The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-03-15
CHAPTER XI.
IN TIE GULCH.

l
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 O pause and faced his
evil companion.
swell, what have you to tell, Hank Co
beraf'
"The gals did for"
"Explain yourself"
In a few words the villain told how he
and his twin brother had waylaid and muir
iered dauntless Lura Joyce.
The Captain listened without muscle Of
his countenance moving or exhibiting the
least emotion.
"How came the girl in that outof-the-wsy
placel"
"she heard twas short cut Ipresume."
"Do you know this to be facta"
"No."
"Didn't you or Bill entice her from the
main roads"
1--WE didn't I'll swear to that, Cap'n."
"Very well. 1t seems that the girl came
to her death by accident This is as 1t
should be. l will accompany you to the
spot and view the body. II all is as YOU
have told it there will be something
| further"
"Hard moneyr
"Yes, hard money"
"Good."
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
| 10 fhia tho
hurried, and in little time they stood be-
fore the hut itself.
1.-THE body is inside, suppose"
'Nix," answered the man.
"Where then?"
Spill nor me hain't teched it sense we
dropped her down yender onto them rocks.
wouldn't do it. Eff you want to see the
corpse it's your privilege, I s'pose."
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 wao unpleasant.
"a lantern, quick ordered Captain Star
bright. 81 will investigate. The poor child
must have a Christian burial in any event
1t is awful leaving her there all this time"
ave couldn't help it, Cap'n. We expected
you sooner. Gittin' tired of walten went
for ye," answered the Captains tool, apol-
ogetically. -.
Then he entered the house, returning soon,
bearing a lantern in his hand.
bill wouldn't come, so l spect III hev
ter pilot We to the place"
"Very good. Lead the way"
And then the two men set of 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 painting Captain.
"About twenty rods, reckon"
"Lead on, quicklyI" returned Starbright,
in an impatient voice.
The dampness 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
uncanny in the surroundings, and for the
first time feeling akin to fear crept over
the Captain.
Hank CABRERA moved forward, swinging
his lantern before him. The walking was
comparatively easy, and soon the lantern
bearer came to q 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 a 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 trifie nervous under the Cir
cumstanceS.
Il see no oner' uttered Starbright, after
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. "Is'pect the wild animals
has carried her Off,
"That is absolute nonsense"
Sch! Why is itf'
"If such were the case some traces
would be left behind. / see none here.
Your lie won't go down, Henry CABRERA"
ats traces you seek, eha What do you
call thisl' and the man with the lantern
held up bit of gray cloth that had evident
ly been torn loose by q 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 by Lura Joyce.
"Jest look down here, pardner."
Hank CABRERA was bending closely over
the stones at the foot of the steep declivity,
one huge, grimy finger pointing at the
ground. The Captain saw and shuddered.
Here, under the mans finger, had been a
pool of blood which was now coagulsted. 1t
was horrid reminder of the awful tragedy
the solemn rocks and trees had witnessed
but twenty-four hours earlier.
The Captain shuddered and drew back.
"What dye think now, pardner"
CABRERA regarded Captain Starbright with
a curdling grin.
1T looks as though somebody had fallen
here, surely" admitted the Captain, ''but
must see the body before Twill be convinced
that sure thin g was made of the work"
do We imagine gal could fall sixty foot
onter them rocks an not be killed, mister"
at doesn't seem possible" admitted Star
bright, "but how am to know that you are
not deceiving me? Some one seems to have
fallen on these rocks, but it may be another
than Lura Joyce demand to see the body
before any thing further is done"
"Wal, I'll do my best"
Then the man began a search which re-
suited in failure.
'Somethins carried the dead gal away,
that sartin,'' muttered Hank. Il can't
see through it no more than you kin"
"Let me take your lantern a moment,
Hank"