The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1921-04-20

cure,y guarded, 1t might be possiDie
for him alone to effect her rescue. The
,nsprntion to make the attempt APP
pealed to him strongly. If he only
could get her away unobserved as iar
rs that cave, he believed 1t posslDie 10
follow the trail to the summit. lne
project appeared staple enough, as he
turned II thus over in his mind; at
least IT surely could do no harm Tor
him to determine definitely II the 'auy
still remained imprisoned there. he
wonld venture far enough to assure
himself that this must be the 1hct.
Shelby was sufficiently conscious OF
danger to use every precaution; the
training of years came to his ana ne
rocky banks of the stream were SUI
ficiently high to conceal his advance
and the creek curved about 80 as ~
opproach the hut within fe" yatos.
Assured that the water would tius
conceal his trail, he crept across inc
narrow open space, and lowered MN
self over the bank, crouchng Knee
deep in the cold stream, safely "hae'
, cover. Thus protected he waded SLOW.
" downward. He Saw no evidence OF
any guard, and became convinced the
cabin also was deserted; that II th's
was actually the place where olga
had been confined on arrival, she had
since been removed elsewhere.
AS he drew nearer the place appeared
old rather dlapidated and long desert
ed, shack scarcely fit for human hap''
tation any longer. The one wlhoo" was
boarded up, and the patched ROOT OF
the lean-to sagged dismally. This was
certainly not the place; no one appar
emily had lived there for many year.
Still. now he had ventured so much, IL
might be well to take look inside.
Assuredly no harm could be cone ny
his searching the rooms, ana thiS
would require only moment or two.
He drew himself up into the weeds,
and wiggied his way forward until lie
obtained full vicW of the door II
was tightly closed but unguard"d
without. Indeed his search revealed
no sign that the hut had been visited
for months, until he came within
yard or two of the long step before
the entrance; then he suddenly EN-
| countered footprints in the softer
! ground, and was able to distinguish
! where some one-more than one, he
thought-had pushed passage
through the surrounding tangle OF
weeds. He studied these signs intent
ly, yet discerned nothing resembling
, woman's shoe. The mcccasin-shou
! feet, however. had passed over the
ground again and again, and he even
believed, one, and perhaps more. OF
the wearers had sa. on the doorstep
impatiently stamping their feet. To
his Judgment the place had indeed
been under guard, and that recently
the marks were comparatively fresh
: and cleaLcut, as though made, within
few hours.
| Then, in all probability. this had
been the prison where his wife was
held. He had stumbled upon it. Here,
undoubtedly, Was the very spot where
she had been confined under guard
during the past night, yet she certain
ly was not there now The deserted
appearance of the place was proof
positive that she had been taken else
where. Voices sounded off toward the
broader eXpanse of valley, but too far
away to present danger; even as he
stood cautiously up. and looked out
over the tops of the weeds he could
see nothing to create alarm. He was
alone, unseen. unsupported, and yield
| ed to the desire to learn what was
within the hut. She might have left
some message. some sign Of her pres
ence, which would prove clue.
The outer door was secured merely
by wooden latch, and opened easily
to his touch. Afraid lest some I'M
/ known eye might mark his movements.
Shelby glided quickly in through the
! narrow opening, and instantly pressed
: the door Slut behind him. lie was in
almost total darkness, the only light
j finding entrance between the ill-titting
boards at the single window. He felt
his way blindly across the room.
guided by this dim ray, and, discover
Ing one of the boards somewhat
loosened, managed!ss W, VIE. ii IL irce
LING I!l!s--tfSc. uniting the gray daylight 10
gain entrance. This gave him dim
view of the interior, nearly square
room, lneXpressibly dirty, and without
furniture, except rough bench thrust
back against one wall.
Straight across from where he stood
some black object lay upon the floor,
so indistinct in its outlines he could
not. in that faint light. determine
what It might be-a pile of rags. per-
haps, or shapeless heap of rubbish.
He stepped forward, curious TO learn
its nature. yet stopped suddenly, star
ing down in speechless horror. He was
beside the bodies of two men. both
dead. gripped together, stffened in
the very attitude with which death
had overtaken them. They had died
fighting like wild dogs, and their