Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-03-21
CHAPTER XII.
I'm THE GULCH.


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?"
"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 out Of the-way
placer" 81
"She heard twas short cut, Ipresume."
s'Do you know this to be a facta''
s'No.'
'sDidn't you or Bill entice her from the
main road?'
1--WE didn't. I'll swear to that, Cap'n."
ssVery we'll. It seems that the girl came
to her death by accident. This is as it
spot and view the body. If all is as you
have told it there will be something
further"
"Hard money!"
eyes, hard money"
Good"
A chuckle tell 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
they gained the path that led to Mother
Cabera's cabin. Down this the twain
hurried, and in q little time they stood be-
fore the hut itself.
1.-THE body is inside, supposes'
sNix," answered the man.
"Where then?"
"Bill nor me hain't teched it sense we
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 was unpleasant.
"a lantern, quick" ordered Captain Star.
bright. 81 will investigate The poor child
must have a Christian burial in any event
It is awful leaving her there all this time"
1--WE couldn't help it. Cap'n. We expected
you sooner. Gittin' tired of wa,ten went
for ye," answered the Captains tool, apol-
ogetically.
Then he entered the house, returning soon,
bearing lantern in his hand.
"Bll wouldn't come, SO spect FL hev
ter pilot We to the place."
Every good. Lead the way"
And then the two men set OF down the
path toward the scene of the late accidenti
It 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 q damp atmos-
phere at the bottom cf the gulch.
ssNow, then. how far is itF' e
This from the painting Captain.
s.About twenty rods, i reckon"
'Lead on, quickly!" 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 Tor the
| first time feeling akin to fear crept over
the Captain.
Hank CABRERA moved forward. swinging