The Dolores star., 1920-04-16

for work. but with throat cut; while
directly in front of the cabin door was
dog. an ugly, massive brute, ms
mouth open, prone on his back, win
, stirrened legs pointing to the SKY. i
dropped my rein, and strobe forward.
Wait where you are called back,
There have been savages here; let
me see first what has happened in
| side"
The dog had been shot, stricken by
/ two bullets. and | was obliged to drag
his huge body to one side before
could press my way in through the
door. The open doorway and window
| afforded ample light. and a single
| glance was sufficient to reveal most
OF the story. The table had been
smashed as by the blow of an AK, ana
pewter dishes were everywhere. Inc
bed in one corner had been stripped OF
its coverlets. many Of them sIashed
! by knife, and the straw tick had
been ripped open in dozen places
! Goals from the fireplace lay wide
| spread. some of them having eaten
| deeply into the hard wood before they
ceased smolderins.
saw all this, yet my eyes rested
upon something else A man lay bent
double across an overturned bench, In
! II posture which hid his face from
view. His body was there alone, al
| though child's shoe lay on the
| floor. and woman's linSey dress
| danged from hook against the wall
| crept forward, my heart pounding
| nudly. until ! could gain sight of his
! face. He was n big fellow not more
| than thirty. with sandy hair and beard,
and pugnacious jaw, his coarse
| hickory shirt slashed into ribbons, a
| bullet wound in the center of his fore
| head, and one arm broken by vicious
| blow. His Calloused hands yet gripped
! the haft of an AK. just as he had died
| fighting.
Tins voice spoke from the door
way
"Intuns, reck0n?"
Yes. they have been here; the man
| is dead. But there must have been
| others. a woman and child alSo-Sce
] lilhl SHbt Oh lii' lIb'i' anu ''' Ht''"
banging over there. The poor devil
fought hIrd.'
Kennedy stepped inside, staring
( about him.
''Do you think it best to stop here?
"Why not? TaIn't likely them
| devils will be back agin. Thar sure
must be Somethin' fer us ter eat in the
place, an the Lord kno's we can't 20
on as we are. Them gurls be mighty
nigh ready ter drop. an two o the
/ hDss"S has plum Civ out. I'm fer set
| tim down fer few hours cnyhOw-
say tilI it gifts mtddIinE dark"
Undoubtedly this was the sensible
view We would be in far less danger
remaining there under cover than in
any attempt to continue our journey
| Icy daylight. Together we carried the
, body out. and deposited it in thiCket
behind the cabin. awaiting burial: and
then dragged the dead dog also out of
sight. The disorder within was easily
remodied. and, after this had been at
tended to. the girls were permitted to
enter. Eloise sank back on the bench,
her head supported against the wall,
the laSheS of her half-CloSed eyes
showing dark against the whiteness
of her cheeks. She looked so pitifully
ired. the very heart choked in my
throat.
The rest Of US found a small stock
of provisions and Elsie, with Tim to
aid her built fire and prepared
breakfast. A half-filled bottle of
whisky discovered in the cupboard.
helped to revive all of us slightly, and
gave Asa sufficient courage to seek
outside for spring. Tim, compara-
lively unwenried himself. and restless
located a trapdoOr in he floor, rather
ingeniOusly concealed, which disclosed
the existence of a small cellar below.
Candle in hand he explored this. re
turning with two guns. together with
a quantity of powder and ball, and in
formation that there remained half
leg Of the explosive hidden below.
Must bin aimin ter blow up
stumps, ! reckon" he commented, ex-
hbiting sample. "COarsest l ever
saw; cudnt hardly use thct in no gun,
but its powder alright"
To remove the debris out of our way,
! was gathering up the straw tick and
slit blankets, and piled them all to-
gether back on the bed. Clinging to
one of the blankets. caught and held
by its pin, was peculiar emblem. and
| stood for moment with it in my
hand, curiously examining the odd de
sign. Eloise Enclosed her eyes, and
started TO her feet
What is that you have?' she asked.
"a pin of some kinda rather
strange design; ] just found it here,
entangled in this blanket"
why" she exclaimed in surprise. ~
have seen one exactly like it before
Kirby wore it in his tie"
CHAPTER XVI.
We Accept 4 Refugee.
In, nt Ea