The Holbrook news., 1921-05-20

house, seeking to discover just how
 Macklin had operated, and, whether
 or not, he was alone. The result was
 only partially successful. The hard
 packed earth revealed little of value. Down below the cabin on the sloping side of~the Tdll, he found the mark of high-heeled boot such as the Kid
 wore, and, a foot or so beyond, the
 plain impression of moccasin. A hundred yards to the north the i'm prints were again visible, making It clear to his mind that the fugitives were then making for the lower ford. The girl was evidently being carried, and two men must have been engaged on the job, one of them possibly an h. dian. He passed straight on to the ford to verify this theory, and here the mud exhibited clearly the move ments of both the fellows, while close at the waters edge he came upon narrow pink ribbon, which the girl had evidently hurriedly dropped in guidance.
 It was clearly manifest now the di- rection in which they had disappeared, but Shelby remained unsatisfied. He could not believe that they would at tempt to escape thus on foot with their burden. If Macklin had one as- sistant, it was highly probable there would be others also engaged in the affair. The opposite shore was de- serted. and he crossed over. wading to his thighs in the swift water, with rifle flung forward, and eyes intently searching the further bank. The trail was plain at this point; he could easily trace the steps of both men passing up a narrow gully into the first line of bluffs, and there, in lit tie open glade, he found where horses had been tethered and tramped the turf. They had evidently been held for some time; had entered from the north down a slight coulee, and de- parted westward along a shelving bank. There were five animals, all mounted, to judge from the deep im- press of hoofs, and he followed their passage as far as the crest of the bluff They were well beyond view. of course by this time, across that rough, broken country, but he satisfied him. self that they were heading straight for the Bad Lands.
 Shelby knew now something of what he must contend with. The act of ab- duction, and attempted murder, was no sudden temptation assailing Mack lin, but undoubtedly part of well-or- ganized plot. Whatever their object, five men were concerned in the out rage, their intention probably the making of the girl a prisoner. In Shelby's judgment she was probably in no immediate danger. If the fel- lows had intended taking her life, she would never have thus been spared and carried away, apparently unin- jured Their purpose evidently re- quired that she be kept alive, but helpless in their hands.
 He was cool now; grimly deter mined. but intent on preparing him. self for a long and dangerous quest. He was to be one man pitted against five, and every instinct of long ex- perience on the plains, warned him against being rash. He recrossed the stream, built a fire in the stove, and, after washing the blood from his head. ate heartily; then packed a leather haversack with food, and was ready. He took this time in which to plan out his course, and then went for ward unhesitatingly, filling his pockets with rife cartridges, and f1inging the haversack over his shoulder, before starting for the corral. He decided upon the buckskin as being the better animal for his purpose-a vicious