The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-10-10
CHAPTER VII-ContInued.

"'Pop' Reynolds, heyi" he said
lightly. 'Then 1 am sure his story
must have been a good one. So he
told you 1 was a mighty bad man?
Well. now you've met me, do you be-
lieve it?"
IL don't know" she confessed
doubtfully. IL would rather not
think that"
(which is q hopeful sign. Well,
please try not to think so for the next
half-hour. at least. Then maybe l
can tell you my side of the story.
There is no time now, for we've SIM
ply got to get under cover. Do you
see that blue ridge over yonder? You
know what 1t is?"
"The Meager ranch, isn't itT'
Eyes, and In twenty minutes, as soon
as the mist rises, they could pick US
out from there with good field glass;
Well have to find a safer place to
talk in than this. Here, I'll lead the
horses; It's only a step to the rim;
then we'll both have to make the de-
scent afoot."
They moved forward slowly. into
what appeared to- be the interminable
desert, the man blowing his way
through sand, the tired animals fol-
lowing with dropping heads.
Suddenly he stopped, gripping the
reins, tightly and pointing with HIS
other hand. Deborah needed no guild
ance, for her eyes were already riveted
on the yawning cash in the surface of
the desert, staring down with a startled
feeling of awe into the apparently bot
tomless chasm not five yards away. A
moment she gazed. hardly compre-
bending, too thoroughly dazed by this
phenomenon of nature to completely
grasp its significance. Then she felt
Kelleen lift her bodily from the saddle |
and lead her forward to the very edge. |
Below lay exposed in the cold gray of |
the dawn the full marvel-a deep |
gorge, as though scooped out by a |
giant spoon. cut directly across the |
barren sand plain, with no evidence |
anywhere above of its existence. To |
the eye ii seemed some three hundred |
feet wide, but much deeper, the side
walls rocky and irregular. the crew
ices and ravines choked with sand,
while far below appeared the soft
green vegetation, and along the base
of the opposite wall, much more pre-
cipitous than the side on which they
stood, the silvery sparkle of small
stream. Deborah drew quick breath,
aside into the face of the man
at her side.
"You have been down there7"
Yes; the descent Is not particu-
larly difficult along these ravines: the
sand gives purchase. even the horses
will pick their way"
He smiled at the CONSERVATION in
her face.
"What is it," he questioned; fear
Of the passage, or of the Frisco Kid'?'
She looked straight at him beneath
eveled brows. conscious of the sudden
lush of her cheeks
Neither; l am not afraid" 8
81 did not believe you would be. for
-ou are not that sort at all. The truth G
S. young lady, you really haven't so '
much on me In this matter of recog I
lition. l happen to know quite a bit J
bout you" c
about mel You? What. may / e
sk?"
Just bit, as say, mere picture v
ot easily forgotten. I saw you once.
efore ever you came to Meager's v
anch. and have remembered 1t ever {
ince. Do you remember a morning r
, August. 1918, when the Thirty-thlrd C
Vision went over the top, waded a o
Iver. and cleaned out the heights be- Y
ond? 1t was sharp fight and lots Il