The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1920-08-07
CHAPTER VI-Continued.

Cautiously he circled 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
even 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 resolute to learn
the truth. black. shapeless figure,
scarcely discernible as a 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
tie 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 blanket stripped from
a bunk. The brief burst of flame died
down, leaving the room in sem-dark-
ness, The miner was conscious only
of a feeling of dull rage. desire for
revenge. The shot had been clearly
intended for himself. The killing or
Jose had been q mere accident. In all
probability the murderer had crept
away believing he had succeeded In MS
nurpose. If he had fingered long
enough to see anyone emerge from the
hut he would naturally imagine the
.urvivor to be the Mexican. Good!
This very confidence would tend 10
throw the fellow off his guard; ne
would have no fear Of Jose.
He reached beneath the blanket ana
drew forth the dead Mexican's revoi-
yer. slipped the weapon into his own
belt. opened the door and went OUT
closing it tightly behind him. Jose
could lie there until morning. Wnile
the darkpess lasted he had work to 40.
His purp se settled, there was no mes
,tarcv I'm mis- movements. His was the
code of the West; his methods those
az the desert and the mountains, the
code and method Of fighting man.
A dim trail, rock strewn. led to the
spriug. where 1t connected with an ore
road extending down the valley TO
Haskell. Another trail across the spur
shortened the distance to the La KOS
ITO shofthouse. But Westcott chose TO
follow none OF these. lest he run INTO
come ymbuscade Slowly end silently
cout,ors to dislodge no rolling stone
and keeping well concealed among the
rocks. he finally descended to the lever
of the shaft, feeling confident that MS
presence was not discovered.
He had no clearly defined plan. only
a desire to learn exactly what was De-
ing done. The Office beyond the snaI,
was lighted. although the faint gieam
,ras only dimly revealed along the
aace Of lowered curtains conceaiing
the interior However. this evidence
.bat some one was within served TO
attract Westcott's attention and ne
crent around, under the shadow of the
aump. and approached the farther
corner. He could perceive now two
mon on the hoisting platform and hear
tho prowl of their voices. but without
ha;no able 10 distinguish speech. Re
yo,ver in hand. he made the round OF
tho building to assure himself that no
.nard had been posted there tnen
chose the window farthest away from
tho shaft and endeavored to look 10.