Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-02-17

foot. There was no doubt who that
was that spoke out of the darkness.
"But I am Shelby" he blurted forth
| swiftly. "You have no reason to fear
me-"
SHELBY, How you come here? You
found the trap? And-and is she with
your
Eyes, senorita. An accident re-
vealed to us a way out. 1t was you,
then, who took Macklin away; he was
not killed?'
A moment there was silence; then
she broke out suddenly, p~assionately,
the words fairly falling we each 9th
er in her eagerness of expression.
II am not afraid, Senior Shelby. No!
No! hav' re pistol in my hand. I
shoot. The dark Get make no differ
she an you are there. Listen, then !;
l tell o what happen. l hate an
/ love-See! Then | make meestake.
Madre de dos! I know not how eet
was, but shoot the man | love. Eet
was crazy thing; but I not keel hecm :;
l know I not keel heem. How I know?
Santa Marie! The good God would
not let me believe that. What could
I do? ran away mad into the woods.
l would maybe vet save heem, but
how? You know, senior, Get was I
who shoot Senior Macklin?"
eyes. Pancha; the lady here saw
your face"
hNnC 81 ,,o N ,rL~ lN,o
heem. Why should eet be so? I went
there not for that-no. tell you
how eet all come. Eet was because of
my brother, senor-you know my
brother. Juan Villemonte? He dead,
senior. dead. You know how he die?
Eet was a quarrel With Senior Laud
an Senior Hanley-they keel heem, the
two against the one. I not know what
happen. l wait in the cabin for Juan
to come, but he stay away. No one
tell me teel an Indian boy come an
he tell. Then I know Juan is dead,
an / go crazy like that. I am Span
fsh, senior; I hate an 7 love-then only
hate. I would avenge my brother;
l would keel the man that keeled heem.
I care only for TO do that. He was
there in this cabin I creep up an see.
Eet was dark in there. vet I saw hees
face. He could not see me, but ] aim.
Senior Macklin was there too, an the
other girl. but care not then for them
at all. hate an I see only the one
I hate. Santa Marie! Why was Get
so?"
You shot the wrong man?"
Isl, senior. Senior Macklin, he step
forward quick just when I fire; he
drop an I run"
Shelby felt Olga rip him and heard
her voice at his 'lr.
"She never heard what Macklin said
don't let her know
He crushed the question already on
his lips back into his throat.
yes" Shelby said: II see how i
happened. now. And what did you dc
then, Pancha?"
h was not sObbing. but her quick
breathing gave the impression in the
darkness.
What do. senior? I pray the Vir-
S'i 't i ma saw lltCIll. l men |
remember this passage from the ravine.
How I know eet? Juan and I, we live
in the cabin q month; twas then ]
found Get. ] was underneath when
you fought. emo then. when YOU
were both outside I got heem-"
"Macklin, you mean? He was
alivo?"
eyes. senior, alive. Maybe he live
maybe hes die; 7 know not. do what
can. Eet took long time; even
carried heem alone"
But how did YOU get across that
cave-in of eArth?"
"fIet was not there; eet come lat
en-" she explained. 81 would 90 back
senior. when they fired the cabin. but
the earth had caved and 1 could not
get through"
ITO help us?"
Isl. senior; to help YOU and me
What could do alone? That is why
I tell you: why I .alk. Eet is moi
for YOU, nor for me. | would save
heem an only can Get be done if
navy lSl'. l W. I'LL i till-AiTlrP de
Dfos, yes. But how I get hee1n out
senorT"
"But why not call the others?'
Shelby asked suddenly in suspicion
what danger is Macklin in?'
you know not?" in surprise. "The
Indian boy tell me-he an HanIey
They plan Get all out. Twas because
Juan would not be one Of them they
keel heem. They would hold her for
ransom: they say a man m soon
here who would pay much; so they try
to put out of the way Senior Macklin
IT'S to get her that Slagin go to the
cabin; he fail, and then Senior Laud
try another way. He not know when
he come that Senior Macklin get back
No n know"
Shelby smothered an oath: the
whole foul plot suddenly revealed to
him in all its ~hideousness. This then
was what these fiends had been plan.
ming; it was plot within plot; crimi-
nal against criminal. He vas blind
mot tn h1yp ,,a1.,nt,~J IL. 4-.L1 ,E