The Arizona copper camp., 1920-10-09

tention. Moore turned in his seat, and
grinned.
Some tin soldier" he said sneer-
ingly, "that's Teller 1 always wanted
ter kick, an some day I'm a goin' ter
do it,
The wagon lurched down a steep
bank, splaShed its way across the mar
row stream and up the other side, the
horses straining in their harness to
/ the sharp snap of the drivers whip. A
towering precipice of rock confronted
them, and at its very foot stood two
cabins of log construction, so closely
resembling their stone background as
to be almost imperceptible at the dis
lance of few yards. Skies leaned on
his rifle waiting, and as Moore halted
the painting team and leaped over the
wheel to the ground Cateras came
! forth from one of the open doors and
crossed the intervening space on foot.
He was smoking a cigarette the blue
wreath of smoke circling above his
head in the still air.
'sThe lady is to be placed in my
care" he said almost insOlently.
"Your hand, senorita."
Miss Donovan hesitated. Moore
broke the silence with protest. !,
"In your care, senior? The girl is
here as prisoner to Bill Lacy"
$50 told Mendez," he said indiffer-
emily. "But he is in ill humor this
morning and took small interest in the
affair. 1t was only when promised to
take full charge that he consented to
your remaining at ALL"
eff there is evil done, the debt will
be paid"
Cateras laughed, one hand at his in-
cipient mustache.
BILLY Lacy, you mean, no doubt.
| That is matter for him to settle with
Mendez. 1t is not my affair, for only
obey my chief. However, senors, tits
no evil that is contemplated, only we
prefer guarding the secrets Of this val
ley ourselves. That is what Anglers
Mendez, the fact that Lacy uses this
rendezvous as a prison during our alb
sence. We found one here when we
returned guarded by an American.
Now you come with another. How do
we know what may result from such
acts? What sheriff's posse may be on
your trail? Bill Lacy! Dios! If Bill
Lacy would make prisoners, let him
keep them somewhere else than here.
| Mendez takes no prisoners-he knows
better way than doing things like
| that"
eBut, senior, this is woman
"Of which I am well aware" bow
ing CALAMITY. ''Otherwise should not
have interfered and offered my serv--
ices. You know what to do with your
team; then the both of you report to
Casas at the upper camp-you know
him?"
eyes, senor."
'tTell him I sent you. He will have
his orders; they are that you be shot
if you attempt to leave before Mendez
gives the word. Ills not long now till
we learn who is chief here-Bill Lacy
or Pascual Mendez. Come, senOrita,
you are safe with me-"
COncealing a dread that was almost
overpowering, yet realizing the impOs-
sibility of resistance, Stella permitted
him to touch her hand and assist her
to Chamber over the wheel. Under
some conditions the change in captors
might have been welcOmed-certainly
she felt no desire to remain in the
hands of the two who had brought her
there, for Skies, plainly enough, was
mere drunken brute, and Moore, while
of somewhat finer fiber, lacked the
courage and manhood to ever develop
| into true friend.
Yet she would have infinitely pre-
| ferred such as these-men, at least, of
i her own race-to this Sinking Next
can, hiding his devilish instincts be-
hind a pretense at gallantry. He had
fastened ahead to Mendez; told a tale
in his own way, rendering the chiefs
suspicious of Lacy more acute and
thus gaining permission to assume full
charge. Her only hope was to go her
self into the presence of the leader
and make a plea to him face to face.
Cateras, smiling, pressed her arm with
his fingers. :.
"This way, 'senorita."
"Wait," and her eyes met his, show
ing no sign of fear. 'YOu take me, ]