The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1915-03-06

but white man who lives with the
natives limited that they had taken ii
up the river into the hills"
i With this slight clew both Drake
and Wilkerson toiled unweariedly un.
til they had established the fact that
the idol had indeed been sent into an.
other part of the country for safe keep.
| ing. IN
Then they prepared to follow. hav-
!. ing found out that Dorr and Iravcr.
sham had vanished aud were suppos
ed also to have gone hillward
| Mrs. Darnell most unwillngiy con
sented TO stay behind. but yielded
when Drake set before her the diff i
culties and perlls of the road they
must take.
| Both men promised to be gone only
SO long as would be needful to recover
the idol. and to both separately she
made it plain that she bad gone as far
as she would in helping them.
The two men found a couple of half,
bloods to their Fking and BY judicious
expenditure OF money manosed to get
together small band to accompany
them into the hills.
1t was impressed upon them that the
trip was dangerous and that the hill
men frequently dropped what small
pretense they offered of peaceableness
and warred on friend and foe alike.
1t was through these also that they
learned more specifically the route
taken by the priests in charge of the
idol.
Equipped at last. they started forth
and for two days Kept pretty closely
to the river, which wound about
through the hills, mounting slowly to
its source in the mountains.
Several times they heard of Fayer.
sham and Dorr, bur Wilkerson refus
ed to turn aside or delay once on the
trail of the idol. And at last they
came within view Of the little caval
cade which was escorting the god to
a place of safety.
Vile as were the men he had hired |
Wiikerson dared not trust them too |
far. He knew that they We're super
stitious. and he feared that when il
came to battle between avarice and !
inborn terror of the supernatural he
would be left In the lurch
So he warned Drake not to appear
too anxious and by no means to let
their followers know that they intend.
ed to seize the image and take itaway
with them.
but If the papers are in that idol"
Drake protested. I'VE ought to be able
to get them and replace the old image.
with nobody jot the worse
That may be possible was the re
sponse. ION the other hand, the plans
may be concealed so that it will take
time to find them"
They discussed a dozen plans and
finally decided that the next night the
two of them. accompanied only by
their guide, should make the trial.
But supposing they have the image.
where shall we find itg' questioned
Drake. They have lot of STUFF in
heir packs. and you may be sure they
nave concealed the idol well Unless
hey feared its being stolen again they
be going to all this pains"
swell find ii all right" was Wilker-
IONS sole response.
The evening came when they were
o put their scheme to the test Their
'wn little company made carp ana
ifter supper gradually went to sleep
II was 10 o'clock when Wilkerson
lodded 10 Drake. and they quit their
liaces by the dying ere.
Outside OF the circle they met the
nan who was to guide them. and one
Ilance at his brutal face showed vii
ierson that be was once more con
ronted withA problem.
The man made no bones Of demand ,