The Arizona copper camp., 1915-08-27

"The idol isn't there any longer" Drake
continued.
but a white man who lives with the
natives limited that they had taken it
up the river into the hills
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
Then they prepared to follow, hav-
ing found out that DOrr and Faver
sham had vanished and were suppos-
ed also to have gone hillward
Mrs Darnell most unwillingly con-
sented to stay behind but yielded
when Drake set before her the diff
culties and perils 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 had gone as far
as she would in helping them.
The two men found couple of half
bloods to their liking and by judicious
expenditure Of money managed 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 Faver-
sham and Dorr, but 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
place of safety.
Vile as were the men he had hired,
Wilkerson dared not trust them too
far. He knew that they were super
stitious. and he feared that when it
came to a 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 it away
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, lon 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 it?" questioned
Drake "They have a lot Of stuff In
their packs. and you may be sure they
have concealed the idol well. Unless
they feared it's being stolen again they
wouldn't be going to all this palms."
"We'll find 1t all right" was Wilker-
sons sole response.
The evening came when they were
to put their scheme to the test Their
own little company made camp and
after supper gradually went to sleep.
1t was 10 o'clock when. Wilkerson
nodded to Drake. and they quit their
places by the dying fire.
Outside of the circle they met the
man who was to guide them. and one
glance at his brutal face showed VIII
kerson that he was once more con.
fronted with a problem.
The man made no bones Of demand