The Holbrook news., 1921-07-08

| crawl. Yet what would there be be- yOnd? Why should they venture fur ther at present? Laud was outside with his Indians, the whole scene lit up with the glare of flames. They dare not venture to expose them selves. Here they were beyond reach, protected from both flames and sav- ages. Unless some among those as- sailants knew the existence of this | tunnel, or accidentally stumbled upon its outer entrance, they could scarcely be exposed. Even if one or two found their way in, this barrier of earth would block them, and, If necessary, form the best possible defense. Con- f1dent that they had perished, and that their charred bodies were lying in the midst of the still smoking embers of the cabin, there would be no guard watching for an attempt at escape. He reached out and grasped her hand, drawing her down beside him.
 "What is it7" she asked in a whis- per.
 "A fall of earth nearly blocking the passage" he explained. q have no idea where the tunnel leads to, and, if did, we would never dare creep l out into the open at present"
 "You-you think we had better re- main hereT' doubtfully.
 Until the fire dies down; perhaps even longer. Let them believe we died in the cabin; then there may be some chance for us to get away"
 "But they will search the ruins"
 "Not for some time; those logs will be glowing embers for hours. That sounded like the roof falling in then. It was-seel It has crushed its way down through the floor. There Is a caldron of fire in that hole we just left. but 1t can't reach us here-only the smoke"
 "Will 1t not show them where we have gone?"
 T hope not; probably the smoking blazing timbers will choke up the opening, leaving 1t so filled with part ly burned wood as to conceal it entire ly. Anyhow, this is our one chance. We would be shot down mercilessly outside"
 The glare from the burning rubbish revealed their faces, and the smoke began to swirl past them in clouds, yet did not choke the tunnel, showing there must be an opening somewhere beyond to the outside. Shelby fast ened his neckerchief over the girls nose and mouth, and protected her, as well as himself, by means of his coat. Scarcely conscious of the action they al vino at the leaping figures of flame, and listening to the variety of noises reaching theirF ears. The position, while one of breeding horror, did not apparently involve immediate peril. The flames could not reach them, and 1t was already evident that those dense volumes of smoke, while dis agreeable and suffocating, could still be endured. But being cooped up there, in that hole underground, un- able to venture forth, choked by the fumes, their faces smarting from the heat, the earth walls holding them in prison, death waiting for them which ever way they turned, brought strain to Olga she could no longer combat. Impulsively she clutched the man beside her, her head touching his shoulder, her slender form trembling to sudden outburst.
 Don't lose your nerve" he whis- pered, startled by her action, nothing can hurt us here"
 "Oh, I know; it Is not that" the words almost a sob. q do not think l am really frightened; only I-I want to feel you near me-"
 Mel" he questioned surprised; "why, haven't been much good so far"
 'Oh. but you have; you have been splendid. No woman could ever ask more. want you to know how grate- ful I am."
 "Well, I don't just like that" he protested There ain't no cause for you to be grateful. so far as can see. A man who wouldn't stick with his wife wouldn't be much"
 "Are you here just because of thatT'
 "Well, maybe not altogether. Of course, I'd be here anyhow. wouldn't go back on no woman who belonged | to me. But you ain't just that exact Iy. I've somehow got to thinkin' lot about you lately"
 "Truly?"
 Sure; there's a heap O things hap | pened since we was lined up against l the wall of that shack down at Ponca | I've found out more what you are | than I knew then; an, reckon, you | got better line on me"
 "I-I chose you even then"
 He laughed awkwardly.
 "Out O that bunchl I don't take | that as no great compliment Say, that was the ornariest lot O cattle I | ever rode herd over"
 "Oh, don't know" her mood chang ing into new interest. There were some among them not so bad Any, how. I chose you"
 Maybe you're sorry sinceY'
 "I am not" firmly. q never have been. See here. Tom Shelby. I pretty near knew what sort of man you was when I i selected you; your face told me that. You thought I just took you so as to get away. Well, maybe I did in a sense, for would have done al- most anything to escape from that life. But I never would have gone with you. if I hadn't honestly liked you just the same. You said in the