The Holbrook news., 1921-06-24

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 looked out over the tops of the weeds he could see nothing to create alarm. He was alone, unseen, unsuspected, 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 wooded latch. and opened easily to his touch. Afraid lest some un- 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-ftting boards at the single window. He felt his way blindly across the room, guided by this dim ray, and, discover ing one of the boards somewhat loosened, managed to wrench 1t free, thus permitting the gray daylight to gain entrance. This gave him a dim view of the interior, nearly square room, inexpressibly 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 a shapeless heap of rubbish. He stepped forward, curious to learn its nature, yet stopped suddenly, star ing down in 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 like 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 a 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 unrecogniZable. What had caused this tragedy? this fierce death grapple? He could only con- lecture from what little he knew of the circumstances.i 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? Some one who sought entrance probably; some one endeavoring to reach the woman, either inspired by good or evil intent. Yet which was the guard? which the invader? Those who had accompanied the Kid at the ranch were all Indians, and it was therefore most likely that a savage had been left to watch over the girl. Then 1t was the white man who thus sought to reach her. For what purpose?
 Shelby bent down and peered in- quiringly irto the agonized face of the dead white man. The features were discolored, distorted from the agony in which he had died, the lips drawn back, disclosing a grinning row of teeth. The face scarcely appeared