Charlevoix county herald., 1920-06-18

Meaningly.
can be done for you later. Perhaps
few hours in such hole may work
a miracle. When come again you
will be glaG to see even me. Tllleave
you to think 1t over; then I'll come
back for an answer. Until then, senior
tia. adios."
The fellow lifted his hat, and step
ped back into the passage, his manner
insolent. She remained motiOnless,
contempt In her eyes, but In truth
hopeless and crushed. Silva closed the
door silently, although her ears caught
the click of the bolt when 1t was shot
home.
No sound of retreating footsteps
reached her through the thick wall.
The stiffness Of her prison seemed
to strike her like blow. For mo-
ment she stood staring at the bare
wall, her lips parted, her limbs trem-
bling from the reaction of excitement |;
then she stepped forward, and felt
along the smooth surface Of rock.
The door fitted so closely she could
not even determine its exact outlines.
Baffled, her glance wandered about
the cell, seeking vainly for any sign
of weakness, and then, giving way ut
terly to her despair. the girl flung her
self on the bench, covering her eyes
to shut out those hideous surroundings.
What should she do? What could she
do? What possibility Of hope lay in
her own endeavors? From what
source could she expect any outside
help?
After those first moments of COM
plete despair, there came greater calm
ness, In which her mind began to Crap
pie with the situation. These outlaws
would never dare to take her life.
There was no occasion for them to re-
sort to so desperate a deed. And
why should Lacy desire to take her
life? Most assuredly he did not, or
the act would have been already accom-
plished. The very fact of her hav-
Ing been transported such distance
was sufficient evidence Of his purpose.
The conspirators merely suspected her
mission In Haskell; they were afraid
she knew more Of their plans than she
really did. The telegram, stolen by
Miss La Rue, had convinced the lead
ers that she might prove dangerous II
left at large. and they determined to
hold her helpless until their scheme
had been worked out and they were
safely beyond pursuit. That was I'M
loubtedly the one'object of her capture.
Lacy had no knowledge that Mendez's
band was at the rendezvous; he sup
posed them 10 be on cattle raid to
the south, with only man or two of
his own left as guard over Cavendish.
Cavendlsh! Her mind grasped clear
y now the fact that the man was not
lead. 1t had not been his body found
in the Waldron apartments, but that
Of some other man substituted for
purposes of crime. Cavendlsh himself
had been lured westward, waylaid In
some manner, and made prisoner, as
she and WestcOtt had suspected.
Through the cooperation Of Lacy
ne had been brought to this desert
ieni where he could be held Indefinite
", with no chance Of discovery-killed
II necessary. She had heard Of such
places as this, read Of them, yet never
before had she realized the possibility
Of their rem existence. 1t all seemed
more like !delirium Of fever than
m actual fact. She rubbed her eyes,
gazing about onNthe rock walls, scare
ly sure she was actually awake. Why.
one might ride across the desert. and
pass by within hundred yards OF Its
rim, and never even be aware Of the
existence of this sunken valley. Yet
these men must have made use of IL
for years. as q place to hide stolen
cattle, and into which to retreat when.
ever pursuit became dangerous.
Those huts without were not new.
ly built, and this underground cavern
had been extended and changed by no
small labor. What deeds OF violence
must have happened here; what
scenes of unbridledl debauchery this
desert rendezvous must have wit
nessed.' She shuddered at the thought,
comprehending that these cells had
never been chiselled without a pur.
pose, and that she was utterly help.