Grace Harlowe's Overland Riders on the Old Apache Trail

--wanted by the Sheriff 63

The Deadwood stagecoach goes over a precipice and is lost. Ike Fairweather’s rage beyond the power of words to express. Grace gives her prisoners a stern warning. A grilling journey on foot. A notorious bandit leader among the captives.

--a Shot Well Placed 74

Ike Fairweather joins the Overton party. Riders of the Old Apache Trail. Lieutenant Wingate comes a cropper. A succession of spills. The first night in camp. Hippy’s oratory is checked by a bullet. “Put out the campfire!” commands Grace Harlowe.

--a Lively Night in Camp 84

The first casualty. A mysterious shot. The Overton camp is put under guard. Rifle shots alarm the campers. A silence “heavy with significance.” Ike Fairweather wings a night prowler. Grace makes a startling discovery. “The ponies have gone, Mr. Fairweather!”

--hippy Calls to Arms 94

Aroused by a low-spoken warning. Hurried preparations are made to defend the camp. The battle opened with a thrilling Indian war whoop. “Steady, girls! We’re going to catch it!” Strategy that bore fruit. “We have ’em on the run!” cries Hippy.

--a Startling Discovery 101

Attackers lose heavily. Indians or white men--which? The Overton girls enjoy a real picnic. Emma Dean is missing. “Elfreda, get a rifle and come with me!” directs Grace Harlowe incisively. “Something serious surely has happened to Emma.”

--a Double Capture 110

Grace picks up the trail. The search continued deep into a somber canyon. Signal shots are fired. A human voice sounds close at hand. “Grace! Oh, Grace! Save me!” wails Emma Dean. Overton girls in the hands of mountain outlaws.

--following a Cold Trail 123

“I tell you I heard Grace’s signal shots!” Lieutenant Wingate fails to find a trace of the missing ones. Ike noses out the trail. “Right here’s where they took to their ponies.” A weird night journey. The guide confesses himself beaten.

CHAPTER XII--AN INTERRUPTED INTERVIEW 131

Threats fail to disturb Grace Harlowe. A bandit’s wife demands to know why Grace shot Con Bates. “I’m goin’ to see thet you settle for thet little job.” Belle Bates meets her match. “Drop thet gun, an’ do it quick!” commands a stern voice behind Grace Harlowe.

--a Struggle for Life 138

A case of shoot or be shot. “Run, Emma! Run!” A battle of give and take. Grace gets a bullet wound. A dash for freedom. The escape. Grace makes the best of a serious situation. A blood-chilling wail of agony sounds close at hand.

--a Night of Terror 150

“There it goes again!” Emma Dean gives way to her fears as the wild, haunting wail is repeated. Two yellow eyes in the dark. Grace fires a telling shot. Alarmed by signal shots in the canyon. The two Overton girls witness a spirited battle.

CHAPTER XV--IKE DISTINGUISHES HIMSELF 160

The end of a grilling hike. Western Jones wings the bandits. Elfreda Briggs sews up Grace Harlowe’s wound. The operation proves to be more than Ike and Emma can stand. “Next time I shore’ll look t’other way,” avers the old stagecoach driver.

CHAPTER XVI--A GLIMPSE INTO FAIRYLAND 166

Overton girls mess in the weird forest of Sahuaro. The outfit selects a new name for itself. Lieutenant Wingate’s speech rudely interrupted. The wonders of the Apache Mountains are unfolded before the Overland Riders. Hippy’s chest swells with pride.

CHAPTER XVII--GOING TO BED IN THE CLOUDS 175

Lieutenant Wingate loses his hat, and Ike Fairweather has a narrow escape. Grace decides to explore the ancient cliff dwellings. Being above the clouds gives the Overland Riders a new thrill. An alarm arouses Grace at dead of night.

CHAPTER XVIII--THE HARDEST BLOW OF ALL 186

A jar and a crash. “Some one has run our wagon off the trail into the canyon!” gasps Grace Harlowe. Hippy and the bandits battle in a cloud. Grace takes a hand. Emma Dean bewails the loss of her black silk skirt. Horses and riders are now obliged to carry the Overlanders’ equipment.

--heroines of the Trail 198

The arrival at Roosevelt Dam. Grace Harlowe meets an old friend from the front. The fame of the Overland Riders has preceded them. An Apache Indian engaged to care for the ponies. An evening of real enjoyment at the mountain inn.

--the Mysterious Arrow 205

Picnicking by the blue waters of Lake Roosevelt. “The end of a perfect day!” Guests entertained at the Overland Riders’ camp. Food, to Hippy, of greater moment than mere Indians. The army spirit of freedom. A barbed messenger drops into the camp of the Overlanders.

--a Night of Thrills 217

A warning of trouble to come. The storm breaks. “I think we are going to catch it,” mutters Grace Harlowe. Tents wrecked by the gale. The Overland camp is swept by bullets from the mountains. Tea and crackers replace storm and bullets. Guests have an exciting time.

CHAPTER XXII--RELICS OF AN ANCIENT RACE 228

A picnic in the home of the Cliff Dwellers. A guest faints on the brink of the chasm. Grace prepares for her daring descent. General Gordon protests. “Hold fast to the rope!” All being ready, Grace Harlowe goes over the edge of the precipice, a smile on her face.

CHAPTER XXIII--BETWEEN EARTH AND SKY 236

A dizzy descent through space. “Harlowe luck is with me!” Grace explores the ancient community house. The mustiness of centuries is on the air. “That smells like a dead fire!” Grace Harlowe is startled by a human groan. The discovery.

CHAPTER XXIV--GRACE SOLVES THE MOUNTAIN MYSTERY 242

“Joe Smoky Face! What does this mean?” demands Grace. In the bandits’ lair. A lonely vigil on the mountain. Grace traps the bandits. “That is what I call good shooting,” declares Grace Harlowe. Overland Riders at the journey’s end.

GRACE HARLOWE’S OVERLAND RIDERS ON THE OLD APACHE TRAIL

The Call of the Wild

“I have asked you to visit me for a twofold reason,” announced Grace Harlowe to her friends of the Overton Unit. “In other words, I have a vacation proposal to make to you.”

“Which, translated into plain English, means that you wish to lead us into new fields of adventure,” interjected Emma Dean.

“Perhaps,” smiled Grace.

“I suspected as much when I received your invitation to come here,” nodded Elfreda Briggs.

“Curiosity has taken full possession of me, Grace. What is the big idea?” urged Anne Nesbit eagerly.

“So far as I am concerned, no plans have been made,” replied Grace. “The original suggestion may have been mine--that is, the suggestion that we get together for a real outing. From that nucleus, Hippy says he has worked out a plan that promises entertainment, health and adventure for the jaded Overton girls after their strenuous war service. Hippy and Nora will be here in a few moments. He will tell you all about it.”

“Dark mystery,” murmured Emma.

“Let me ask you girls something,” resumed Grace. “Since we returned from France, where we all did our bit, has each of you been perfectly contented with the simple life, well content to remain at home without feeling one little moment’s yearning to see something stirring? Search your innermost consciousness and tell me what you find there in answer to my question.”