The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1922-02-03

punchers must "a gunned him acct.
dental How would that story listen
In courtT-
~Aii right. what's yorr pro.
gram, thcnF' asked Bob.
''Darncd II know Say We scout
the ground over first"
They made wide circuit and ap
preached the house from the rcar,
worming their way thru the Indian
grass toward the back door. Dave
crcpt forward and tried the door II
waH locked. The window WINS latched
and the blind lowered lie drew back
and rcjoincd his companion.
mo chance there" he hisp~rcsi.
How about the rooff" asked Hart.
II was an eight rooncd house.
From the roof two dormern futtcd.
No light issued from either OF them.
Dawes eyes ~.
Whats the MATER with takin'
vhlri AZ it-- his partner conln.
ucd You're tophand with a rope.
suits me fine
The young puncher arranged the
coils carefully and whirisd tho loop
around his head TO Ect the feel OF
tho throw.
Tho rope srakcd forward and up.
settled gracefully over the chin.
ney. and frightened round u close
to tho shingles.
Dave slipped Off bis hirh.heeied
boots and went up hand over hand.
using his feet against the rough
adobe walls TO help in tho ascent.
When he came 20 the caves he
threw lex up and ciamhercd 20
tho roof. In another moment he
wns husdird against the chimney
waiting for his companion.
As soon as Hart had Joined him
he pulled up the rope and wound
II round The chimney
You stay here while see whats
doin'." Dave proposed.
Dave moved down the roof 20 the
nearest dormcr. The house. he
judged. had originally belonged TO
a weliio do Mexican family and had
later been rebuilt upon American
IDEAS. The thick adobe walls had
come down from the earlier own.
srH. but the roof had been put
on as substitute for the fiat
one % its first incarnation.
The range-ridcr was wearing plain
shiny leather chaps with gun In
an open holster tied ~ the bottom
TO facilitate quick action. lie drew
out the revolver. tested Il noise.
les~iy. and restored il carefully to
its place.
IGingerly he tested the window OF
the dormer. working at Il from the
side 80 that his body would not be
visible 20 anybody who happened
10 be watching from within. Ap-
parently Il was latched. lie crept
across the roof 20 tho other dormcr.
II was a easement window. and at
the touch Of the hand Il gave way.
The heart Of the cowpuncher beat
fast with excitement In the sha.
dowy darkness Of that room death
might be lurking. its hand already
outstrctched toward him. lie pecrcd
In. aocustoming his eyes TO the
biackness.
40 H@rA1E Wv AftN@eNAfA*N AsfNNA -
was a bedroom with sloping ceiling.
The door was aJsr. but nobody was
in the room.
Dave eased himself over the sill
and waited for a moment while he
listened. the revolver in his hand.
II seemed 20 him that he could hear
a faint murrnur OF voices. but he
was not sure He moved across
the bare plank floor, slid thru the
door. and again stopped TO take
stock OF his surroundings.
lie was at the head Of a stairway
which ran down 20 the first floor
and lost itself In the darkness Of
the hall Leaning over The banis-
ter, he listened intently for any
sign OF life below. IIe was cure
now that he heard the sound Of
low voices behind a closed door.
The cowpuncher hedtated Should
he stop to explore the upper story?
or should he go down at once and