The St. Johns herald., 1921-07-28
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thuddlng 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- fense on the bench. The bullets did no damage, generally finding billet in the solid logs, although a few crashed through the planking of the door. To 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 we'll aware where she was.
 Don't waste any shot Hntil you see something within range. Those fel- 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 off board from that rear window. If I can get few shots out there we'll block their little game. You hearT
 "Yes; 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 1t, as soon as you are sure. Call out if you need me-"
 He groped 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 as he perceived glare of red flame. already visible here and there through narrow chinks between the logs. Perhaps he was already too late-those devils had fired the cabin, the licking flames even then beginning to eat into the dry bark. He had no time in which to act, or even think. Before he might venture another step forward, Olga fired twice rapidly, the flare of her revolver lighting up the entire interior. What followed he scarcely knew; there was a 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 then all was still. and black once more.
 Shelby could see nothing; only the blurred memory of that single instant had scared itself on his brain. She had been shot-his wife; this girl he had learned to love! Some stray shot from an Indian rifle, fired blindly in the dark, had found fatal passage through that broken shutter. and struck her down. His first helpless daze changed into rage of revenge, mingled with a wild yearning that he might yet find her alive.
 "OlgaI" he cried out, "OlgaI"
 There was no answer. no movement. All was black, soundless; even the rifle fire without had ceased.
 He dropped to his knees, and crept forward, feeling along the floor with outstretched hands, dreading each in- stant to touch her body. Suddenly his searching fingers encountered an open ing in the puncheon floor.
 Shelby dared not move, except to feel downward into this mysterious opening. Yet he realized instantly what must have occurred-the miracle which had so swiftly disclosed this se- cret passage. The girl, in falling, had dislodged the very block in the floor cha baA hooy, ordooro.f1u e,o rofD1xy fo discover. It had suddenly swung downward to the heavy blow of her body, and she had fallen with 1t into the unknown darkness below. But was she dead, or alive? Had the fall stunned herr He drew himself to the very edge listening. What was down there? Macklin perhaps; the two bodies might be lying there together in common grave. But wait, some thing moved surelyl
 "Olga! speak to me"
 He couldn't restrain the agony with which he uttered the words. Fright ened as she was, dazed by the fall. conscious even yet, or able to comprehend what had oc- cured, his cry penetrated her mind, brought her back to life.
 ''Yes, EI am here, Tom," she man. aged to say weakly.
 "And you are not hrrt7" his voice thrilling now with sudden return to hope.
 "Oh, I-I don't know. I cannot even tell what has happened. I | stepped back quickly, the bench over turned and fell. It is all earth | around me-where am I?'
 'In the passage beneath the cabin" he explained quickly. Tt has been a your fall opened the trap.