The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-12-13
CHAPTER XII.
IN THE GULCH.

1iduClIiS IOWdru Tue mouse ana seeing no
one watching, Captain Starbright passed
through the gate and walked with deliberate
step down the incline to the foot of the
mound ON which stood the Vandlble man.
sion. Here he 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 a pause and faced his
evil companion.
"Well, what have you to tell, Hank Ca
bera?n
"The gals did for"
Explain yourself"
In few words the villain told how he
and his twin brother had waylad and muir
dered dauntless Lura Joyce.
The Captain listened without muscle OF
his countenance moving or exhibiting the
least emotion.
"How came the girl in that out-of-the-way
place?"
"She heard twas short cut, presume. IS
''Do you know this to be facts"
s'No"
main road?'
1--WE didn't I'll swear to that. Cap'n"
every well. 1t seems that the girl came
to her death by accident. This is as it
should be. will accompany you to the
spot and view the body. If all is as you
have told it there will be something
further
"Hard moneys'
eyes, hard money!
'GOod'
A chuckle fell from the ruf1an's lips.
Then, without more words, the two walked
to the road. Darkness had fallen, and the
twain were not likely to be recognized even
should they chance to meet any one Soon
they gained the path that led to Mother
Cabera's cabin. Down this the twain
hurried, and in little time they stood be-
fore the hut itself
''The body is inside, suppose?''
"NiX," answered the man.
where then?'
"Bll nor me hain't teched it sense we
dropped her down yender onto them rocks
wouldn't do it. Eff you went to see the
corpse it's your privilege, I spose'
Even the calloused heart of the Captain
gave an unwonted throb at this. The
thought that the slender body of their vic
tim lay exposed under the cliff for many
hours was unpleasant.
"a lantern, quick ordered Captain Star
bright. 81 will investigate. The poor child
must have Christian burial in any event
1t is awful leaving her there all this time"
1--WE couldn't help it, Cap'n. We expected
you sooner. Gittin' tired of walten Z went
for ye," answered the Captains tool, apol-
ogetically.
Then he entered the house, returning soon,
bearing lantern in his hand.
Bill wouldn't Come, so / spect III hev
ter pilot We to the place"
Every good. Lead the way.'
And then the two men set off down the
path toward the scene of the late accident!
1t order to gain the foot of the perpendic-
ular hill it was necessary to begin the de-
scent some distance from the spot where
Lura Joyce had been hurled into the rocky
gulch.
After scramble among bushes and
along dangerous places where the loose
pebbles threatened to precipitate them into
eternity, the two men gained the foot of
the declivity and stood in damp atmos-
phere at the bottom of the gulch.
''Now, then. how far is it!''
This from the pan ting Captain.
"AbOut twenty rods, reckon
"Lead on, quicklyl' returned Starbright,
in an impatient voice
The dampnese and gloom did not agree
with him, and he was anxious to have his
unenviable mission over with at the earliest
possible moment. There seemed something
uncannv in the surroundings. and for the
nrsJ Time feeling AKIN TO Iear crepJ over
the Captain.
Hank CABRERA moved forward, swinging
his lantern before him. The walking was
comparatively easy, and soon the lantern
bearer came to a halt.
"Well?" demanded Starbright.
"We're here, Cap'n.''
The Captain felta rising in his throat, but
he swallowed it with gulp and peered for
ward over rock as his companion flashed
the rays of his lantern forward.
He thought to look upon the mangled
remains of the fair girl he had once sought
in marriage, and it is little wonder that the
Captain was trifle nervous under the Cir
cumstances.
II see no one!" uttered Starbright after
a hasty survey.
Hank CABRERA uttered an imprecation and
eagerly scanned the rocky ground
"The gal hain't here, for fact,' he NUT
tered at length. 81 s'pect the wild animals
has carried her off,"
"That is absolute nonsense
"Eh? Why is it?''
eff such were the case some traces
would be left behind. I see none here
Your lie won't go down, Henry CABRERA"
"It's traces you seek, cha What do you
call thsa" and the man with the lantern
held up bit of gray cloth that had evident
ly been torn loose by jagged point of
rock
The Captain at once felt the delicate text
ure, and decided that it was piece from
woman's dress, and closely resembled one
that he. had seen worn byLura joyce
"Jest look Gown here, pNdneiS'
Hank CABRERA was bending closely over
the stones at the foot of the steep declivity,
one huge, grimy finger pointing at the