Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-10-02


not even determine its exact outlines.
Baffied, her glance wandered about
the cell. seeking vainly for any sign
Of weakness. and taen, giving way ut
terly to her despair. the girl flung her
self on the bench. covering her eyes
to shut out those hideOus surroundings.
What should she do? What could she
do? WHAT possibility Of hope lay in
her own endeavOrs? From what
source could she expect any outside
help?
After those first moments OF COM
piete despair. there came greater calm
ness, in which her mind began 10 Crap
ple with the situation These outlaws
would never dare to take her life
There was no occasion for them to re-
sort to so desperate a deed. And
why should Lacy desire to take her
life? Most assuredly he did not or
the act would have been already accom-
pished The very fact of her hav-
ing been transported such a distance
was sufficient evidence of his purpose
The conspirators merely suspected her
mission in Haskell; they were afraid
she knew more of their plans than she
really did. Tie telegram, stolen by
Miss La Rue. had convinced the lead
CTS that she might prove dangerous if
left Mt large. and they determined 30
hold her helpless until their scheme
had been worked out and they were
safely beyond pursuit. That was un-
doubtedly the one object of her capture.
Lacy had no knowledge that Meuaez's
band was at the rendezvous; he sup
posed them to be on a cattle raid To
the south, with only a man or two of
his own left as guard over Cavendish.
Cavendish! Her mind grasped clear
~ now the fact that the man was not
dead 1t had not been his body found
in the NaldrOn apartments, hut that
Of some other man substituted for
purposes Of crime CavendiSh himself
had been lured westward, waylaid ill
some manner and made prisoner, as
she and Westcott had suspected.
Through the cooperation Of Lacy
he had been brought to this desert
den. where he could be held indefinite
H. with no chance Of discovery
if necessary. She had heard Of such
places as this. read Of them. yet never
before had She realized the possibility
of their real existence. Ii all seemed
more like a delirium of fever than
au actual fact She rubbed her eyes.
gazing about on the rock walls. scare
~ sure she was actually Awake. Why,
one might ride across the desert and
pass by within a hundred yards of its
rim. and never even be aware ri the
existence Of this sunken valley Yet
these men must have made use Of it
for years, as place to hide stolen
cattle, and into which to retreat when
ever pursuit became dangerous.
Those huts without were not new
y built. ana this underground cavern
had been extended and changed by 10
small labor. What deeds of violence
must have happened here, what
scenes of unbridled debauchery this
desert rendezvous must have Wit
/ messed, She shuddcred at the thought,
comprehendiug that these cells had
never been chisclIcd without pur-
! pose aud that size was utterly help.
/ less in the hands OF band of thieves
and cutthroatS, TO whom murder
meant little enough, if it only served
their ends Meudez. 10 doubt, was
brute and monster yet it was Juan
/ tateras whom she realty feared-he
/ was cruel Shiny seeking 10 hide his
I hatefulueSs behind that hde0ls smile !:
/ and he had already chosen her for
his victim. Who would save her
/ Mendrz? Lacy? She did not know !;
I and somehow neither Of these WIS the
name which arose 20 her lips almost
in The form of prayer. tne name she
whispered with faint throb of hope
he lis utleranCe--Jm WeStcotr.
The big miner was all she had 10
rely upon; lie had been in her mind
all through the long ride; he arose
before her again now. and she wei
coined the memory with a conscious
tErob OF expectation Those people
hack there could not conceal for long
beer absence from him; it he lived he
would surely seek her again.
Her woman'y instinct bad read the
message m the mans eyes. she was
AT interest go him. he cared il was
no mere ordinary friend'IueSs which
would triu-. him t.f-F. rtaf ,,ot .s,,o,