The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1920-12-23
of
PERI.
lcortinued from Paee p
BY
Randall PorriJb

frances be could dimly perceive. I
was all so serene. so peaceful. tn
/ truth seemed mpossible-that he wa
actually gazing down into q yeritabl'
hell on earth. a rendezvous ~ white
thieves and Indian murderers. nor
der fortress for all the nameless devil
try OF the frontier
And he must Invade the Hole. alone
n he would be OF service 10 this woman
captive BY sheer recklessness h.
must pierce the thing 20 the heart. Yet
how was II 10 be donei Not even a
mountain goat could find passage
down those rocks eves by daylight and
In another hour all would he darkness.
He could sot remain there: before
night made the search impossible he
must at least find water and q place
IN which TO camp. He stared down
into those deepening mists below A.
ready beginning 10 blot out the fea-
lures Of the valley
God what a hole he breathed !;
~ Is like looking straight into hell.
The only way down must he some.
where 10 the left. Case told me they
passed In under that waterfall"
he got TO his feet. with the pony
trailing behind moved backward away
from the edge Of the chasm into he
open plain. Suddenly, as his glance
wandered searchingly toward the
chain Of rock hills. the man stopped.
his heart pounding. What was that
moving yonder just emerging from out
the mouth Of that ravine and becoming
clearly outlined against the gray al
advance Of drove OF cattle. debouch.
ing through the narrow defie and
spreading out as they attained the
wider open space. There must he a
hundred head and even as he com
pretended. horsemen appeared in their
rear squirting forward to turn them
10 the left down shallow gulch.
There was no way he could escape
no possibility Of hiding
on that bare plain. Shelby's brain
worked like lightning. There were five
he could count them now: In
dians mostly. although one was surely
white. There was nothing left him
hut audacity and lies He must take
the chance. the one chance. mad. des-
perate, yet yielding . possibility OF sue
cess. He swung the field glasses 10
his eyss-yes, one rider was white. a
squat figure with n red beard, and
another The fellow al this end. APP
peared TO be q Mexican. Then he
laughed grimly; the vortex OF his glass
rested on the exposed flank Of the
nearest steer and he saw the brand.
BY an the gods. they we're his own
cattle The humor Of II flashed In
his eyes but the Jaw OF the man set
sternly The Did thievesl He
strobe forward. the pony trailing al
his heels. and then the Mexican saw
him. throwing MP one hand IN swift
signal and squirting his horse reckless
y across the gray plain. They met
half way, Shelby still afoot. the other
sweeping up al full speed. his horse
brought fairly 10 It's launches by the
cruel pressure Of a Spanish bit
The fellow was handsome devil
but for the evil in bis eyes and a dis.
figuring scar down one cheek. The
'yes Of the two met and the riders
hand dropped instantly upon the ex-
posed butt Of a revolver.
"Buenas dlas. senor." he said harsh
y. staring. what IS the meaning Of
-thisT
Shelby smiled, coolly returning his
glance
The meaning OF what, senorT" he
Questioned shortly
Your being here-alone have
ot seen you before. You are not OF I
he Wolves den"
"Oh. is that Il. senorI" indlderently. 4
Then maybe you viii tell me how
am 10 find a way into this den OF I
-olvesg have looked down yonder,"
e waved his hand.
''Y0u seek it thcny~
"Sure; otherwise why should I be
eres You vii guide meT-
~Caramha II depends" suspicious
J, yet somewhat disconnected by the
TIERS quiet manner. Il would know
lore first You are lostf"
Completely; yet II Is story easily
I'd I was with a man named Han
. an a fellow called Hank"
"Oid Matt know him"
Good: then ] have met a friend.
'e were there. hack IN those hills.
hen my girth broke-see. where I
ave hred II I fell behind and they
de on. I thought 20 follow easily.
u. you must know those hills. the
all vas lost perhaps ] took = wrong
in. FOR suddenly ! found myself on
is plain
The Mexican ssi fiofiouless. his
20 - suspicious a. ever. bui bis
lgers no longer gripped On the re
liver. The last ~ The cattle had dis
,pesred down the couiee snd the red
'srded white man vas riding toward
en- scroEs TIE Ilksn Neither