Argosy All-Story Weekly, February 7, 1925 — page 109: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

corral - gate. THE VALLEY OF FHE SEARS. the room that Grace had given Edna on the night of the latter’s arrival. Neither girl had undressed. And now, as Edna stood in the partly opened door-— way, listening for any sound which would — tell her that Fagin was still about, Grace was standing breathlessly behind her. Both irls were pale. But in the faint light from the bracket lamp Grace’s eyes held only a sullen resentment, while Edna’s were agleam with determination. Grace appeared to be willing to wait fer the day of Fagin’s punishment, while Edna, finding inaction intolerable, meant te hasten it. After listening for a time, Edna stepped out into the hall. Her. light boots, soft and pliable, made no sound as she moved down the hall to the stairway, Grace following her. ) only a house dress, but in her right hand dangled a heavy revolver. They slipped down the stairs noiselessly, gained the big living room, opened the door and passed out to the porch. They went di- rectly to the stable, where Grace took down a saddle, bridle and a rope. These they carried out and placed on a top rail of the corral fence. ‘Then, as silently as possible, Grace roped a horse, led it te the corral gates, saddled and bridled it, and helped Edna to mount. “Tt is right straight west,” dicenta| Grace, pointing into the moonlit land. “ After you reach the crest of that first big rise you will strike the trail. It is almost a wagon road, and you won't be in any danger of losing it until you get within ~ two miles of Willets, w here there is a stretch of breken country. “But if you lose it there you must keep _ tight on, going as straight as you can, and you'll run right into Willets. Judge Travis lives in a big white house on your right just at the edge of town. Good-by, and don't be afraid for me. If Fagin gets fresh Pll shoot him!” Edna rode westward, with the moon swimming almost overhead. When she reached the crest of the first rise she turned in the saddle and looked back. She could — dimly make out Grace’s figure, still at the Then Edna rode down the She was arrayed in rid- | ing togs that she had breught with her. Grace wore had chosen to stay at the Cade Dot. farther slope of the rise into a strange and ghostly world. : She intended to go straight to ‘Judge Travis. She was worried about Nellie Por- ter, and convinced that Judge Travis could have no real knowledge of the characters of Fagin and Adams, or be would not have endowed them with so much authority.” With Edna’s respect for the Jaw there was also awe and reverence for the men who dispensed justice. She felt that she had only to acquaint Judge Travis with the facts to induce him te countermand the order he had given Adams regarding the guardianship of the Porter girl. And she was assured that when she told ‘the judge about Nevins’s predicament he would hasten to withdraw Fagin from the . Circle Dot. She would give a bond, if nec- essary, aS an assurance that she would prop- erly conduct the Circle Dot. She had questioned Grace about Judge Travis and had learned that Travis was honored and respected in the country. He was implacable and relentless toward all do- ers of evil. He had been reélected time after time. He was dignified, fearless, and yet kindly. Edna had tried to induce Grace to accom- pany her to Judge Travis’s house, but Grace She wasn’t afraid of Fagin, she had said. Fagin was smarter than Adams, and not so much like an animal. He’d be autocratic, per- haps, and would make a nuisance ef him- self with his airs, but he would never use physical force to accomplish his aims. Grace had always considered Fagin a coward. Anyway, she would stay. If she decided to go anywhere she would ride to Deming, to overtake Seaton and Gadd. Edna rode steadily, eagerly. She had apprehended some difficulty in finding the Willets trail, and she was therefore relieved when, just beyond the farther slope of the rise she came upon it, a gleaming, undulat- ing ribbon of white in the moonlight. Twenty miles Grace bad told her. For a stretch, where the land was level, she made nord time. But when she fecned a region featured by low, black hills, she slowed the horse under her and went ahead carefully. OU 579 cS (6) com choo