The Adair County news., 1922-04-11

hsr husband her name is Olga Carlyn,
and also tells him something of the pc
culiar circumstances of her life.
CHAPTER vI.-Leaving his wife in
the house, Shelby goes to care for the
horses. Returning, he is struck from
behind by an unknown assailant. Hours
later he RECEIVERS consciousness, to find
that his wife and the kid" have dis
appeared He starts in pursuit.
CHAPTER VIL-Shelby overhears
conversation between two outlaws that
throws some light on his wife's history.
he learns she is an heiress and that her
abduction has been planned. He also
learns that she has been taken to
-'Wolves' Hole" haunt of bandits and
bad" Indians. The whereabouts of the
place Is unknown to Shelby, though its
reputation as a resort of criminals is
Widespread.
CHAPTER VIIL-SheIby lays plans
% rescue his wife. He is discovered by
Indian Joe" Laud. the leader Of the
outlaws, and forced to accompany him
into the stronghold. There Shelby makes
friends with a Mexican girl, Pancha,
who 10 betrothed to Macklin and in
tsnsely Jealous.
CHAPTER IX.-Imprisoned by Laud
eoelpy escapes with Pancha's help. She
guoes him to q secure hiding place but
refuses to reveal the whereabouts of his
wffeL
CHAPTER X.-After q nights rest
Shelby leaves his shelter, seeking his
W1fe's prison. He discovers 1T, an old
log cabin, and finds Olga. Their reunion
s interrupted by the arrival of Macklin.
CHAPTER XL-Confident that Shelby
Is dead, believing him to have been killed
at the ranch, Macklin declares his inten-
ton of marrying Olga, the widow. LauC
appears, and while they are talking
Aacklin is shot by a concealed assassin.
Shelby fights with Laud, but is worsted,
and the outlaw escapes. He returns with
friends, and Shelby and his wife defend
the cabin.
Laud obeyed, his face ugly and
threatening, and Shelby took a step
closer, the strip of blanket in his
hands, his revolver thrust back into
his belt. What Indian Joe saw will
never be known; perhaps a slight
wavering in the eyes of the girl, per.
haps an instant lowering of her gun.
But it was enough. All his hate and
treachery drove him to a desperate
chance. With the maddened leap of
n wild beast, he sprang upon Shelby,
gripped him f1ercely by the throat,
and the two went headlong to the
floor. Olga fired, but without ain,
missing them both, and dare not pull
the trigger again, so tightly were the
men grappled, as they rolled back and
tery. Shelby, taken completely by
surprise, was at a disadvantage, his
throat crushed by sinewy hands, his
looSened revolver flung half across the
room. He could only struggle tC
break the hold of his antagonist, roll.
ing over and over, and forcing the fel.
lows head back with every ounce OF
strength he could bring into play
They were not unevenly matched, the
twO-Shelby the younger, and perhaps
the stronger; but Laud a skilled fight.
er, hard as nails, and ready TO resort
TO any trick. Moreover. he knew what
ne had set out to accomplish, and
bent every effort 10 prevent the fright
ened girl from getting a shot at him.
He hung on. his straining hands, like
a wise. twisting tighter and tighter
Shelby's shirt bHnd, careless of any in
jury to himself so that he kept the
body of the latter in protection be-
tween him and Olga's revolver. Yet,
with every move. every straining
whirl of their bodies, he gained an
inch nearer the open door. He fought
like an animal, sinking his teeth into
Shelby's flesh, and driving his knees
into his body. 1t was silent, bitter
fighting, every muscle strained to the
utmost, and the squaw man won. They
knocked over the bench, and crashed
out through the partially open door,
rolling down the single step into the
weeds. Laud landed on top. his, fin
gers still clutched on Shelby's throat.
the latter half unconscious. CraZed,
maddened as he was, the one desire
to escape overcame his eagerness to
kill, and Indian Joe, curSing, struck
once at the upturned face, leaped to
his feet and plunged into the shelter
of the weeds. Shelby, gasping pain
fully for breath, scarcely yet fully
realizing what had occurred. lay mo-
tionless but for the quivering of his
limbs.
Indeed, he had scarcely forced open
his eyes when Olga was beside him.
"You-you are alive? He did not
kill your
He endeavored to smile. lifting him.
self upon one elbow.
mo, no; am all right" he gasped
%The fellow got my throat, and
couldn't break his hold. The treach
er0us hound got me that time. l was
a/fool, and off my guard; it is nc
fault of yours; / should have taker
no chances with the dog. Where die
he go?"
Down there, through the weeds tC
the creek; he had a horse down be
low"