The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-09-16

towering %precipice of rock confronted
them. and at its very foot stood two
cabins Of log construction, so closely
resembling their stone background ms
to be almost imperceptible at the dis
lance Of a few yards. Skies leaned on
his rifle waiting, and as Moore halted
the painting team and leaped over the
wheel to the ground Cateras came
forth from n of the open doors and
crossed the intervening space on foot.
He was smoking "A cigarette, the blue
wreath Of smoke circling above his
head In the still air.
"The lady is to be placed in my
care" he said almost i~nsolently.
Your hand, senorita."
Miss Donovan hesitated. Moore
broke the silence with a protest.
In your care, senorf The girl Is
here as prisoner to Bill Lacy"
$50 l told Mendez," he said indiffer-
emily. "But le is in i'll humor this
morning and took small interest In the
affair. 1t was only when l promised to
take full charge that he consented to
your remaining at all"
"If there is evil done, the debt will
be paid"
Cateras laughed, one hand at his in
cipient mustache.
Billy Lacy, you mean, no doubt.
That is a matter for him to settle with
Mendez. 1t is not my affair, for l only
obey my chief. However, senOrs, tits
no evil that is contemplated, only we
prefer guarding the secrets of this val
ley ourselves. That is what angers
MendeZ, the fact that Lacy uses this
rendezvous as a prison during our alb
sence We found one here when we
returned-guarded by an American.
Now you come with another. How do
we know what may result from such
acts? What sheriff's posse may be on
your trail? Bill Lacy! dos! If Bill
Lacy would make prisoners, let him
keep them somewhere else than here.
Mendez takes no prisoners-he knows
a better way than doing things like
that"
But, senior, this is a woman"
"Of which l am well aware" bow
ing CALAMITY. "Otherwise / should not
have interfered and offered my serv-
ices. You know what to do with your
team; then the both of you report to
Casas at the upper camp-you know
him?"
"Yes, senOr."
sGfTaI1 him 4 Snnf unV, IIn will hn,,n
his orders; they are that you be shot
if you attempt to leave before Mendez
gives the word. IT'S not long now till
we learn who is chief here-Bill Lacy
or Pascual Mendez. Come, senorita,
you are safe with me-"
COncealing a dread that was almost
OverpOwering, yet realizing the impoS-
sibility of resistance, Stella permitted
him to touch her hand and assist her
to Chamber over the wheel. Under
conditions the change in captors
might have been misunderstanding
she felt no desire to remain in the
hands of the two who had brought her
there, for Skies, plainly enough, was a
mere drunken brute, and Moore, while
of somewhat finer fiber, lacked the
courage and manhood to ever develop
into a true friend.
Yet she would have infinitely pre-
ferred such as theSe-men, at least, Of
her own race-to this Sinking Next
can, hiding his devilish instincts be-
hind a p%retense at g%allantry. He had
FASTENED ahead to Mendez; told a tale
in his own way, rendering the chiefs
suspicious of Lacy more acute and
thus gaining permission to assume full
charge. Her only hope was to go her
self into the presence of the leader
and make a plea to him face to face.
Cateras, smiling, pressed her arm with
his fingers.
"This way, senOrita."
wait" and her eyes met his, show
ing no sign of fear. "YOu take me, I