The Holbrook news., 1921-06-10
CHAPTER TX.
The Love of a Woman.

or l1duQ $ every InOIlO0, was yet dWdTe that the girl leaned suddenly against the wall, her face white, her eyes staring toward him, and that Juan was leaning forward across the table. with gleaming teeth exposed. He was calm enough himself, however, for he had imagined this unpleasant discov- cry might be made and was not en- tirely unprepared to meet 1t.
 "What brand?" he asked coolly. You mean the Three Stars?"
 ''That's exactly what I mean, paru- per. I happen to know where that bronc com from"
 ''Then you know more than I do, Laud. I bought the pony from liv- cry man at Gerlasche to ride out here on; some bucker, at that. Say. come to think about it, those cows you were driving in were Three Stars"
 "That is just what they were, most O them. That's what struck me as d-n funny. Those cattle com from up on the Cottonwood; they belonged to a feller named Shelby"
 You run 'em off?"
 That's none O your d-n business. That's where they came from, an Shelby's dead. But what I'm inter ested in is how the h-I you got his horse"
 He dropped his gun down on the table and stared across into Shelby's imperturbable face with hard, threat ening eyes.
 ''Now you look here, young fellow. you know who I am, I reckon. It's Indian Joe Laud talkin' to you. May be yer all right an maybe yer ain't; only I don't take no chances. Your story ain't sounded just right to me from the start, but I'll give yer a chance to prove it. I ain't goin' ter plug you now; not if yer've got sense enough to behave yerself. Tomorrow I'll see what Matt Hanley has to say, but till that time yere goin' to be lock- ed up. Coin ter make any row over that program?"
 ''Not the least"
 "All right, then. Juan, you take the gents gun; he's better off without it. That's right; now feel him over an see if he's got any other weapons. Better stand up, Churchill" |,
 The ranchman, comprehending the utter futility of any attempt at resist ance, did as he was told, managing to retain the same cool smile on his lips. The murderous eyes of the squaw- man never once deserted his face and Shelby realized that the slightest symp- tom of treachery would prove his un- doing. Laud was in no mood l. be argued with.
 Mice of you to wait until after I'd eaten" he said easily. Tt will give me comfortable nights rest"
 "Glad you take 1t that way. Clean ed him up have you Juan? Now, how about that room wonder? Empty, ain't it?"
 "Si Senor." 1t was Pancha who an- swered, opening the door.
 Laud took step forward and glanced into the apartment. The swift scrutiny apparently satisfied him, for he turned to the prisoner, his revolver still grasped in readiness for instant action.
 "Go on in," he commanded harshly. "An' tomorrow we'll settle this case"
 Shelby walked past him without so much as side glance, to all outward appearance quite at his ease. Laud closed the door and the prisoner heard him secure it with a stout wooden bar. He stood there motionless, en- deavoring to collect his thoughts, the smile no longer on his lips. ad- justing his eyes to the darkness.
 There was window high up, but seemingly too small for the passage of his body, yet a slight gleam of star light found its way through the open ing. which was further barred by two stout wooden stakes. He stepped si- lently across and tested them, finding them sOlidly embedded in the logs. He felt his way cautiously about the room. which was of small dimensions, con- taining only single stool, and cot; the floor was .puncheon and the walls of log, heavily plastered with mud. The place offered apparently no op- portunity for escape, and Shelby sat down on the edge of the cot discour- aged.
 He could distinguish the voices of the three without plainly enough to determine who was speaking. but their words were indistinguishable. Then the murmur finally ceased, and he thought one of the men had left the house, perhaps both, yet that was hardly likely. Someone remained cer- tainly, for there was movement, and the sound of feet mingled with the clink of dishes. Pancha was evidently clearing off the table. His thought centered on her. Had he made mis- take in thus suddenly conhding his true story to her ears7 Yet, so far as he knew, she had said nothing to in- jure him, and had made no effort to reveal his secret. Indeed her actions had rather expressed fear of Laud, and certain sympathy for him; sure ly that was what he had read in the depths of her eyes. Yet how could