The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-05-11
Comrades of Peril
RANDALL PARRISH
Copyright, A. C. McCIurg & Co., 1919
copyrighted In Great BRITAIN


were OF this type. The fellow failed
20 possess the hard grny eye, tho
high cheek bones. tho quiet as
surancc no had learned 10 associate
with border gunner. Laud was
gross bearded. dirty. conrno-fesJured:
tn all Appearances "A mere bar'room
tough, yet no man on the frontier
had a worse record. or was more
dreaded and deapiHed. Why was he
here stealing cattle on tho very
verge OF Indian war; True, he WIS
not Sioux In blood. yet u WAS well
known that he had been adopted into
the tribe, and never failed Ia have a
hand In their doyiltry. Army officers
claimed he possessed moro influence
over thc,n for evil than any chief,
and Shelby had heard him mentioned
with sitting Bull ms leaders In the
ghost dance. If true. then he must
know how far 20 venture. and Just
when. 60 draw aside NO aa 90 saye
himself. That must be Ito him
war meant only an opportunity to
plumber. The final result was clear
~ Indian defeat. he would keep out.
but In the meanwhile profit all he
could.
The tran led downward at n rather
steep grade. In spite Of continual
eurving Tn. surc.footcd horses
moved faster than the cattle. and be-
fore tne outfit reached the level OF
the valley. the three riders had
closed In on the Indian drivers.
shelby knew them at once as young
Sioux warriors. and was again able
10 distinguish plainly the brand on
the flank OF the steers bringing up
the rear OF the herd They were un.
quentionably his own stock. and, in
spite ot his rage. he could not be en-.
tircly Indifferent TO the grim humor
OF the situation--he was being guided
into Wolves Hole by tho very men
who had robbed him.
Yet his thoughts did no, dwell up
on this 20 much just then, as on the
mad chance he had assumed In this
adventure. What could he accom-.
pliah1 What hope wna there that
he would ever emerge again aliyer
He was going forward blindly, led by
fate. with not even a plan Of guild.
anc". He must work alone. In the
midst OF enemies. dospcrat. men to
whom human life WIS valuelcss. and
where any incnutious word or act
would Instantly expose him To dis.
eovcry. In spite OF the fact that he
was believed dead. Maeklin would
recognize him nt a glance. and the
very claim that he was a friend Of
hanl"y's exposed him 10 discovery.
In some way he must avoid them
both. and yet no plan presented e..
SELF 10 promise escape He could
only drift heipieasly. becoming NOR.
respondent Of success with every
step OF advance.
IL vaa already dusk when they
attained the level OF tho valley. and
tho ovorshadowing bluffs rosp high
on either hand. leaving them piod
ding thru the gloom Yet even here
they had not attained the fun depres-
sion or the Hole. which required an
other sharp descent along the border
OF the stream. where a ledge Of rock
had evidently been blasted out This
passage abruptly ended In a wide.
stone oauseway. turning sharply to
tho left and running beneath
waterfall. whore the broad stream
leaped over ledge OF high rock
IL was task 10 get tho cattle thru,
yet oncr started. they plunged for.
ward. following each other with
niEht never pauAing until they
scattered out over tho plain below.
The hcrdcrs rode hard 10 head them
or. turning the leaders into the dark
mouth OF n small ravlnc. while I.aud.
satisfied ne to their security. drew
up HIS horse in front OF a small log
structure. 80 concealed Mt the edge OF
a Htraggly grove. that In the gloom.
shelby was not even aware OF It's es.
istence un,n voices greeted them.
Back again. joel whcrc'd yer
pick up that hunchy"
Up on the Cottonwood: easy
pickin'." and Laud flung one leg over
his siddle In posture OF rest
where's kcllyY o Dan: bring me
out a drink: sure. that's the stuff.
Anything new7-
Tho tall. raw-boned frontIerxman,
who responded. puffcd at his pipe,
and out thru the open door % the
cabin there suddenly -treamcd light
revealing his features. and tho indls.
tinct outlines OF others idllng near
by.
Well. not much. joe he an.
swered drawiingiy. most o. the In
juns have struck out; ain't NOR n n
dozen bucks left reckon. They
tell me they're rasin' hell already
over Ponca way; maybe yer heard
about ~"
Laud nodded. wiping his lips with
the back OF his hand.
The big outfits gone west he
grunted. That's whar the fightin's
goin' ter be; but thar won't be no
soldiers Mp fer a week yet. whar's
Matt Hanicy7"
"0h. he an slagin cum In bout
five hours ago. reckon. an went
on up to the cover"
Have enything with 'em9"
Not tibet l. see-thcy didn't. did
they. unjust traveln' light"
Didn't say cnything about another
gazabo7"
mot that know about. They
acted like they was both plum tired
out and wanted ter go asleap Jnat