Cavalier County farmers press. (Langdon, N.D.) 1920-1921, 1921-01-20
i you are gone; it's the mercy Of

an you are gone; it's the mercy of
God"
Shelby caught his breath to her ex-
pressive gestures, his fingers gripping
the knife.
II doubt if l can get through that
hole" he said, mournfully, latter the
bars are cut. Pm pretty big"
"But you must, senor; there Is no
other way" she insisted impatiently.
"The blade is strong, sharp; eet will
dig out the log, but do not be long.
See-there is a tree yonder; 1 will
wait you there, an show where you
must 60, so there be no trail. You
come to me quick, but be still like
death. Madre de Dios! it's the only
way"
She was gone before he could pro-
test again, vanishing into the black
night Sc swiftly and. silently he could
only stare out helplessly through the
bars. Yet she had left hope and deter
mination behind. With teeth set he
began the work, finding the steel blade
effective against the tough hickory. 1t
was no light job, at that, but he piled
the knife desperately, possessing some
| skill and unusual strength of wrist
and fingers. The stakes gave way one
after the other, but he was not salts
fled until he enlarged the opening
/ somewhat by removing all bark from
the logs, and prying loose the box
frame. This required all Of half an
hour to accomplish, yet left an aper-
ture through which he believed he
might force mis- body. At that he
found no room to spare; but, by ven
turing 1t head first, screwing his Shout
ders through n at a time, and draw
ing in his breath tightly, he managed
to scrape painfully out of the hole,
! claWing at the rough outside bark for
purchase. and finally coming down
face first onto the SOLID earth. At
that, he made little noise, but his flesh
smarted, and for q moment he rested
where he fell, confused and painting
for breath. The night was so black
there in the shadow Of the great hills,
he could scarcely determine direc-
lions, yet the girl had pointed toward
the right, and, as soon as he could at
tain his feet, he advanced. cautiously
that way, with hands held out before
him. The path was rocky and uneven,
probably leaving little trace of his
passage. She touched him before he
was even aware Of her near presence,
and then she was but the dimmest
outline. her face indistinguishable
through the gloom.
Speak low. senor," she whispered
briefly. Come with me this way"
He permitted her to lead him for
ward over ground sloping upward. but
before they had thus advanced fifty
yards, Shelby stopped. determined to
question her purpose.
where are you taking me? To
Olga?"
mo, senior; not now. I must leave
you in safety first. Later I bring her
to you. Why you ask? You not trust
me?"
Eyes, I trust you, Pancha; but isn't
it better that I understand the plan?
Then we can work together"
She drew in a quick breath impa-
tiently. her fingers clutching at his
sleeve.
"Dios! this is not time to stand
and talk, senor," she burst forth, "yet
listen, if not do otherwise. There is no
time left tonight in which to escape.
I must be back in the house before
Indian Joe wakes. or my brother re-
turns. All l can hope to do is hide
you where you not be found. Then
we must plan what is best to do"
"You know where she Isl"
ISL. senior; l know yet eet will not
be easy to get her away. She is not
left unmatched. and nothing can be
done tonight. I must watch and wait.
Eet will only be safe when Senior
Macklin and my brother are both
away"
you mean that l am to hide out
yonder somewhere until you are
ready" he questioned. SIS that the
scheme?"
"There is no other thing possible.
Even that may fail. Senior, do not be
a fool" she urged earnestly. 81 know
the danger of all this you not realize
even yet what eet means to be a pris-
oner in Wolves hole. These men keel;
it is their only law. I risk my life to
do this, and there is but one chance
of success. Alone. unaided, you can
never get out of here-never. Why?
you ask. Because, senior, every pass
is under guard: they are never left
open"
Then how are we to go?"
along a path known only to my
self and one other, senior. A young
Indian found Get by accident and con-
fided his secret to me! He come, and
went that way for a year, but no one
else know. Once he took me half way
to top: eer is rough, yet can be fol-
lowed. Now you see I am rightT'
81 have no choice; I owe you my
life already"
'Then do as l say, senor. I will
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