The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-04-06

He sat with head In his hands. en-
deayoring to solve the mystery. anu.
out from the dark. a possible explana'
ton flashed into his mlnd-Mackiin.
Could any relation she might nave
with this fellow account for desire
to wish his escape alive? IL in'eht;
the fact that he was already the nus
band Of the woman Mackl'n planned
TO marry would quite naturally ex'
plain the entire situation under GER
| tain conditions. II that rascal had
made love to her, and now Deliberate
II planned to desert her for another,
the Spanish blood would account for
all the rest. By heaven; that must
be It'll He recalled the insistence OF
her questioning; the flash of her eyes,
the threatening CLEAN of her white
teeth. Unconsciously he had touched
the secret spring, and unloosed the IT,
ger. Jealousy was the weapon-a love
turned to hate. the fury of woman
scorned. To get Olga out Of her path
forever. she would risk anything dare
anything. Here then, was bis one anu
l
only chance.
But could the girl serve him. even II
she desired to do sol He realized
the seriousness of his position; his
helplessness without some outside aid.
He had been q blind fool to venture
into this den alone; and even bind
er fool to claim friendship with Han
ley. The morning would find him COM
pletely exposed, and he had little
doubt what form vengeance would as
sumo at the hands Of these men. lie
was like q condemned man In his cell
waiting helplessly for the certain hour
of execution. Worse than that, even;
for his fate must inevitably seal also
the fate Of his wife. Her only chance
of rescue lay In his efforts, and he
was helpless. There was not thing
he could do; yet he tried again and
again desperately, testing the punch
cons Of the floor, block by block. dig
gingaat the dried mud between the
logs of the wall; endeavoring to gain
some leverage upon the hinges Of the
door, and tugging once again furious
~ 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 q spot of weakness to be dlscov-
cred. II the place had been originally
constructed as a prison 1t could not
have been more securely built. Men.
tally and physically exhausted. he
flung himself upon the floor. and lay
there. qulvering from head to foot,
with nerves completely shattered.
The silence became ghastly; 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 intently
holding his breath. but his head sank
back once more In detection. Why ir
Gods name hadn't he fought It out
like a man? Why had he ever permit
ted himself to be thus caught like {
trapped rat? The frenzy of disgust hi
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 out yon
der mOvedl
Silently. cautiously. he stepped OF
the stool, and looked out between thu
bars. his heart beating Ikea drum. A
first he saw nothing. the Blood seem
ing to stand still as he gazed-ther
the fingers Of hand grasped one Of
the wooden bars. and face r0se
slowly just In front Of his own.
whisper revealed the identity of hi!
visitor.
"Senor. come quietly to window; dt
not speak loud"
"Pancha, you! You would talk will
me, them"
" must know some things. senior;
must be sure" she said fiercely. "Yol
.. tell me tonight the truth, senior; vol
not lie to me-"
"Not a single word" he assured hel
eagerly, his heart beginning to bea
> with new hope. his face advanced un
til only the bars divided them. I"
trusted YOU"
. "You are Senior Shelbyr'
"Yes."
sand she. this woman. Is youl
, wife?"
EYES,"
'"She Is pretty woman. vera pretty
, yOu not married long?"
mo. only a few days; we had JUS
come to the ranch when she was TAX
en- away"
J "But, senior. why she go away II sht
be just married like you say7 VIII.
she leave you. an run Off with Seno
[ Mackiin? She love heeln better thar
. your
Love h!mi She did not run of. Il,
z stole her. he and four Indians, afte
, leaving me for dead"
r HE not tell Get to me like that; h,
, say she want to marry heem, an no
. you. That he took her to save her from