Where the Trail Divides

, it was not dark. The month was late October, and a suggestion of frost was in the air: on the grass blades of the low places, was actually present. As was all but usual at that day, the direction t

is presence. Almost as unit seemed this beast and human. It was as though the man were born in his place, as though, like a sailor on a tiny boat, accustomed through a lifetime to a rolling, uncertain equilibrium, the adjustment thereto had become involuntary as a heart beat, instinctive as breathing. A splendid picture he made there

the breast pocket of his coat a bit obviously, and as his companion slowed to a walk, produced a silver-mounted,

made no motion of acceptanc

I never drink

e hand was still extended,-"n

I have found that liquor

ith something akin to a flush on his face, h

ning, the other ob

I did not mean

o speech with strangers, unused to speech at all; bu

rs. I merely know my

betrayed him. He had scratched an aborigine, and

u did. I wish to do so now." He was looking at the other squarely, as the smart civilian observes the derelict who has saved his life in a runaway. Already, there under the stars, it was difficult

n of self or of what had been done. Ju

sore. Extenuation, dissimulation even, would have been a distinct solace. Looking at the matter now, the excitement past, palliation for what he had done was easy, almost logical. He had not alone conformed. He had but done, without considera

zzically; as in his schoolboy days he had inspected his plodding m

ot respond, did not stir in his seat; then slowly, deliberately, he turned half about, turned and for the first time in the journey met the other's eyes. Even then he did not speak; but so long as he lived, times uncounted in his after life, Clayton Craig remembered that look; remembered it and was silent, remembered it with a tingling of hot blood and a mental imprecation-for as indelibly as a red-hot iron seals a brand on a maverick, that look left its impress. No voice could have spoken as that simple action spoke, no tongue thrust could have been so pointed. With no intent of discourtesy, no premeditated malice was it given; a

n a muscle. By his side, the white man stiffened, jerked without provocation at the cruel curb bit, until his horse halted uncertain; equally without provocation, sent the rowels of his long spurs deep into the sensitive flank, with a curse held the frightened beast down to a walk. That was all, a secondary lapse, a burst of flowing, irresponsible passion like a puff of burning gunp

te man forgot, ere the instinct of companionship, the necessity of conversation, urban-fostered, gaine

your name?" he form

ise, no consciousness of

Ma-wa-cha-sa: the r

s over his saddle and

rd has a meani

glish, it would be

Easterner lifted; bu

my uncle, with Mr. L

an remembe

e ended. The inquisitor produced a pi

He told me once of adopting a girl

es

ggled anew in getting it alight, with the awkw

ntry, this-desert?" h

e only on

know well,

r been outsi

er shrugged, in an ac

were better to hold down six feet of earth in an Eastern cemetery th

com

ime," pressed the visitor. "You certainl

eave. I was born her

ime being the sense of antagonism became passive. What use, after all, was mere physical courage, if one were to bury it in a houseless, treeless waste such as this? The sense of aloofness, of tra

t I'll probably be here a month or so, and we'll lik

N

of one unaccustomed to contradiction. "No

h house sometimes,

h, always." Again it wa

ad into the indefinite distanc

do so always,"

e air. I felt it the moment I left the railroad and struck this-wilderness." Once again the unconscious shoulder shrug. "It's an atavism, this lif

any indication he gave, the

conscious that he was talki

be, your marriage, I mean?"

il they were hid beneath the long lashes, t

on. Three week

resume? My uncle will

ill be at

over the pommel of his saddle and adjusted the knickerbockers comfortably. "By the way, how

glanced at his companion suspiciously but the other m

something of that sort, don't you? It

e prairie sod. While one could count

g out of the ordinary, so far as I know," said a l

being denied, this man; and there was no contesting the obvious fact that now a confidence was being withheld. The latent antagonism aroused with a bound at the thought. Something more than mere curiosity was at stake, something which he magnified until it obscured his horizon, warped hopelessly his vis

ago rather proud of your pedigree." A trace of sarcasm crept into his voice at th

laces as well as the low bore their frost blanket n

orsaken the custo

ly. "At least be consistent, man. Why

ed until the tiny ears of the wicked little beast wen

e. The lady who is to be

oblivion, was Pete Sweeney. Into the same grave went any remnants of gratitude to the other man that chanced to remain. Paramount, beckoning him on, one thought, one memory alone possessed his brain: the recollectio

before the little roan had made this journey. Many a time he had seen that light emerge from the surface of earth. To him it meant all that was good in li

ead is in the ranch house," digressed

suggestion, but positive this ti

to answer my quest

ed in his seat, shifted half abou

"You tell me you have already heard of

man to hold aloof. Then at least common courtesy would have called a halt. But Clayton Craig was neither wise nor courteous this night. He was a great, weary, passionate child, whose pride had been stung, who but awaited an opportunity to retaliate. And that opportunity had been vouchsafed. Moreover, irony of fate

naturally tense,-"do you mean to tell me that you, an Indian, are to ma

ds pa

voice. "I do not care to d

mptorily. "As one of the family it

an impatient head. It would not

swered th

gives his consent?" Again the sil

nd, there swept a red flood, that vanished

and if she's as plain as a hag, so long as her skin is white, you'l

ove. Yet for long, eternally long it seemed to him, there was none. The swift reaction of a passionate nature was on, and as in Bob Manning's store, the suspense of those dragging seconds was torture. Adding thereto, recollection of that former scene, temporarily banished, returned now irresistibly, cumulatively. Struggle as he might against the feeling, a terror of this motionless human at his side grew upon him; a bli

lived my life so far with you; yet I am different. No Indian would have done as you have done. I cannot understand it. Not three hours ago I saved your life. It was a mere chance, but nevertheless I did it; and yet already you have forgotten, have done-what you have done." So far he had spoken slowly, haltingly; with the effort of one to whom words were difficult. Now the effort passed. "I say I cannot understand it," he repeated swiftly. "Mr. Landor has been very good to me. For his sake I would like to forgive what you have done, what you

answer, Craig's lips were twitching

d in his seat, just perceptibly the long b

t take it ba

e man's lip twitch

N

N

. Just what happened in that moment that intervened neither the white man nor the red could have told. It was a lapse, an oblivion; a period of primitive physical dominance, of primitive human hate. When they awoke-when the red man awoke-they were flat o

arose. In his ears was the diminishing patter of their horses' hoofs. They were alone there on the prairie, under the

please. Try what you have suggested if you wish. I am not afraid. Follow me," and, long-strided, impassive as though not