The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-10-14

Threw Ddck ils coat ana eXnlDiteU MS
star. yer see. / amt just talkin' ter
yer as Dan Brennan-Im the law"
The boy, for he was scarcely more
than that In years, shufled his feet
uneasily, and his eyes wandered from
Brennan to Westcott. The look of sui
len defiance had vanished.
"Wotcher wanter ask?'
"Who vas with you the out-trip,
along with Miss Donovan?"
"Joe Sikes.'
"And yer left him back there, guard
ing the girl?"
HE stayed them was the orders,
while | was to bring back the team +;
but l reckon he won't need TO do no
guardln' to speak OF, fer we run inter
II bunch o. fellows"
How many are they?
Maybe a dozen l don't just know"
"What vas done with the young
lady?'
Moore spat vindictively into the
sand, digging a hole with his heel. He
had talked already more than he in
tended. but what was the difference2
"Cateras took her." he admitted,
but | don't know whar. ! tried ter find
out whar she was. but nobody'd tell
me. Then / had ter pull out
Westcott INTERCEPTED a question.
whats the valley like, an how do
you get into it?'
well, I'd say II was just a sort o.
sink in the desert, a kinder freak.
Anyhow, | never saw nuthin' like ii
afore. The walls Is solid rock, almost
straight up an down. but thar's q con-
siderable stream flowin' down thar
that just bursts out a hole in the
rock, an plenty o. grass fer quite a
bunch of steers"
"How do they get down into it?''
Long q windin' trail on the west
side. 1t used to be mighty rough. l
reckon, an only good fer mixers, but
they fixed IL up so they can drive cat
tie down, IN eve a wagon If yer take
II easy"
"And there Is no other way to the
bottom except along this trail?"
That's bout all"
Brennan and Westcott looked at
each other, both uncertain as to the
next step. What were they to do with
their prisoner? And how could they
proceed toward effecting the rescue of
the helpless girl? 1t was a problem
not easy to solve, II what Moore told
them was true. The latter shufied his
feet In the sand, lifted his eyes shrewd-
ly, and studied the faces of his cap
tors. He was figuring his own
chance.
you fellows a ter get down in
ter the valley?" he asked at last.
"Yes," and Brennan turned again
quickly. IF 1t a be done. OF course
thar's only two Of us, an II would be
sort o. foolish tryin' ter fight a way
through. even ag'h' Mexicans. Fiji
teen ter two Is some odds, but faint In
my nature, OF Jim's here. ter turn
round an leave that girl In the hands
o. them cusses-is ii, JimT"
III never WILL" replied Westcott
earnestly. mot II / have to tackle the
Wn0ie Outnt alone.
"You won't have to do that. What's
the idea, MooreT"
"Oh. / was just %thinkin'," he an
swered. still uncertain. IF / show yer
a way. what is thar In II fer meY"
Brennan stiffened, his features ex-
pressing nothing.
what do you meani I'm an officer
o. the law ("
81 know It: ! amt asking yer ter
make no promise. But yer word will
go a HI ov a ways If this eve gets iE
court. II I help yer I've got to he pro-
tected frum Bill Lacy. He'd kill me
as quick as he'd look at me. Then
I'd want yer ter tell the judge how 1t
all happened. ! know we're square,
Dan Brennan, an whatever yer says
goes"
The marshal stuck out his hand.
That's the gospel truth, Matt" he
said g~ravely. "an' I'm with yer till the
cows come home. What Is 1t you
know?"
WELL" with a quick breath as he
took the plunge. "it's like this. mar
snail: there is Just n place out yon-
der" and he waved his hand 10 indi-
cate the direction. ION the east rim o.
the valley. where yer might re: down.
Ye'd have ter hang on tooth an toe
nail: but both OF yer nre mountain
men. an l reckon yer could make the
trip II yer took It careful an slow