The Red Cloud chief., 1889-03-15
must not be seen together. I will join you
immediately"
The man hesitated . moment then turned
and shufiied swiftly away.
CHAPTER XI
IN FHR ditch.

IN n VLk~o
CHANGING toward the house snd seeing no
q watching, Captain Stsrbright passed
through the gate and walked with deliberate
step down the incline TO the foot Of the
mound on which stood the Vaudible man.
sion. Here be found his man waiting in the
shadow Of some trees.
The Captain led the way into some under.
growth until completely hidden from the
road, then he came TO . pause and faced hia
evil companion.
swell, whist have you 70 tell, Hank c.
berag"
"The gals did for"
Explain yourself"
In few words the villain told how he
q his twin brother had waylaid and muir
iered dsuntless Lura Joyce.
The Captain listened without Q muscle OF
his c0untenance moving or exhibiting the
least emotion.
"How came the girl in that out
plsce"
"She heard 'twasa short cut Ipresume."
NO"
"Didn't you or Bill eutice her from the
main rosds"
''Wc didn't. I'll swear to that, Cap'n."
Every well II seems that the girl came
to her death by accident. This 10 - II
should be. will accompany you TO the
spot and view the body. II al - u you
ave told it there will b something
further"
"Hard moneyr
"Yes, hard money"
Good"
~ S.u &c. A. -.a..,. H..
Then, without moro words, b " walked
TO the road. Darkness had fallen, and the
twain were not likely 70 be recognized even
should they chance 70 meet any ne. Soon
they gained tho path that led TO Mother
Csbera's cabin. Down this the twain
hurried, and in . little time they stood b.
fore the hut itself.
''The body 10 inside, l supposed
''Nix," answered the man.
"Where thenr
'.Bill nor mo hain't techod IL senss Va
dropped her down yender onto them rocks.
I wouldn't do it. FL you van 70 SEQ the
corpse its your privilegc, Is'pose."
Even tho calloused heart Of tho Captain
Gave IN unwOated thrOb st this. Tho
thought that tho slender body Of their VIC.
tim lay exposed under tho cli6 Tor many
hours was unpleasant.
"A lantern, quick" ordered Captain Star
bright II will investigate. The poor child
must nave . Christian burial in any event
II II awful leaving her there Ill this time"
I'VE couldn't help il, Cap'n. We expected
you sooner. Gittin' tired OF Waiten I went
for ye," answered tho Captains tool, apol-
o~gctically.
Then he entered the house, returning soon,
bearing q lantern In his hand.
bill wouldn't come, 81 I spoct I'll hev
ter pilot ye 70 the place"
Every good. Lead the way"
And then the two men set on down the
path toward the scene OF the late accident!
1t order TO gain the foot OF the ~perpcndic-
ulsr hill it was necessary TO begin tho de-
scent some distance from tho spot where
Lura Joyce had been hurled into the rocky
gulch.
After q scramble among bushes and
along dangerous places where the loose
pebbles threatened 70 p~recipitate them into
eternity, the two men gained the foot Of
the deciivity and stood In . damp atmos-
phere at the bottom Of the gulch.
'Now. then. how far 10 itF
This from the painting Captain.
about twenty rods, / reckon"
'Iead on, ~Quickly!" returned Starbright,
in an impatient voice
The dampness and gloom did not agree
with him, and he was anxious to have his
unenvisble mission over with 1t the earliest
possio'e moment 1hero oeomoo concerning
uncanny IN ING su1rounolnes, soo ."1 INC
nrst Tune . ioehng ekin 70 ieef oseps owe
the captain.
BAN. Csoets moseo 'o.~sIu. sw1nelns
ms lantern oeioro nun. 1ne wsak,n8 was
comparatively easy, W soos w Ao'eFn-
oe.rTI Sa%s 70 ~
WEN oe"snoco C.A1onSn''
were nere. csPn
sP's'n .eI.C ''s'"s 'u NJ: s"Io.: cus
no e~.S".
w"'u ose.
~ n,' ~ ,n.. ".s. e. s
INo s"o.su. .IT HsuS'eu
y. 1.o -. - Sousus
!. '.''.so' e.u =. '"o
N.P's'" w "e''0"' ~"1''
a""N~"H.- .
o.SOO"o' A"'
Haul C.hsr- u...r,S an ,mnr.c.a;o, and
eagerly sc.nucd the ROCKY Ground.
"rhe Ral hain't here. for = fact !" he mut.
tered n length. ..Is'pect the villa snimsls
has carried her o."
"That is absolute nonsense"
"Eh. Why IL i'll"
.If such wero tho case some traces
would be left behind. I $50 mono here.
Your lie won't 60 down. Henry Csbera"
ats traces you seek, chs What do you
call thisg" and the man With the lantern
held up . bit Of gray cloth that had evident.
~ been torn loose BY . jagged point Of
rock.
The Captain 1t once felt tho delicate text
ure. and decided that il was . piece from .
woman's drcss, and closely resembled one
he had seen worn oy Lura JOYco.