The Lamar register., 1920-06-09

"Some 6oudoir. Senorita," He Said
MeanInoIy.
can be done for you later. Perhaps
a few hours in such a hole may work
miracle. When l come again you
Will be glad to see even me. I'll leave
you to think It over; then I'll come
back for an answer. Until then. senor-
ita, adios."
The fellow lifted his hat, and step
ped back into the passage, his manner
lnsolent- 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 a blow. For a 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.
Baffied, her glance wandered about
the cell, seeking yalnly 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
dor What possibility Of hope lay In
her own endeavorsf From what
source could she expect any outside
helpf
After those first moments Of COM
pleie despair. there came greater calm
ness. in 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
lifef Most agsuredly 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 consplrators merely suspected her
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 Mendez's
band was at the rendezvous: he sup
posed them to be on cattle raid to
the south. with only a man or two Of
his own left as guard over Cayendish
Cavendlshi Her mind grasped clear
ly now the fact that the man was not
dead. II 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, waylald Ia
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
Iy. 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 real existence. 1t all seemed
more like IA delirium of fever than
an actual fact. She rubbed her eyes,
gazing about on the rock walls. scare
Iy 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 tire
existence OF this sunken valley. YET
these. men must have male use OF II
for years. as u place TO hide stolen
cattle. and into which to retreat when
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