The Red Cloud chief. [volume] (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923, 1921-01-20

logs Of the wall {; endeavoring to gain
scme leverage upon the hinges Of the
door. and Juggling once again furious
ly at those wooden stakes protecting
the narrow window. His fingers bled
from the frantic effort to thus loosen
something. to yield him an Opportuni-
ty to really exert his strength. These
efforts were utterly useless; there was
not spot Of weakness to be dIscov-
cred. II the place had been originally
constructed as prison 1t could not
have been more securely built. Mem
tally and physically exhausted. he
flung himself upon the floor and lay
there, quivering from head to foot,
with nerves completely shattered.
The silence became CHASTITY; any
sound would have been relief. There
was no one moving about even In that
other room, and the door between fitted
too closely for him to perceive any
CLEAN of light. He listened iniently,
holding his breath, but his head sank
back once more in detection. Why In
Gods name hadn't he fought II out
like man? Why had he ever permit
ted himself to be thus caught like
trapped rat? The frenzy OF disgust he
felt caused him to sit up and stare
once more at the single star shining
through the window. What was that?
A shadow Surely something ont yOn-
der movedi
Silently, cautiously. he stepped on
the stool, and looked out between the
bars, his heart beating like drum. At
first he saw nothing, the blood SEEM
ing to stand still as he gazed-then
the fingers of hand grasped one of
the wooden bars, and face rose
slowly Just In front of his own. A
whisper revealed the identity of his
visitor.
"Senor, come quietly TO window; do
not speak loud"
"Pancha, you! You would talk with
me, then?-
II must know some things. senior; l
must be sure" she said fiercely. "You
tell me tonight the truth, senior; you
not lie to me-"
'Not q single word" he assured her
eagerly, his heart beginning to beat
with new hope, his face advanced I'M
til only the bars divided them. II
trusted you"
"You are Senior Shelby?"
Eyes"
"And she. this woman. is your
wife?"
EYES,"
"She is pretty woman. vera pretty |;
you not married lOng?"
mo, only a few days; we had just
come to the ranch when she was TAX
en- away"
"But, senior, why she go away II she
be just married like you say? Why
she leave you. an run Off with Senior
Macklin2 She love heem better than
your"
"Love himi She did not run off. He
stole her, he and four Indians, after
leaving me for dead"
"He not tell eet to me like that; he
say she want to marry heem. an not
you. That he took her to save her from
you; that she would not let heem
leave her. Then you fight, an so get
keeled."
Shelby laughed softly.
$50 that was Macklin's story, was
| It? Well, 1t Is not exactly true.
amt saying she's IN love with me, or
nothin' like that, but she sure don't
banker none after that chap. I'll tell
| yer why he took her--cause she's got
a bunch o. money comm her way down
east that Macklin would like to get
his hands on"
"He marry her"
"That's his game. no doubt, II II
| works. If not. he'll evolve some other.
I don't think he gives cuss how It's
dor = 81 ~ GETS the and his pre-
cious father"
She stared at him with lips
parted.
maybe I see It more clear now
she exclaimed. "He not love her,
then; he just want her money, bah
l care not how he get that. II he not
get her. You take her away, Senior
Shelby. where he never see her
againT
"Of course"
"An' you keep her married to your
"Tll do the best can. What dc
you mean. Pamela? Can you get VI