The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1915-03-03

THE idol isn't there any longer" Drake
continued.
but n white man who lives with the
natives hinted that they had taken Il
up the river into the hills"
with this slight clew both Drake
aud Wiikerson toiled uuweariedly un.
"a they had established the fact that
the idol had indeed been sent into an.
uther part Of the country for safe Keep
ing.
Then they prepared to follow. hay.
ing found out that Dorr aud Faver.
sham had vanished and we're suppos.
ed also 10 have gone hillward
Mrs. Darnell most unwilllngly con.
sentcd 20 stay behind, but yielded
when Drake set before her the dill.
cultics and perils Of the road they
must take.
Both men promised TO be gone only
SO long as -Ould be- needful TO recover
the Idol. ard 10 both separately she
made Il plain that she had gone as far
as She would In helping thera.
The two men found a couple OF half.
bloods 20 their lising aud by judicIo us
expenditure " money managed to get
together a small band 10 accompany
them into the hills.
II was impressed upon them that the
trip ives dangerous and that the hill.
men frequently dropped what small
preiense they offered Of peaceableness
and wnrred on friend and foe alike.
II WIS through these also that they
learned more specifically the route
taken 10y the priests In charge OF the
dol.
Equipped az last, they started forth
ma FOR two days kept pretty closely
20 the river. which wound about
through the hills. mounting slowly "a
its source Ia the mountains.
Several times they heard OF Faver,
sham and Dorr, but Wilkerson refus.
cd 20 turn aside or delay once on the
trail OF the idol. And at last they
came within view OF the little cnyal
cade which was cscorting the god "a
| y pNlce OF kuletN.
Vile as were the men he had hired
1 Wilkcrson dared not trust them toe
fnr. He knew that they were super,
s%titlous. and be feared that when II
came 10 Il battle between avarlce and
Unborn terror OF the supernatural be
would be left In the lurch.
So he warned Drake not 70 appear
too anxious and by no means 70 lei
their followers know that they intend
cd 10 seize the image and take II away
with them.
but IL the papers are In that idol
Drake protested. we ought to be abb,
to get them aud replace the old image
with nobody a jot the worse"
That may be possible" was the re
Spouse. ION the other hand, the plani
may be concealed so that II viii TAX,
time to find them"
They discussed a dozen plans an,
hnally decided that the next night thI
two Of them, accompanied only b.
their guide. should mako the trial.
but supposing they have the imngc
where shall we find ~" questlone,
Drake. They have a lot OF stun Il
their packs. and you may be sure the
nave concealed the idol well. Unles
they feared rs being stolen again the.
wouldn't be going 90 all this pains"
Wen find II all right" was Wilker
sons sole response.
The evening came when they weru
10 put their scheme 60 tho test. Thei
own little company made camp ant
after supper gradually went 90 sleep.
II was 10 o'clock when Wilkersol
nodded TO Drake, and they quit thel
places ~ the dying Ore.
Outside OF the circle they met IN
man who vas 20 guide them. and on
glance NJ bis brutal face showed Wi
kerson that he was once more cor
,ronted with a problem
Tho man made 10 bones OF demand
Ing = large extra sum IA c0mpens.
lion for his risks and intimated wit
eXtromc plalnncss that IN case his e.
orbitaut blnckmaii was not paid Il
would not only not accompany then
but put II out OF their power 10 Z
alone.
For an hour Wilkcrson bargainc
and haggled. but all 10 10 purpose. A
last he gave IN and practically strll
ped himself OF coin, which the 9th,
pocketed without a thank you.
The three OF them started forth al
der a glimmcriug moon toward n
priests camp. a mile or 80 away by
auuln.r