The Lamar register., 1920-05-19

any spot could be so terrible.
"ThIs is the Shoshone desert; thar
amt nobody ever comes in yere 'cept
wunst in n while proSpector, maybe,
er band o. cattle rustlers. Even the
Injuns keep ont"
She lifted her eyes again. shudder'
NAL waste.
The sun rose red ball OF fire, color
ing the ridges of sand. and painting
the grotesque rocks with crimson
streamers. In the shadow Of bald
cliff the wagon was halted briefly. and
the two men brought forth materials
from within making a hasty fire, and
preparing breakfast Water was given
the team also. before the journey was
resumed: while during the brief halt
the girl was left TO do as she pleased.
Then they moved on again. surround.
ed by the same drear landscape. the
very depression of II keeping them
silent.
They settled down to the same
monotony. mile after mile. The way
became rockier. with less sand. hut
away ahead strange buttress OF rock
rose into the sky resembling the tur-
ret of huge castle. The sun was d.
rectly overhead when Moore turned
his team suddenly to the left, and
drove down n sharp decllvity leading
into n ravine.
"Drop the canvas, Joe" he said
shortly, there's only bout a mile
more"
The massage was 50 narrow, and so
diversified by sharp turns, that Miss
Donovan. shut in behind the closed
cover. could perceive little of Its ma
ture. The cliffs arose precipitously
on either side. absolutely bare. To
the left nothing could be seen but
black rock, hut on the other side an
open space yawned. perhaps twenty
feet across. Its bottom imperceptible.
The horses stumbled over the rough
stones. held only by Moore's firm grip
on the reins. and the light began to
fade as they descended. At last moth
ing appeared above but n narrow strip
of sky, and the gllmmer of sun had
totally vanished. Almost at the same
moment the driver released the creak-
ing brake. and at a trot the wagon
swept forward between two pinnacles
Of rock, and came out into an open
valley.
The transition was so sudden and
startling as to cause the girl to give
utterance TO a cry of surprise. They
were in green, watered valley. n
clear stream wandering here and there
through its center. shadowed by
groves of trees. This valley was
nearly square. possibly extending not
over mile in either direction, merely
great hole trimmed by desert, n
strange. hidden oasis, rendered fertile
and green by some outburst of
fresh water from the rocks. Emerg-
Ing upon 1t in midst Of the barren
desolation through which they had
been toiling for hours. blinded by al
kali dust, It seemed like some beau
tiful dream, n fantasy Of Imagination.
Miss Donovan doubted the evidence
of her own eyes, half convinced that
she slept. It was Moore's voice which
aroused ner.
"Mendez must have got back, Joe,"
he said eagerly. There are horses
and cattle over yonder."
The other pushed up the canvas and
looked out.
That's right. The fellow is comm
now-see3"
He was looping along carelessly,
Mexican from high hat to jingling
spurs. sitting the saddle as though
nodded there, young fellow, dark
faced, but with livid scar along one
cheek.
Juan Cateras. the little DEVIL"
muttered Skies, as the rider drew
nearer There's some pot brewing II
he is In it,
The rider drew up his horse. and
lifted his hat, his smiling lips reveal
ing a row of white teeth.
"A pleasant day. senor," he said
graciously. his dark eyes searching the
faces of the two men, and then dweii-
ing with Interest on the woman. "Ah.
your pardon, senorita; your presence
is more than welcome here" He
rested one hand on the wagon box