Chapter I: Front Matter

GRACE HARLOWE’S OVERLAND RIDERS ON THE LOST RIVER TRAIL

Grace Harlowe’s Overland
Riders on the Lost
River Trail

By

JESSIE GRAHAM FLOWER, A.M.

Author of The High School Girls Series, The College Girls Series,
The Grace Harlowe Overseas Series, Grace Harlowe’s Overland
Riders on the Old Apache Trail, Grace Harlowe’s Overland
Riders on the Great American Desert, Grace Harlowe’s
Overland Riders Among the Kentucky Mountaineers, Grace
Harlowe’s Overland Riders in the Great North Woods,
Grace Harlowe’s Overland Riders in the High
Sierras, Grace Harlowe’s Overland Riders
in the Yellowstone National Park,
Grace Harlowe’s Overland Riders
in the Black Hills, Grace Harlowe’s
Overland Riders
Among the Border
Guerrillas, etc.,
etc.

Illustrated

PHILADELPHIA
HENRY ALTEMUS COMPANY

Copyrighted, 1924, by
Howard E. Altemus

PRINTED IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I—A Mystery of the Night

“There is peril in the air,” warns the guide.
Overlanders take flight. Emma says the suspense is
killing her. “The worst is yet to come,” promises Stacy
Brown. Threatened by a forest fire. The Overland Riders
hasten to the relief of imperilled villagers.

CHAPTER II—In the Demon’s Grip

Inhabitants of Silver Creek deride Ham White’s warning.
Aroused at last. The fire demon roars. Miss Briggs
narrowly escapes. “The fire is yonder! Work, you
thick-heads!” A woman’s scream starts a panic among the
villagers.

CHAPTER III—A Rain of Fire

Ham White directs the fire-fighters. Great tongues of
flame. The panic increases. Grace urges village women to
the creek. Danger in the water. Elfreda Briggs is
carried away on the current. Land at last. The Overland
girl utters a thrilling cry.

CHAPTER IV—The Lost Cabin

The village is saved. Overland horses are missing. “Run,
girls! Run!” cries Grace. Ham White is excited.
Searching parties are organized. Emma concerned for her
“Hamilton.” Another member of the Overland party is
missing. “Help! I’m dying!” groans Elfreda’s caller.

CHAPTER V—A Fruitless Quest

Overland girls search the village for their missing
companions. Ham White hears more bad news. The guide
fears the worst. “There is another peril!” Only the
lieutenant knows that one of his party has slipped away
looking for the missing.

CHAPTER VI—Facing a New Peril

The wounded prospector tells his story. “Oh, you poor
man,” cries Elfreda Briggs. “They shot me for gold!” A
grave duty to perform. Miss Briggs’ legacy. Sam
Petersen’s horse hidden. Mountain bandits pay a visit to
Lost Cabin.

CHAPTER VII—The Discovery

“Hawk Murray!” breathes Elfreda Briggs. The Overland
girl keeps her nerve. Ready to defend herself. Startled
by the return of a bandit. “Lady, what about the saddle
over there in the brush?” he asks. Elfreda in the toils.
A strange thing happens.

CHAPTER VIII—Stacy Takes a Hand

“I’ll show you you can’t steal my beans and fish!” howls
the fat boy. Stacy proves himself a hero. Mysterious
shots put the caller to flight. “They’ve shot him!”
cried the girl. A voice from the shadows of the Lost
Cabin. An amazing disappearance.

CHAPTER IX—Mysteries Multiply

The journey to Silver Creek begun. Stacy helps himself
to beans. The welcome home. “Lost River” an Indian
legend. Words fail the fat boy. Miss Briggs confides in
Grace. Elfreda’s gold turns to stone. Sam Petersen’s
diary whisked from Grace Harlowe’s hand.

CHAPTER X—The Man from Seattle

“Hands up!” Peanuts are great civilizers. Overlanders
regard their guest with suspicion. Emma makes the fat
boy laugh. “Just another mystery.” “Now who are you, and
what is your game?” demands Ham White sternly. Stalked
by a shadow. “Quick! Something has happened to Elfreda!”

CHAPTER XI—Believers in Safety First

Guns bang and Stacy lies low. Struck on the head. “I
felt a hand under my pillow,” explains Miss Briggs. The
guide is disturbed. Emma offers to “demonstrate” for
him. Stacy alarmed for his trousers. Jim Haley makes a
mysterious disappearance.

CHAPTER XII—A Successful Experiment

Elfreda’s experience leaves her pale. More than one man
involved in the attack. White finds a trail of blood.
Stacy Brown votes himself the cross of war. The fat boy
up to mischief. Another shadow stalks the Overland
tents. A near panic in the camp.

CHAPTER XIII—The Camp is Invaded

Bears on the rampage. Ponies snort in fright. “We’ve got
them going!” cries Ham White. Havoc worked by marauding
beasts. One bear is killed. Stacy confesses that he
called the bears. The savagery of Nature let loose.
“They are coming! Move cautiously.”

CHAPTER XIV—The Battle of the Beasts

Howls are mingled with snarls. Coyotes attack the dead
bear. Wolves add to the uproar. A sight that thrilled.
The battle brief. Grace takes a shot and misses. Stacy
downs a lion. Slinking forms stalk the ponies. Beady for
trouble. A wounded man staggers into camp.

CHAPTER XV—A Rude Awakening

“It’s Jim Haley!” exclaims the guide. The mountain
ruffians wanted peanuts. White refuses to double-cross
the Overlanders. Ham White sees the “Forest Eyes.” The
old prospector’s secrets studied. Interrupted by an
intruder. “Who says a woman can’t throw a stone?”

CHAPTER XVI—Bandits Take Their Toll

Hippy and the guide search for a prowler. Guarding the
camp. An Overlander is missing. An anxious watch. The
search abandoned. Nora reassured by the guide. Ham White
admits that he has made a discovery. “Stacy Brown has
been forcibly removed!” is the startling announcement.

CHAPTER XVII—A Test of Courage

Two Overland Riders now missing. Hamilton White is
apprehensive. An all-night vigil. The guide sends wigwag
signals in the early morn. “Great danger to both!” Grace
Harlowe reads the fluttering message. A girl’s clever
strategy. “Hamilton White, I have you now!”

CHAPTER XVIII—The Flaming Arrow

Hippy finds himself in the toils. Visited by his
captors. “Keep quiet and listen to me!” warns a hoarse
voice. A long and trying hike. The Overlander restored
to his friends. “Isn’t that just like a man!” A guest
who is doubly welcome. A flaming messenger drops into
camp.

CHAPTER XIX—His Fate in the Balance

A letter from Stacy. The fat boy to “be shot at
sunrise.” In the hands of desperate men. A sudden flash
lights up Tom Gray’s eyes. Bandits’ demands are met. The
guide takes a hurried departure. A mysterious mission.
“It isn’t safe to say a word.”

CHAPTER XX—“I’m Shot!” Cries Emma

Tom leads in the long night journey. Battle sounds in
the air. Grace makes a pleasing discovery. A warning
against the mountain bandits. The Overland party
awakened by the crash of a rifle. The camp in confusion.
Emma Dean falls a victim.

CHAPTER XXI—Stacy Seeks a Change

Carried away on a horse. In the hands of rough men. The
fat boy forced to write a letter. His bluff is called.
Bandits hear bad news. Stacy takes advantage of his
opportunity.

CHAPTER XXII—A Strange Visitor

Emma misses an opportunity to “demonstrate.” A battle is
fought over the Overlanders’ heads. A thrilling duel in
the mountain meadow. “Something terrible is going to
happen!” An exhibition of great courage. A bandit’s
career ended.

CHAPTER XXIII—A Thrilling Discovery

Cat-foot Charlie arrives. A fallen hero. The arrival at
Three Mile Pass. The key to many mysteries. Sunlight
yellows the pass. “Look! Oh, look!” Grandma and the
Children! Elfreda Briggs comes into her own. A final
good-bye to forest and mountain trails.

CHAPTER XXIV—The House of Happiness

Overlanders visit Haven Home. A joyous Christmas
reunion. Stacy Brown makes a sensational entrance. The
pink and white bundle in the nursery. Surprises come
thick and fast. What the snowbird said to Emma and
Stacy.

GRACE HARLOWE’S OVERLAND
RIDERS ON THE
LOST RIVER TRAIL