The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-05-04
COMRADES OF PERIL
-BY-
RANDALL PARRISH
Copyright A. c. McClurg & Co, 1919
in

81 more like a dream than reality.
lie had left her there apparently
cheerful and happy. tho laughter In
her eyes a memory 60 lingcr with
him. he had not been absent Ia eN'
ccsd thirty minutes, and not 80 far
away but what any cry would surely
have reached his ears Yet when he
returned she had vanished utterly.
leaving everything untouched. What
ever occurred must have been
brought to pass almost Immediately
upon his departure, before shc even
began tho work OF cleaning up. hut
how could such a thing happen with
out any alarm Why. the Kid was
working within ten feet OF the house.
and must have heard tho slightest
sound Of a struggle. Tho Kid' whore
was he anyway What had become
OF the fellow all this timer lie was
nowhere in sight when shelby re-
traced his steps up the path. Could
II be that the Kid was tho ono guilty
OF this deed II SO. wha, was his
objectf Not robbery surely. fer the
place had not been ransacked. or
anything removed from his pockets
Yet surely this was not Indian work.
Il bore no rcsrmnlanc, 10 "a savage
raid. Tho questions were unanswcr'
able. no mental effort gave him any
clue. yet his strength was rapidly
coming back. and with Il a grim. do
termincd anger. which urged him
into action.
First he went thru the deserted
house. room by room. seeking for tho
slightest sign OF guidance. but ind
ing none. Everything remained pre-
elSely as he remembered seeing IL the
night before. lie blew out tho light.
took down one of the rifles from the
wall loaded H. and then. feeling hts
old strength returning. cautiously
stepped out thru the front door. Tho
blackboard stood there, gaunt and
stripped. except for tho box between
the rear wheels lie peercd into this.
and found Il stiil half filled With bun.
dies. Maekiin had not completed his
Job. other evidence being furnished
ny the extingulshcd and overturned
lantern on the ground just beyond.
But there was no sign visible Of any
struggle. The morning light was sui
ftcirntiy strong by this time TO en-
able him TO perceive every marx
clearly. The rising mist gave him
plain view Of IN. stable. and the
strram Beyond. Nothing moved, and
there was no sound except the wind
In the treca
lie went down the steep path
swiftly. reckicHsiy. his rsfic flung for
ward In readiness. but encountered
nothing. Tho stable was empty. the
blankets he had spread on mattress
Of hay had not been used they lay
exactly a. he left them. Baffled b.
fore the mystery. stili trembling from
weakness. his face already haggard
and drawn. he sank down on a feed
box. with chin on his hands. and en-.
dnavorcd 10 think. 20 piece together
each incident which could be made "a
bear on some possible solution.
Surely she had not left OF her own
choice. That was unthinkshle. She
had appeared cheerful and contented
even actually interested In the nov
life; besides. II she possessed the
slightest desire to escape. he had Of
fercd her every opportunity on the
way out. and she had refused. Surely
she would never have come way out
there TO make that disagrccabie jour
ncy over again AZ night. Even n
crazy enough for such an attempt.
tho effort would never be made upon
foot. and all three ponies were in the