Licking Valley courier., 1921-03-24

to II by the personal Interest he fell In
the girl. Shelby cast NIL hesitnnry
aside. He would make the attempt /;
fortune had surely favored him thus
far. and might again. lie went back
to where the buckskin waited, mount
ed the animal. quiet enough by this
time. rode down to the edge OF the
stream. and sat silently In the saddle
for some message of guidance from
her; but there was none. Either she
had been too carefully watched by her
captors. or had given up In despair
any thought Of rescue. Doubtless she
believed him dead also; perhaps had
even witnessed the blow struck, but II
not would assuredly have been in.
formed Of what had happened. The
stamping of the ponies hOOfs indi.
Gated that the party had remained in
that spot for some time, In no hurry
to proceed. Shelby studied the foot
prints, satisfying himself that four
were Indian, and one white. unques.
tionably Macklin. With only five
horses this meant that the girl rode
with one Of the men. probably the Kid.
He discovered where she probably
wns sitting during the meal, q torn
piece Of crumpled sacking bearing
mute testimony that her hands had
been bound, and released so that she
might eat. The fellows were evident
ly unafrald Of her any longer, and
had not tied her up again when they
resumed the journey.
II was nearly sundown when the
trail he followed swerved to the right
up steep bank, where the ponies
hoofs slipped In their struggle to at.
tain the top. Shelby gave the buck.
skin his head. and the game little
devil went scrambling up, until they
came forth on fiat plain above. Shel.
by dropped his rein. and climbed 10
n higher point Of rock, lying concealed
behind its summit. while he swept the
scene below through the field glasses.
He never had been there before. yet
he knew about where he was; this
must be Dragon creek. and not far
below would be Wolves hole, OF which
he often had heard-a famous hiding
place for cattle thieves and border
outlaws These fellows evidently were
heading for there, hut would they try
10 complete the Journey? His hope
rentered on their camping somewhere
until morning; II sufficiently assured
Of safety this would probably be their
choice. Through the field glusses he
studied the course Of the stream, and
the little matches Of wood lntently. Al
Inst he was rewarded-a faint spiral
of blue smoke arose above some dis.
tant trees, the evidence OF camp
fire. He lay there motlOnless. silent
his eyes glued TO the glass, planning
his action. and waiting for the night.
AZ the gloom slowly deepened Sheh
by was able to distinguish the flicker
Of that far-off fire. but the distance
was too great TO permit any knowl
edge Of Its surroundings. The trail
leuding down was narrpY, and rock.
streyn, and he determined to try the
,assage while o falnt gllmmer Of twI.
light yet fingered. Leading the buck
skin. and maYlng win the utmost eau
tion, be began the descent.
The gloom did not greatly retnrd his
movements, for through The glssses
he Ind mRnped out the salient fea
lures. and so impressed them upon hls
memory as to 20 forward now con
tidently, The camp flre was located II
The third grove OF trees, and there
we're no signs Of human presence be
tween. However. he took no chance
hut advanced quietly on foot, leading
his horse, Aud RsIpg every precautloI
against discovery.
He circled the two groves, keeping
close In their shadow. and searchln;