The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-09-23

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, I'm which her mind began to grap-
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
llfe2 Most assuredly he did not, or
the act would have been already accom-
plisbed. The very fact of her hav-
ing been transported such a distance
was sufficient evidence of his purpose.
The consplrators 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 If
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 un-
doubtedly the one object Of her capture.
Lacy had no knowledge that Mendezs
! band was at the rendezvous; he sup
! posed them to be ON a cattle raid to
| the south, with only man or two of
his own left as guard over Cavendlsh.
Cavendishl Her mind grasped clear
ly now the fact that the man was not
dead. 1t had not been his body found
In the Waldron apartments, but that
| of some other man substituted for
purposes of crime. Cavendish himself
had been lured westward, waylaid in
some manner and made prisoner, as
she and Westcott had suspected.
| Through the cooperation Of Lacy
he had been brought to this desert
den, where he could be held indefinite
ly, with no chance of discovery-killed
IL necessary. She had heard of such
places as this, read Of them, yet never
before had she realized the possibility
of their real existence. 1t all seemed
more like a delirium of fever than
an actual fact She rubbed, her eyes,
gazing about on the rock walls, scare
ly sure she was actually awake. Why,
one might ride across the desert, and
pass by within a 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 II
for years, as a 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 nc
small labor. What deeds of violence
must have happened hef5; what
scenes of unbrldled debauchery this
desert rendezvous must have wit
messed. She shuddered at the thought
comprehending that these cells hat
never been chiselled without a pur
pose, and that she was utterly help
less In the hands of band of thieves
and cutthroats, to whom murder
meant little enough, II 1t only servet
their ends. Mendez, no doubt, wa'
brute and monster, yet II was Juar
Cateras whom she really feared-h'
was cruel slimy, seeking to eide hi
hatefulness behind that hideous smile
and he had already chosen her TO
his victim. Who would save her
Mendez? Lacy? She did not know
and somehow neither Of these was tn
name which arose to her lips, almos
in the form of prayer; the name sh
whispered with faint throb of hop
in Its utterance-Jlm Westcott.
The big miner was all she had L
rely upon; he had been in her min
all through the long ride; he aros
before her again now, and she wei
coined the memory with a consciou
throb of expectation. Those peopl
back there could not conceal for lon
her absence from him; II he lived h
would surely seek her again.
Her womanly instinct had read tn
message In the mans eyes; she wa
of interest to him, he cared; 1t wa
no mere ordinary friendliness whic
would bring him back; no! not eve
their mutual connection with the cas-
of Frederick Cavendlsh. Her eye
frightened, and flush Of color creI
into her cheeks. She believed In hin
In his courage-he had appealed I
her as man.
: Suddenly she seemed to realize III
yearning OF her own heart, her utte
, faith in him. He would come,
r must come; even now he might hay
), discovered her sudden Disappearance
b and suspected the cause. He woul
e never believe any lies they might te
I that she had departed without
I word, without message-he woul
find out the truth somehow; he wa
8 | not the kind TO lie down to avol