Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-01-20
CHAPTER X.-Continued.

Descending was far easier than the
tOilSOme climb through the darkness
of the night before. There was moth
ing in sight so far as the mouth of the
ravirfe where it opened into the main
valley. Beyond that he could per-
ceive moving figures, and occasionally
hear the sound of a distant voice It
was clearly evident to his mind that
something unusual must have oc-
curred-some news of disaster or APP
preaching danger-to arouse such ex-
element among the citizens of the
Hole; and he also felt convinced that
this more important thing ha ssfor the
time being, at least, rendered his own
escape matter of small considera-
ton. If any attempt had been made
to trail him, this effort had certainly
already been abandoned AS he leaned
forth from his hiding place he saw,
scarcely a hundred yards away, the
log walls of that hut, concealed among
the trees which he had dimly noted
from the crag above. This was prob
ably where Olga had been confined.
the outlines Could she be there still?
Was Macklin with her? or had she
been left there under guard of some of
his Indian allies?
If she was there, and not too Sc
curely guarded, it might be possible
for him alone to effect her rescue. The
inspiration to make the attempt ap-
IoI 30 hn nn1H
could get her away unobserved as far
as that cave, he believed it possible to |
follow the trail to the summit. The |
project appeared simple enough, as he |
turned it thus over in his mind at |
least it surelyn could do no harm for
him to determine definitely If the lady
still remained imprisoned there. He
would venture far enough to assure
himself that this must be the fact.
Shelby was sufficiently conscious of
danger to use every precaution; the
training of years came to his aid. The
rocky banks of the stream were Suf-
ficiently high to conceal his advance,
and the creek curved about so as to
approach the hut within few yards.
Assured that the water would thus
conceal his trail, he crept across the
narrow open space, and lowered him
self over the bank, crOuching knee
deep in the cold stream, safely under
cover. Thus protected he waded SLOW
Iy downward. He saw no evidence of
cabin also was deserted that If this
was actually the place where Olga
lad been confined on arrival, she had
since been removed elsewhere.
AS he drew nearer the place appeared
Did. rather dllapldated and long desert
ID, shack scarcely fit for human habi-
alton any longer. The one window was
boarded up and the patched roof of
he lean-to sagged dlsmally. This was
certainly not the place; no one appar-
.ntly had lived there for many year.
;till now he had ventured so much, 1t
night be well to take look inside. {
\ssuredly no harm could be done by
lis searching the rooms. and this I
would require only moment or two. 9
lie drew himself up into the weeds, {
nd wiggled his way forward until he v
btared full view of the door. It I
-as tightly closed, but unguarded v
,ithout Indeed his search revealed O
o sign chat the hut had been visited e
or months. until he came within J
ard or two of the long step before II
no entrance: then he suddenly en- q
footprints In the softer q
round, and was able to distinguish $
here some one-more than one. he q
pushed Il passage "
trough the surrounding tangle of "
eeds. He studied these signs intent