The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1921-01-13

II q l.
lie iean.ta saered dsmaiiy Tats AS
ceftsiniy noi the piacc 20 one appaf
epti, BAD lscd there FOR many e year.
sill. now D. had venturei - much y
might he wcll 20 take = look inside.
Assurr.iiy no harm could be done -
his searchIDe the rooms ana MS
would require only . moment q two.
ue arcN himself up into the weeds,
and Wirgiea his way forward noih he
obtnyred fun view - the tear u
was tightly closed bni nnguaried
without Indeed his search revealed
no sign that the hut had been visited
for months. until be came Within a
ward - two Of THE long step before
tho entrance: thee he suddenly en-
cnuntered footprints he softer
ground. and was ahle 10 distinguish
where some one more than one, he
thought-had pushed passage
through the surrounding tangie ~
weeds he studied these signs intent.
". YET discerned nothing resembling
a woman's shoe. The moccasin shod
feet. however. had passed over the
ground again and again and he even
believed. one. and perhaps more, OF
the wearers had sat on the doorstep
impatiently stamping their feet To
his Judgment the place had indeed
been under guard, and that recently
the marks were comparatively fresh
and cleancuL as though made within
a few hours
Then. In all probability. this had
been the prison where his wife wss
held. Tie had stumbled upon H. Here,
undoubtedly. was the very spot where
she had been confined under guard
during the past night. yet she certain
~ was NOT there now. The deserted
appearance Of the place was proof
positive that she had been taken else
where. Voices sounded OF toward tho
broader expnnse Of valley. hui too far
away 10 present danger; even M he
stood cautiously up and looked out
over the tops OF the weeds he eould
see nothing TO create alarm. lie was
alone unseen. unsupported and Yield
ed 10 the desire 10 learn what was
within the hut She might have LEFT
some message. some sign OF her nes
ence. which would prove a clue.
The outer door was secured merely
nv wooden latch and opened easily
10 MS touch. Afraid lest some IN
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 lgn
finding entrance between the limiting
boards at the single window lie teH
his way blndly across the room.
guided by this dim ray, and, discover
| ing one of the boards somewhat
| lo0sened managed 10 wrench u free
thus permitting the gray daylight TO
gain entrance This gave him a dim
view OF Tie interior a nearly square
room. inexpressibly dirty, md without
furniture, except rough bench thruS
back against one wall.
Straight across from where he stood
some black Object lay upon the h"or.
SO indistinct In It's outlines he could
not, IN that faint light. determine
what II might be--a pile Of rags per
hnps. or a shapeless heap OF rubbish
He stepped forward curious 10 learn
It's nature, yet stopped suddenly, star
Ing down IN speechless horror. lie was
beside the bodies Of two men, both
dead. gripped together, stifened In
the very attitude with which death
had overiaken them. They had died
fighting like wild dogs, and their
strange posture told the whole story.
Shelby. crushing back the dread be
felt. tried to part them. but the SUI
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 10 death, the
rigid red fingers OF his antagonist stun
clutching his throat Beyond on the
floor lay revolver and knife.
Shelby stared AT the grues0me scene,
unable 10 remove his gaze. In me
dim light the features OF the two men
we're almost unacceptable. what
had caused this tragedyi this fierce
death grapple1 He could only COO
lecture from what little be knew ~
the circumstances. Beyond doubt one
OF these antagonists would be the
guard whom Mackln had left 70
watch over his captive while he de
parted. But the otberi Some 90
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(Ccntinued on Page ~