The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-12-24

him secure il with stout wooden
bar. He stood there motionless, en-
deayoring to collect his thoughts,
the smile no longer ON his lips, adj
justing his eyes to the darkness.
There was window high up, but
seemingly too small for the passage Of
his body. yet a slight CLEAN Of star
light found its way through the open
ing, which was further barred by two
stout wooden stakes. He stepped ST.
lently across and tested them, finding
them solidly embedded in the logs He
felt his way cautiously about the room.
which was of small dimensions con-
tanning only single stool, and cot
The floor was puncheon and the walls
Of log. heavily plastered with mud.
The place offered apparently no OPP
portunity for escape, and Shelby sat
down on the edge Of the cot discour-,
aged
He could distinguish the voices of
the three without plainly enough to
determine who was speaking, but their
words were indistinguishable. Then
the murmur finally ceased, and he
thought one of the men had left the
house, perhaps both, yet that was
hardly likely. Someone remained GER
-tainly, for there was movement, and
the sound of feet mingled with the
clink of dishes. Pancha was evidently
clearing off the table. His thought
conferred on her. Had he made a mis-
take in thus suddenly confidlng his
true story to her ears? Yet, so far as
he knew, she had said nothing to In
jure him, and had made no effort to
reveal his secret. Indeed her actions
had rather expressed fear of Laud,
and certain sympathy for him sure
ly that was what he had read in the
depths of her eyes. Yet how could
this be accounted for? She must GER
tainly be one with these others;
brought up probably from childhood
In the atmosphere of crime, and GER
lainly loyal to her brother, If nothing
else. What then could possibly infiu-
ence her to show him the slightest
consideration?
He sat with head in his hands, en-
deavoring to solve the mystery, and,
out from the dark, possible explana-
ton flashed into his -Macklin.
Could any relation she might have
with this fellow account for a desire
to wish his escape alive? 1t might
the fact that he was already the hus-
band of the woman Macklin planned
to marry would quite naturally ex-
plain the entire situation under GER
tain conditions. If that rascal had
made love to her, and now deliberate
iy planned to desert her for another,
the Spanish blood would account for
all the rest. BY heaven; that must
be 1t! He recalled the insistence of
her questioning; the flash of her eyes,
the threatening CLEAN of her white
teeth. Unconsciously he had touched
the secret spring, and Embossed the IT,
ger. Jealousy was the weapon-a love
turned to hate, the fury of a woman
scorned. To get Olga out of her path
forever, she would risk anything, dare
anything. Here then, was his one and
only chance.
But could the girl serve him. even II
she desired to do so? He realized
the seriousness of his position; his
helplessness without some outside aid
he had been a blind fool to venture
into this den alone; and even a blind
er fool to claim friendship with Han.
ley The morning would find him COM
pietely exposed. and he had little
doubt what form vengeance would as