The Lamar register., 1920-06-30

Moore swept his eyes over the dull
range OF sand, expectorated thought
fully, and rammed his hands deep into
his trouser-pockets. He was slow
about answering but the two men
waited motiOnless.
IF II was me-" he said finally, I'D
take II on foot. It'll be Jaunt ov
near ON to three miles. unless yer
want ter risk bein' seen by them
Nexes on the main trail. You couldn't
20 straight, but would have ter circle
out an travel mostly behind that ridge
% sand thar to the left. Coin that
away nobody's likely ter get sight o
yer on foot. You couldn't take no
boss. though. Here'd be my plan:
Lead this yere outfit o. mine an your
ponies back inter them sand dunes
whar nobody ever goes. They're tired
'nough ter stand. an there ain't any
thing fer 'em TO Craze on. Then we
kin hoof IL over ter the place I'm tell
in yer about. an yer kin sorter size
It up fer yerselves. That's fair. amt
it?'
They went at It with a will. The
team was driven into the security of
the sand drifts and unhitched. The
saddles were taken from the backs of
the ponies. and what grain Moore had
In the wagon was carefully appor-
toned among the four animals. Salts
fed these would not stray. the men
looked carefully to their supply Of
ammunition and set forth on their
tramp.
This proved a harder journey than
either Brennan or westcott had an
ticipated, for Moore led OF briskly.
taking a wide circle. until a consider
able ridge concealed their movements
from the south. At last Moore turned
sharply and plunged into what resem-
bled narrow ravine through the
ridge. Here they struggled knee deep
in the sand. but finally emerged on the
very rim overlooking the valley.
SO perfectly was II concealed they
were within ten feet OF the edge be
fore the men, their heads bent In the
strenuous effort TO advance. even real
lied Its immediate presence. Moore
grinned as he noted the surprise de
picted on their faces. and waved his
hand.
"Yer better lie down an crawl up
ter the edge" he advised. ''Some
hole. ain't itf'
Il should say So" and westcott
dropped to his knees. 81 never
dreamed Of such a place. Dan. amt
this an eye-openerr'
1t sure is" and the marshal crept
cautiously forward. only it's devils
down below. Matti Houses. by Jingol
Well, don't that beat h-l7-all the
comforts OF home"
Two big cabins" explained Moore,
rather proud of his knowledge. Cart
ed the logs In from OIL Baldy. more'n
forty miles. Creep up Il bit an I'll
show yer how the trail runs. Don't
be afeerd; nobody kin see yer from
down below"
"An right. son; where is itr'
.It starts at the foot o. that bowl
der" indicating with his finger. "an'
goes along the shelf clear to the end;
then thar's a drop oy maybe five feet
to that outcroppln' o. rock just below.
It's wider than II looks to be from
yere. After that yer can trace IL
quite a spell with yer eyes, kinder
sidIin' ter the left, till yer come TO
that dead root ov cedar. Then
thar's gap or two that ain't over
easy. an II slide down ter another
shelf. Yer can't miss 1t. cause there's
no other way ter GO"
"And what's at the bOttomr'
'Them huts, an the mouth of a big
cave Just behind 'em. reckon it's In
the cave they've got the gal; there's
places there they kin shut up. but j
don't know what they was ever made
fer asked Lacy wunst. but he only
laughed"
The two men lay fiat. staring down.
II was almost a sheer wall, and the
very thought OF climbing along the al
most impossible path pointed out by
Moore made Westcott dizzy. 1t was
such a sheer. precipltous drop. path
If path II could be called-so thick
ly studded with danger the mind ac-
tually recoiled In contemplation.
They were still sitting there cross
legged In the sand when the silence
was suddenly punctuated by the sharp