The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-12-31

you are MOI mere VINO hHOWS HOW
Get happen, senor7 am also asleep.
an you are gone; It's the mercy of
God"
shelby caught his breath to her ex-
pressiye gestures, his fingers gripping
the knife.
Il doubt If can get through that
hole" he said mournfully, after the
bars are cut. I'm pretty big"
"But you must, senior: there is no
other way she Insisted impatiently.
'The blade Is strong, sharp; Get will
dig out the log, but do not be long.
See--there is tree yonder; ! Will
walt you there, an show where you
must go, so there be no trail. You
come TO me quick, but be still like
death. Madre de dos! It's the only
way"
She was gone before he could pro-
test again. vanishing into the black
night so swiftly and silently he could
only stare out helplessly through the
bars. Yet she had left hope and deter
minatlon behind. With teeth set he
| began the work. finding the steel blade
| effective against the tough hickory. 1t
| was no light Job at that, but he piled
the knife desperately, possessing some
skill and unusual strength Of wrist
| and fingers. The stakes gave way one
after the other, but he was not salts
fed until he enlarged the opening
somewhat by removing all bark from
| the logs, and prying loose the box
frame. This required all of half an
hour to accomplish, yet left an aper-
ture through which he believed he
might force his body. At that he
found no room to spare; but, by ven
ders through one at time, and draw
| ing In his breath tightly he managed
TO scrape painfully out of the hole,
clawing at the rough outside bark for
/ purchase, and finally coming down
| face first onto the solid earth. At
| that, he made little noise, but his flesh
| smarted, and for a moment he rested
where he fell, confused and painting
| for breath. The night was so black
1 there In the shadow of the great hills,
! he could scarcely determine direc-
tons, yet the girl had pointed toward
| the right, and, as soon as he could at
tain his feet, he advanced cautiously
that way, with hands held out before
him. The path was rocky and uneven
probably leaving little trace of his
passage. She touched him before he
was even aware of her near presence,
and then she was but the dimmest
outline, her face indistfnguishable
through the gloom.
Speak low. senior" she whispered
briefly. Come with me this way"
He permitted her to lead him for
ward over ground sloping upward, but
before they had thus advanced fifty
yards, Shelby stopped, determined to
| question her purpose.
| "Where are you taking me7 To
Olga?"
| mo, senior; not now. must leave
you In safety first. Later bring her
to you. Why you ask? You not trust
meT
Eyes, I trust you, Pancha; but isn't
ii better that I understand the plan?
Then we can work together"
She drew In quick breath impa-
tlently, her fingers clutchlng at his
sleeve.
"DiosI this is not time to stand
and talk. senor," she burst forth, "yet
listen, II not do otherwise. There Is no
time left tonight in which to escape.
| must be back In the house before
Indian Joe wakes, or my brother re-
turns. All can hope to do Is hide
you where you not be found Then
we must plan what Is best to do"
you know where she ls?"
ISL senior; know; yet eet will not
be easy to get her away. She is not
left unmatched, and nothing can be
done tonight. must watch and wait.
Eet will only he safe when Senior
Macklin and my brother are both
away"
You mean that am to hide out
yonder somewhere until you are
ready?" he questioned. us that the
schemeT"
"There Is no other thing possible,
Even that may fail. Senior. do not be
a fool" she urged earnestly. 81 know
the danger of all this: you not realize
even yet what eet means to be pris
oner in Wolves hole. These men keel
It is their only law. I risk my life tC
do this, and there is but one chance
Of success. Alone. unaided. you car
never get out of here-never. Why
you ask. Because. senior, every pass
! is under guard; they are never lief
Open"
Then how are we to go?"
Along path known only to my
self and one other. senior. A youn,
Indian found eet by accident ard con
fided his secret to mel He come. ant
went that way for year, but no on,
else know. Once he took me half wa.
to top; eet is rough, yet can be fol
lowed. Now you see am right?"