Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1920-08-13
CHAPTER vI-contlnued.

Cautiously he clrcled the black
cabin. every nerve taut for struggle
every sense alert. He found nothing to
reward his search-whOever the cow
ard had been, he had disappeared
among the rocks, vanishing completely
in the black night. The fellow had not
seven waited TO learn the effect Of his
shot. It was not until he came back
to the open door that the miner
thought of his companion. What had
become of Jose? Could 1t be that the
Mexican was hit? He entered. shrink
Ing from the task, yet resoiute to learn
the truth. A black. shapeless figure,
scarcely discernible as man, lay
huddled beneath the table. Westcott
bent over it. feeling for the heart and
turning face upward. There was no
visible mark of the bullet wound, but
the body was limp. the face CHASTITY in
the grotesque dance of the flames. The
assassin had not wasted his shot--Jose
Salvari would never see Mexico
again.
Westcott Strengthened the body out,
crossing the dead hands, and covered
the face with a blanket stripped from
bunk. The brief burst of flame died
down, leaving the room In semi-dark-
ness. The miner was conscious only
of feeling Of dull rage, a desire for
revenge. The shot had been clearly
intended for himself. The killing of
Jose had been mere accident. In all
probability the murderer had crept
away believing he had succeeded In his
purpose. If he had fingered long
enough to see anyone emerge from the
hut. he would naturally imagine the
survivor to be the Mexican. Good
This very. confidence would tend to
throw the fellow off his guard he
would have no fear of Jose.
He reached beneath the blanket and
drew forth the dead Mexican's revol-
yer, slipped the weapon into his own
belt. opened the door and went out
closing 1t tightly behind him. Jose
could lie there until morning. While
the darkness lasted he had work to do
His purpose settled. there was no hes
itancy in his movements. His was the
code of the West; his methods those
of the desert and the mountains. the
code and method of a fighting man.
A dim trail. rock strewn, led to the
spring, where II connected with an ore
road extending down the valley to
Haskell Another trail across the spur
shortened the distance to the La Ros.
ita shafthouse. But Westcott chose to
follow none of these. lest he run into
some ambuscade. Slowly and silently,
cautious to dislodge no rolling stone.
aud keeping we'll concealed among the
rOcks. he finally descended to the level
OF the shaft, feeling confident that his
presence was not discovered.
He had no clearly defined plan. only
desire TO learn exactly what was be-
Ing done. The office beyond the shaft
was lighted. although the faint CLEAN
was only dimly revealed along the
edge of lowered curtains coneeallng
the interior. However. this evidence
that some one was within served to
attract Westcott's attention and he
crept around, under the shadow of the
dump, and approached the farther
corner. He could perceive now twc
men on the hoisting platform and heal
the growl of their voices, but without
being able to distinguish speech. Re
Kolver In hand, be made the round O
the building to assure himself that n
guard had been posted there. .thel
chose the window farthest away from
dhe shaft and endeavored to look In.
.