The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-05-18

cling to; their on,y cn;,nce ny I"
some such discovery. Yet the woman
cropinc on her knees in the deepen
ing darkness gave no sign OF encour'
agement. Shelby could bear the strain
no longer In silence
"There is nothing to be foundT he
asked anxously, mo appearance OF
trap?"
She lifted her head, with face
turned toward him.
"Nothng that l seem able to move,
she answered. II have found blOck
which does not appear to fit as tightly
MS the others; ! can get the knife
blade between, and 1t doesn't seem
to touch any earth below. yet the
slab Is immovable."
LET me try my strength"
He started back to Join her. but at
that instant there came a sudden
burst of rifle fire without, bullets
thudding into the cabin walls. the
sound punctuated by savage yells.
Shelby whirled about instantly, and
dropped to his knees with eyes peer
! ing out through the opening between
the logs. Olga also deserted her
search, and climbed to her post OF de-
Tense on the bench. The bullets did
no damage, generally finding billet In
the solid logs, although few crashed
through the planklng Of the door. 10
Shelby the meaning was sufficiently
plain: the real danger lay, as he ex-
pected, at the rear; all this noise was
being carried on merely to attract
their attention. He called across, un'
able to see his companion, but well
aware where she was.
Don't waste any shot until you see
something within range. Those fell
lows out there are just plugging away
blindly. They'll never rush this side.
Keep your eyes wide open, though.
I'm going back, and try to knock on
board from that rear window. II !
can get few shots out there we'll
block their little game. You hearT'
Eyes; I think one or two are crawl
ing closer through those weeds"
Likely enough, young bucks who
can't hold back; keep your eye On
them, an let them have It, as soon as
you are sure. Call out II you need
me-"
He CROPPED his way as far as the In.
ner door, helped by the almost contin-
uous flash of the rifles outside; he had
even crossed the threshold, his heart
choking him rs he perceived glare OF
red fame. already visible here and
there through narrow chinks between
the logs. Perhaps he was already toe
late-those devils had fred the cabin
the licking flames even then beginning
, to eat into the dry bark. He had nc
time In which to act, or even think
Before he might venture another steI
forward. Olga fred twice rapidly, thu
: flare of her revolver lighting up thu
entire interior What followed hi
; scarcely knew; there was sharp cry
the crash of the overturned bench
and the sound of body falling heavi
ly on the floor. A revolver went spin
ming noisily across the room, and thel
> all was still, and black once more.
Shelby could see nothing; only tn
blurred memory of that single instan
had scared itself on his brain. Sh
had been shot-his wife; this girl b.
had learned to love! Some stray sho
from an Indian rifle, fired blindly II
: the dark, had found fatal passag
through that broken shutter, an
> struck her down. His FIRST helples
daze changed into a rage of revenge
mingled with a wild yearning that h
:. might yet find her alive.
y "Olga!" he cried out, "Olga"
. There was no answer. no movement
- All was black. soundless; even tn
= rifle fire without had ceased.
~ He dropped to his knees, and crer
q forward feeling along the floor wit
outstretched hands, dreading each II
!, slant to touch her body. Suddenly HI
= searching fingers encountered an opel
l. ing In the puncheon floor.
IL Shelby dared not move, except
q. feel downward into this mysteriou
opening. Yet he realized Instant
what must have occurred-the miracl
IA which had SO swiftly disclosed this s.
~ cret passage. The girl, In falling, ha
- dlslodged the very block In the fox
~ she had been endeavOring so vainly
=. discover. 1t had suddenly swur
~ downward to the heavy blow of HI
~ body, and she had fallen with It I'M
=, the unknown darkness below. b,
OF was she dead, or alive7 Had the IA
pc stunned her? He drew himself to IL
IN very edge listening. What was dow
e. there? Macklin perhaps: the tv
ne bodies might be lying there togeth,
en- in a common grave. But wait. som
10 thing moved surelyl
er "Olgal speak to mew
70. He couldn't restrain the agony wi
3" which he uttered the words. Frigt
81 ened AS she was. dazed by the ia
scarcely conscious even yet, or able
~. actually comprehend what had q
s CURED, his cry penetrated her min
~ hrOught her hack tO life