he hasn't come back yet."

"Then somebody will have to go after him!" cried the director.

"I'll go!" offered Alice. "I can take this horse and carriage!" for a
rig was hitched outside the "store."

"I'll go with you!" cried Estelle, and then, in costume and made up for
the pictures as they were, they got into the vehicle and drove off.

CHAPTER XIV

IN THE SMOKE

"Do you think he'll die?" asked Estelle, as she took the reins and
flicked the horse lightly with the whip.

"I hope not," answered Alice.

"Did it make you faint to see the blood?"

"A little. Did it you?"

"Yes. I can't bear it! It makes me---- Oh, it makes me----"

Estelle closed her eyes, and Alice was surprised to see her turn pale,
even under her rouge, and shudder.

"That's queer," Alice said. "I should have thought, being on a ranch as
you were, you might have become used to accidents and scenes of
violence."

"Who said I was on a ranch?"

"Why, you did!"

"I did?"

"Yes; don't you remember? That day when we were talking about branding
cows----"

"Oh, maybe I did. I'd forgotten. Oh, dear! here comes an auto, and I'm
not sure about this horse. I'm afraid he'll start to rear."

At this intimation that there might be trouble, Alice's face took on a
worried look, and she fore-bore to press the questions she had been
asking Estelle.

The horse showed some signs of fear as he passed the automobile in the
road, but the man driving the car was considerate enough to stop his
machine and motion to the girls to pass. They did so, the horse getting
as far to one side of the road as he could, his nostrils distended and
his ears pricked forward.

"There! Thank goodness that's over!" sighed Estelle. "Now to make speed
and get that doctor. I hope the man doesn't die."

"I do too," acquiesced Alice. "Did you see how sharply the man looked at
us?"

"Who, the man that was shot?"

"No, the one in the auto. He stared and stared!"

"Probably he wondered where in the world we got a horse in these days
that was afraid of an auto. I wonder myself where this steed has been in
hiding. There are so many cars now that it is a wonder horses aren't
using gasoline as perfume."

"No, he wasn't looking at the horse," persisted Alice. "He was looking
at us. Perhaps he knew you, Estelle."

"Why do you say that? I'm sure I never saw him before. Maybe it was you
he was staring at."

"No, it was you he was staring at, but I don't blame him. You