Show t mick tt 10 t 11 in pursuit 1 of I 1 beamut beauty y t T j 3 by CLARISSA MACKIE A iii i i i t i t i i ii i i s s s dan forsythe rode moodily along the boundary of ickle sons ranch from the me rise of ground at the southwest corner he could get a glimpse of yie roof of th the e ranch house thil that sheltered shelyie kitty ni kieson I 1 even reu as dnn dan rode slowly along the boundary he saw a hors horseman in the distance and recognized him film as corbes the latter was approaching the I 1 ranch at tin an easy pace and as dan thought with all the confidence of a newly accepted lover who knows that his sweetheart Is waiting for him rather than have his secret discovered and news travels fast to in tile the cattle country even though the population is composed largely of the masculine sex dan swung his horse around and lashed dashed toward the north lie he rode fast and furiously just as though he was out looking for stray cattle or on some other urgent business bent when at last lie he drew rein he was many miles from home in the open country that was known as the free range then dan forsythe was startled by a black object that hurtled toward him out of the distance and then when near enough to bobsene him whirled about and dashed away dan rubbed his eyes kitty esons horse borse he muttered it must have broken bro ken loose ill have to catch it before somebody else puts a brand on the critter in a second dan was flying after kitty esons black horse beauty which was famed the countryside through for its spirit and thorough breeding beautys mother had been a burp arabian and beauty was fleet footed as the wind dan Forsty Por thes horse was not ill named cyclone if beauty was as fleet IUD va J ka DONT BE BB AFRAID MISS HISS HB SAID as the wind cyclone certainly deserved his name for he tore after the fleeing horse like a black whirlwind As dan drew nearer to the runaway he be saw with mith tightening throat that a saddle was gifted on beautys back that meant one of two things either beauty had bolted from the ranch before his mistress had mounted and that appeared unlikely for no DO one seemed to be in pursuit ot of him film or he be had thrown kitty and left her somewhere hurt or fl 13 ing pursuer aud and pursued had torn over the plain for twenty miles before e dan realized what was nas happening beauty had swerved to the right almost imperceptibly aud and continued on that course with dan to in pursuit until all at once the man realized that their positions had changed beauty was the pursuer and dan forsythe Forsyt be was the pursued it was a vicious beauty too that chased him relentlessly relentless ly a frenzied animal with frothy lips patted over long ugly teeth and wild eyes reddened with ra rage P kitty esons horse had gone crazy what bad become of kitty these words whirled around and ix wound maid in dans mind as he made every effort to urge his bis tired horse out of reach of the approaching mad horse cyclone was losing his wind now aud and dan heard beard tho the hoarse straining wheeze in his throat as he sprang forward leap on leap each time losing a little ground to beauty dan knew that it if beauty caught them it would mean death to ath buth himself and cyclone lie ile also realized that cyclone was wag handicapped by his mas masters t ers pounds of bone and muscle Dau scle without ills his rider cyclone could outdistance the smaller horse with dan on his back it mt mount int death over to the left there now appeared the group of rocks that marked the entrance to cotton canyon among the rocks there grew a hunch of rage cottonwood tr trees tre e it if he be could reuh reat 11 tap trees there would be a chance for cialone cj clone to outdistance his pursuer at any rate if worse came to worst uan dan had a levoyer thit would effectually put nu an end to lo the lie combat only he lid not haic hac the beatt to ulf kill kitty neckli nickle sous sons pet horse no ile pulled the rein and cyclone swerved to the left and beautys hoofs pounded mena menacingly behind dan slipped lipped his tight light foot from I 1 the be stirrup and crouched low on cyclones cyc lonc atrain ing neck lie ile whispered in 4 yc cyclones lones laid back ear car and just as ule uie horse swept past the group or of rocks D dan slipped to the ground and fell staggering sideways just out or of teach leach of beautys flying liis heels as he be thudded past dan got up on his feet nith a strange e singing in his cars lie climbed rocks ani and saw that cyclone was get eel ting tin away from beauty whose mania was burning out its his own strength with each shrill scream of defiance that he hc sent after cyclone ca clone kit all tit at once beauty stopped shoil about and came tearing fearing back toward the rocks despoiling Desp oilin of reaching cyclone lie he had remembered dan lie ile was coming back for le leveline icv euge dan glanced hastily around the canyon was too far away to gain refuge there before beauty returned rel umed the rocks on which lie he stood afforded no protection from a i crazed hoise there only remained the cottonwood colt onwood ire treon the laigast one sprouted s among the rocks x w here he be stood lie ile climbed it ajuntas juntas just as he be bleached leached the lower branc bran bez the crazy horse came to a standstill un deino atu and screamed shrilly up at his escaped quarry then he pounded the turf with his feet dan looked down and saw something on the ground that sent the blood bark back to his bis heart leaving his face white as death itself A pretty soft gray felt hat with a spanish leather band about the crown was trampled jn in tile the grass A little gray gauntlet ilove glove lay beside it those had belonged to kitty nickle son where was kitty now sudden rage filled dans heart and his bis hand dung bung around to ills his hip 1111 to draw his gun dont shoot sald said a soft voice above his head dan stared upward on the branch over his bis head bead sat kitty Kic kleson herself rather pate pale please flease dont shoot beauty yet she quavered perhaps hell go away and after he be is out a distance you might fire where I 1 see him fall A tear splashed down on dans upturned face lie ile shoved the gun back into his pocket if you dont mind telling me id like to bear how it happened said dan practically so kitty related her story in disjointed sentences caused by the constant vibration of the tree as beauty attacked it with dogged persistency beauty had acted queer for several days they had find thought it was I 1 iho be hot bot weather another horse had gone mad on the ranges gaii es and had bad been instantly killed by one of the line riders but they had bad not suspected anything serious to lie tit the nutter matter N with tit beauty x who ho was petted and always had the best of 0 of care she had started forth that morning tilo ruin for a 1 solitary ride and beauty had acted fiendishly from the first ue he had snapped at her once or twice as site she leaned over his neck to pat him is as she was accustomed to do and then all at once just before she reached the bunch of beauty had suddenly reared himself and unseated her kitty had managed to roll herself out ont of reach of his visions hoots hoofs and as he searched for her with his little bloodshot eyes she had bad scrambled to tier her feet and made for the cotton woods she had climbed up somehow just escaping his first angry lunge as he discovered her retreat there she sat watching him trample her hat and gloves into the ground shuddering because she knew what would be her own fate it if she lost her hold on the cottonwood tree 1 IT I am in so ao glad you came she ended 0 so o am I 1 said dan devoutly and then he added rather awkwardly for he felt fiercely jealous 1 I 1 should not be surprised it some one came to rescue us I 1 happened to see forbes riding toward your house ile he will be looking lookin for you oil no lie won t she said confidently ile he was coming to say lay good liy iles hes solus going eit eat for rood good why was pans dans involuntary question oh I 1 guess eness lies hes tired of ranching said raid kitty just then beauty made out oue last fast effort to e the couple tit in the cottonwood tree lie eie was was partially successful kitty esou lost her hold and slipped oh ob dan catch me she screamed as she fell dun dan lifted his bis strong arms and canglin her easily there was lust just room for them hen to stand there in that crotch 0 the tree while hi arm supported api slender form her smooth cheek was dangerously near to lt Us own her long ions lashes drooped over her eyes und and hr cri curline ling sunny hair touched chiq lips ill iiii arm tightened tient ened about tier her and she did not seem to object it was very wonderful kitty he whispered boldly do you yon do yon mind kittys kitrys cheek 1 es en the rosy cheek of ban haughty clity kitty ca came roe closer closer and kenned against his own oh dan yon are such it a slow coach she min murmured A I 1 little I 1 I 1 t I 1 e in later I 1 e r w while h I 1 I 1 e her r sweet m e f hidden oil nn linns lians broad r d shoulder 1 dons an s Mihir re spit spat forth n bullet that burled itself in poor nea heart A nd lid dan was wag I 1 here to con comfort fort kitty kitry |