The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-01-27

could have gone nowhere else The
place was as black as night step
beyond the entrance and be had 10
grope his way blndly. unable 10 dis.
tingulsh a single object There was
something grim and CHASTITY IN feeling
about with his feet for an unseen body
Then the fellow might still be alive
even dangerous. He stopped At the
dIsquieting thought and spoke sharply
into the gloom.
Are you there, Macklini Come.
speak up; nobody Is going 10 hurt
you"
There was no response. no move
ment. no sound OF groan. no pulsing
OF breath. The stiffness was intense.
horrible Shelby gripped himself and
began 10 advance slowly. guiding his
passage along the wall. expecting ev.
cry instant 10 encounter some obsta-
Gle. His cropping feet touched nothing
Inch by inch he explored the floor OF
the room the perspiratlon beginning
10 stand in drops on his forehead.
There was no body lying there. no
form OF man. either living or dead;
the place was absolutely unoccupled
He could hardly believe this true; his
mind refused to grasp the fact; he
came back 10 the door dazed and I'M
nerved All nature all reasoning told
him the man must be somewhere with.
In the cabin; any other thought was
simply impossible; yet where7 He had
already explored every inch Of surface
10 no result So bewildered and dunn
founded was he before this mystery
that he was even startled at the girls
voice asking an eager question.
rs he there7 Did you find him7"
mo; he's gone as though he had
a pair Of wings
"But how could he get outi"
That's what | say. Everything Is
solid: no human could vanish through
these walls hcrp isn't a window not
boarded up and onl, that one door
We wasn't outside ten minutes. nor
ten feet away from the step A rat
couldn't have passed without beln'
seen Blamed II II don't make me
shiver. for by thunder. however II
happened he amt here; he ain't no
where IN this cabin An" he added
peering at the floor there amt no
trail O blood to show that he crawled
away; just that little pool what he
laid in"
Gould he have got through the root.
or the floor?
Shelby laughed despondently.
Lord don't easily see how he
could; IFS fifteen feet to them rafters
an no opening, while, judging from
outside. the floor must rest plum on
the ground. Who shot him. anyhow
Did YOU seeY"
ayes. ! did" she explained excitedly
81 was looking that way toward where
the board was ripped Off the window.
| just had a glimpse of face behind
the muzzle Of the gun II was WON
an; am sure II was woman. with
black eyes Then the smoke obscured
everything and she was gone.
"She must have been Panchn. he
admitted struggling with the idea.
"Why OF course that's all plain
enough. She overheard what he said
and fired in mad passion"
what do You meanI What are you
talking about7 This grit"
Sure: told you about her; she
helped me escape last night. She was
crafty Jealous over Macklin. She II
Mexican aud is here with her brother;
a little outlaw. no doubt. knowing no
law but her own passion. She must
have been there when he bOasted to
Laud that be would leave her and mar
~ you II drove her crazy and she
shot
= can understand that--yes." Olga
burst forth, "and later she was sorry.
! believe Il vas she who came back
and took the body away"
II hardly see how that theory helps
much. How could she take himT'
Perhaps she may know some se-
derneuih I do not know. yet IN what
other way could the body have been
removedT'
Shelby shook his head gloomily his
eyes searching the floor for any evi
dence and finding none. To all ap-
pearances II appeared smooth and
solid.
Il don't know" be said That idea
mas be as good as any You Nigh
take this broken knife - mine an
see u you can starr anything What
vas goin' on OUT fhereT
Nothing much that could see.
There are men hiding behind the hank
Of the creek think they are Indians
and there may BE- others % 70 the
right 10 the weeds
1usr guard Ieft there 20 see that
we don't get away They'll saii ubtl
dark and then try 70 burn b out.
| reckon: the bucks don't Ike my
shooting That Vas o rife
yes. The bullet struck the log
tie crossed over and looked out anH-
iousiy.
- -. =. -. 49, -.