The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-08-19
CHAPTER vl-continued.

Cautiously he circled the black
cabin. every nerve taut for struggle.
every sense alert. He found nothing TO
reward his search-whoever the COW.
ard IA been, he had disappeared
among the rocks, vanishing completely
In the black night. The fellow had NOT
even waited to learn the effect OF his
shot II was not until he came bach
TO the open door that the miner
thought of his companion. What had
become OF Jose? Could II be that the
Mexican was hit? He entered. shrink
ing from the task. yet resolute TO earn
the truth. A black. shapeless figure.
scarcely discernible as a man. lay
huddled beneath the table. westcott
bent over II. feeling for the heart and
turning face upward. There was no
visible mark of the bullet wound. but
the body was limp. the face CHASTITY Ia
the grotesque dance of the flames. The
assassin had not wasted his shot-Jose
jalvari would never see Mexico
again.
Westcctt Strengthened the body out,
crossing the dead hands, and covered
the face with a blanket stripped from
a bunk. The brief burst Of flame died
down, leaving the room In semi-dark-
ness. The miner was conscious only
81 a feeling of dull rage, a desire for
revenge. The shot had been clearly
dntended for himself. The killing Of
Jose had beer a mere accident. In all
probability the murderer had crept
away believing he had succeeded In his
purpose. II he had fingered long
enough to see anyone emerge from the
hut. be would naturally imagine the
~nurvfvor to be the Mexican. Good
This very confidence would tend to
the fellow or hts guard: he
would have no fear Of Jose.
He reached beneath the blanket and
-xlrew forth the dead Mexican's revolt
yer. slipped the weapon into his W
tbeit. opened the door and went out,
CLOSING II tightly behind him. Jose
could lie there until morning. While
Sne darkness lasted he had work to do.
His purpose settled. there was no hes
itancy In his movements. His was the
code OF the West: his methods those
ct the desert and the mountains, the
code and method Of a lighting man.
4. A dim trail, rock strewn. led to the
spring. where II connected with an ore
road extending down the valley to
Haskell. Another trail across the spur
- 49, Hgc<opco RI tho DO Roo.
tia s~hafthouse. But Westcott chose to
follow none Of these. lest he run into
some ambuscade. Slowly and silently,
cautions to dislodge no rolling stone.
aud keeping we'll concealed among the
rocks, he finally descended to the level
OF the shaft. feeling confident that his
presence was not discovered.
He had no clearly defined plan. only
4 desire to learn exactly what was be-
ine done. The osice beyond the shaft
was lighted, although the faint CLEAN
was only dimiy revealed along the
edee OF lowered curtains c~oncealine
the interior. However. this evidence
thnt eofne one was within served 70
attract Westeottss attention and he
xs.$ssosos~aeAer the d Of the
,Sumo. ana approached the farther
corner. &c could perceive now two
men a. ne bolstinS platform and heal
ths rrovrt a. their volcea. but without
helnx oSls % dlu<lvroIoh speech. ne
volver IL hand. he made she round o.
- hufIdior b assvre himself that u
~<.~<><1 fhoro the