The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-01-07

fin which he had died. the lips drawn
back, disclosing grinnlng row of
teeth The face scarcely appeared
human, and yet was vaguely familiar
He had seen 1t once before, revealed
In the glare OF match, and the recol-
lection came back haunting him--the
fellow was SlagIn, Hanley's partner
Then he had come there for no good
Had come there IN the night like
Sinking cur, knowing of Macklln's alb.
sence, to carry out some foul object or
bis own.
The ranchman drew In long
breath, and stood up. TIE silence and
gloom oppressed him, as his eyes once
more swept about the dismal apart
ment. It was surely fit abode for
murder, but the sight OF those two
dead bodies lnterloelsed on the floor
was more than he could bear. Obey
ing the first impulse he dragged them
stlll gripping each other. across the
floor, and thrust them under the bench,
filnging over them the folds of a tat
tered blanket.
But what of her--Olga? Surely no
one could have been here since these
two men fought? Otherwise their
bodies would have been found, and
cared for. 1t must be that MaclSlin
had not yet returned, and that HRnley
knew nothing Of Slagin's desperate
venture Then the girl must still be
confined In the house, helpless to es-
cape and guarded by these dead men.
The thought sent the blood suging
into Shelby's throat, and his eager
eyes sought the only door opening
through the side wall 1t was tightly
closed and secured by strong bar of
wood. He picked up the revolver
from the floor, and went swiftly for
ward prepared to face whatever might
be revealed beyond The bar fitted
snugly, yet he forced 1t free of the
clasps, and pushed the door open with
his knee, watchfully peering into the
darkness behind. He saw nothing, no
fiutter of movement, no evidence that
the place was occupied In spite of
daylight without, the room, with its
shattered windows, remained black.
His heart almost ceased to beat, yet
he advanced into the room, tilnglng
the door wide open behind him, This
admitted sufficient light to enable him
to dimly make out his surroundings
couch, covered with bearskin,
rudely made chair, bucket of water
In one corner and family revealed
figure against the further wall.
"Olga I" he exclaimed, "Olgaw
She moved, leaning forward eagerly.
"Who are your Who calls me?"
at Is you, then?" he sprang forward,
"Don't be afraid; am Shelby!"
"Shelby--youi Tom Shelby! o
God! this Is not dream2"
mo, no! am just as real as you
are. See; touch me. You thought
was deadT
eyes, still lncredulous, searching his
face In the dim light.
"Dead--yesI They told me so; an
Indian said he had crushed in your
skull. He boasted Of Il; and when !
asked that Macklin, he only laughed,
WIFI tie shlu u WIS So
laughed, howT
Her eyes fell.
"IIe--he didn't seem TO think II
could make much difference to me;
that would care"
but do you know who he is? Did
he tell your Did the fellow explain
his purpose In this outrage2"
81 do not know; he had no time no
opportunity; we were never alone.
What do You mean? Was this al
done for some deliberate purpose?"
Yes, Il was, Olga. His name Is not
Macklin at all; 1t is probably Churchill
have you ever heard that name be-
f0re?"
mo; am sure not"
ut was your mothers name. She
came from Virginia, and was heiress
to considerable property, It was left
TO her In trust, and her uncle was the
trustee"
my motherT"
Yes; she never knew this while she
lived, but yoar father learned some
| OF the facts after her death, aud en-
deavored to verify them. His search
was what started trouble; for your
uncle, the trustee-hls name is Cor
nellus Churchill-had made no effort
10 locate the heir to the property left
In his care. Instead he had used the
money, believing himself perfectly
safe. When he learned of your fa-
| TIERS suspicious, he hecame fright.
| ened."
"Can this he trueg'
ut evidently Is true, strange as Il
seems Then your father was killed.
perhaps through some row engineered
by Churchill to put him out OF the
way, and they made every effort TO
lind you. You alone stood between
them and this lll-gotten wealth, For-
tunately you could not Immediately be
located; you had been hidden away in
a Catholic school. and, before Church.
4 FaN -