Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1915-10-14

WouIu De lett IN the lurch.
SO he warned Drake not to appcar
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 II the papers are in that idoI,'
Drake protested, we ought to be able
to get them and replace the old image,
with nobody a jot the worse"
That may be possible" was the re-
spouse. ION the other hand, the plans
may be concealed s o that it will take
tsne to find them"
They discussed Il 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 we'll. Unless
they feared its being stolen again they
wouldn't be going to all this pains"
well find it 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 Will
kerson that he was once more CON
fronted with a problem.
The man made no bones Of demand
Ing q large extra sum in compensa-
ton for his risks and intimated with
extreme plainness that in case his ex,
orbitant blackmail was not paid he
would not only not accompany them,
but put it out of their power to go
alone.
For an hour Wilkerson bargained
and haggled, but all to no purpose. At
last he gave in and practically strip
ped himself of coin, which the other
pocketed without a thank you.
The three Of them started forth IN
der a glimmering moon toward the
priests camp, a mile or so away by a
spring.
Half an hours steady tramping
brought them within eyeshot Of the
place. and Wilkerson went ahead to
spy out the lay of things.
When he came back he roughly told
Drake, in reply to his question, that
the idol must be in one Of the pack
sacks lying about.
cts a case Of sneak up and get a
idol in it," he said.
"All right" Drake growled. But
it's risky business. In case Of a muss
where'l we meet AGAIN."
Sat our own camp" Wilkerson whis-
pered and led the way.
When they came close to the spot
where the natives were asleep the
three Of them paused and listened.
Presently Wilkerson gave a silent
signal that nc one was awake, and
they crept up among the baggage.
The first two sacks yielded nothing
n Wilkerson was reaching out for
n that seemed bulkier than the rest
when their guide coughed and instant
ly a couple Of the priests Weakened.
Seeing strangers, they gave an alarm,
and one, apparently a soldier, fired off
an ancient musket so close to Drake
that he incontinently dropped his bur-
den and fled.
He heard Wilkerson cursing behind
him, a couple Of more shots and then
took to his heels in good earnest as he
heard rapid footsteps.
A moment later Wilkerson had
caught up to him, painting and drag
ging the sack, which he had refused
to surrender.
Between them they carried it on fur
Their and then rested in a slight hollow
till their guide came up.
'If the idol isn't in this sack" Will
kerson said with Il snarl, "I'l go back
and shoot up the whole outfit and
getit."
When the thongs were cut and the
great bag opened the first object that
met their eyes was the image they
SOuSAe, Si1AlI1IIl LIS III LIT Idll llSul.
The moment he saw it and knew
that his quest was ended Wilkerson
flung the rest of the stuff away and
boldly got to his feet.
'Now for our own camp. Well just
see where those plans are" he growled.
Drake and the guide both protested
in vain.
Safely away from pursuit, they lit a
light and examined their find.
cts the same one" Wilkerson said
triumphantly.
MADE of metal. too" said Drake
slowly. Now. where are the plans?"
Inside of it," announced his COM
panion. beating on the idol with his
knuckles. Now to find out the open
ing
1t did not take long for him to dis
cover the movable eye, and when he
had pulled that out he thrust his fin
ger in and withdrew it with a folded
paper.
Safe and sound" he exulted, drop