The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1920-09-03

bunch o. fellows"
How many are they?"
Maybe dozen / don't just know
what was done with the young
Iady?"
Moore spat vIndictiveIy into the
sand, digging a hole with his heel He
had talked already more than he in
tended. but what was the difference?
"Cateras took her" he admitted.
but don't know whar. tried ter find
out whar she was. but nobody'd tell
me. Then l had ter pull out"
Westcott interjected question.
whats the valley like an how do
you get into it?'
well. I'd say ii was just a sort o.
sink I'm the desert. kinder freak
Anyhow. l never saw nuthin' like it
afore. The walls is solid rock. almost
straight up an down, but thar's a con-
siderable stream fiOwin' down thar
that just bursts out a hole in the
rock an plenty o. grass fer quite a
bunch OF steers"
How do they get dawn into it?''
Long a windin' trail on the west
! side. 1t used to be mighty rough.
reckon. an only good fer hiEers, but
! they fixed it up so they can drive cat
tie down, an even a wagon if yer take
| ii easy"
And there is no other way to the
bottom except along this trail?"
! That's bout all
/ Brennan and Westcott looked at
each other, both uncertain as TO the
next step. What were they to do with
their prisoner? And how could they
! proceed toward effecting the rescue Of
the helpless girl? 1t was a problem
not easy to solve. if what Moore told
| their was true. The latter shuffied his
feet in the sand, lifted his eyes shrewd-
ly. and studied the faces of his cap
tors. He was figuring his own
chance.
You fellows want ter get down in
ter the valley?" he asked at last
yes" and Brennan turned again
quickly, eff it can be done. OF course
thar's only two of us, an it would be
sort O. foolish tryin' ter fight way
through. even ag'in' Mexicans. Eff
teen Ter two is some odds but faint in
my nature or Jim's here, ter turn
round an leave that girl in the hands
o. them cusses-is it. Jim?''
Il never will," replied Westcott
earnestly. Not if 1 have to tackle the
whole outfit alone"
You won't have to do that What's
the idea. Moore?"
"Oh, I was just thinkin'." he an
swered, still uncertain. IF l show yer
a way. what is thar in it fer me?"
h;
pressing nothing.
What do you mean2 I'm an officer
o. the law"
Il know it; | amt asking yer ter
make no promise. But yer word will
go HI ov ways if this ever gets in
court If I help yer I've got TO be pro-
tected frum Bill Lacy. He'd kill me /
as quick as he'd look at me- Then
I'd want yer ter tell the Judge how it (
all happened. l know we're square. (
Dan Brennan, an whatever yer says !
goes"
The marshal stuck out his hand.
That's the gospel truth. Matt" he 4
said graveIy, AN I'm with yer til! the .
COWS come home. What is it you
know"
Well" with quick breath rs he
took the plunge. its like this. mar
shall; there is just one place out yOn
der" and he waved his hand TO indi-
cate the direction, ION the east rim o
the valley, where yer might get down.
Ye'd have ter hang on tooth an toe
nail: but both of yer are mountain
men. an l reckon yer could make the
trip if yer took it careful an slow
like
Westcott asked "How can we get
there safely? Can you guide us?"
Moore swept his eyes over the dull
range of sand, expectorated thought
fully. and rammed his hands deep into
his trouser-pocketS. He was slow
about answering, but the TIVE men
waited motionless.
If il was me-" he said finally, I'D
take it on foot It'll be a jaunt ov
want ter risk bein' seen by them
AIexes on the main trail. You couldn't
90 straight, but would have ter circle
out an travel mostly behind that ridge
o. sand thar TO the left. Coin that
away nobody's likely ter get sight O.
yer on foot. You couldn't take no
boss. though. Here'd be my plan:
Lead this we're outfit o. mine an your
ponies back inter them sand dunes
whar nobody ever goes. They're tired
nough ter stand, an there amt any
thing fer 'em TO Craze on. Then we
kin hoof it over ter the place I'm tell
n yer about. an yer kin sorter size
Il up fer yerselves. That's fair, amt
TT"
They went at it with a will. The ,
-eam was driven into the security of
he sand drifts and unhitched. The
saddles were taken from the backs of /
he ponies. and what grain Moore had
n the wagon was carefully appor-
Toned among the four animals. Salts I
led these would not stray, the men {
ooked carefully to their supply of ,
and set forth on their l
ramp. I
This proved a harder journey than I
.ifher Brennan or Westcott had an ]
icipated. for Moore led OF briskly,
aKIng a wide circle, until q consider s