The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-01-15

she had been confined under guard
during the past night, yet she certain
ly was not there now. The deserted
appearance of the place was proof
positive that she had been taken else
where. Voices sounded off toward the
broader expanse Of valley, but too far
away to present danger; even as he
stood cautiously up. and hooked out
over the tops Of the weeds he could
see nothing to create alarm. He was
alone. unseen, unsupported, and yield
ed to the desire to learn what was
within the hut. She might have left
some message, some sign of her pres
ence, which would prove a clue.
The outer door was secured merely
by wooden latch, and opened easily
to his touch. Afraid lest some I'M
known eye might mark his movements.
Shelby glided quickly in through the
narrow opening, and instantly pressed
the door shut behind him. He was in
almost total darkness, the only light
finding entrance between the ill-fitting
boards at the single window. He felt
his way bIindIy across the room.
guided by this dim ray, and, discover
ing one of the boards somewhat
loosened, managed to wrench Ii free.
thus permitting the gray daylight to
gain entrance. This gave him a dim
view of the interior. nearly square
room, inexpressibIy dirty. and without
furniture, except rough bench thrust
back against one wall.
Straight across from where he stood
some black object lay upon the floor.
so indistinct In it's outlines he could
not, In that faint light, determine
what 1t might be-A pile of rags. per-
haps, or shapeIess heap of rubbish.
He stepped, forward. curious to learn
its nature, yet stopped suddenly, star
ing down Ia speechless horror. He was
beside the bodies of two men. both
dead. gripped together stiffened in
the very attitude with which death
had overtaken them. They had died
fighting Ike wild dogs, and their
strange posture told the whole story.
Shelby, crushing back the dread he
felt, tried to part them, but the stiff
fened limbs would not yield. One was
white man. the other an Indian, the
latter shot through the chest, the for |
mer apparently choked TO death. the
rigid red fingers of his antagonist still
clutching his throat Beyond on the |
floor lay a revolver and a knife.
Shelby stared at the gruesome scene,
unable to remove his gaze. In the
dim light the features of the two men |
were almost unacceptable. What |
had scaused this tragedy? this fierce
death grapple? He could only con-
lecture from what little he knew of
the circumstances. Beyond doubt one
OF these antagonists would be the |
guard whom Macklin had left to |
watch over his captive while he de-
parted. But the other? Sonic one
who sought entrance probably: some
one endeavoring to reach the. woman,
either inspired by good or evil intent.
Yet which was the guard7 which the
invader2 Those who had accompanied
the Kid at the ranch were all indians.
and 1t was therefore most likely that
savage had been left TO watch over
the girl. Then it was the white man
who thus sought to reach her. For
what purposef
Shelby bent down and peered In
auiringly ir.o the agonizeo face Of the
lead white man. The features were
distorted from the agony
In which he had died. the lips drawn
back, disclosing grinning row Of
teeth. The face scarcely appeared