away from it ran a passageway through which the wind blew keenly. He struck a match, found an old bit of wood on the floor, the broken root of some tree, and succeeded in firing it. Carrying Car-rying his improvised torch carefully, he explored and found a twisting passage that led downward a long way. He could not follow it to the end without more light; his torch was failing him, and he recollected recollect-ed the candle In Mac's cabin. He turned back at once. He had chanced on an ideal hiding place and he must know It thoroughly, know, too, If Jordan had found the other opening. Emerging, he rearranged re-arranged the screen of brambles and made his way, more cautiously, toward the cabin. There was always al-ways the possibility that Jordan or his pals might return there. But It was vacant, and he had ample time to look for what he needed most, candles and matches. He found only the one half-burnt candle and two matches, evidently tossed there by the watcher after he had lighted his pipe. There was an old blanket, a remnant of Mac' camping - out there, and a coll of rope. Sherwln stood still, staring at that coll of rope; suddenly It had an Immense Im-mense ilgniflcance it brought Into hii mind a full-fledged schema of vengeance! The cave and the ropel (TO BE CONTINUED) |