The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-10-03
CHAPTER x-continued.

Deborah's searching eyes, now able
to distinguish objects with some clear
ness, scanned the rock walls to the
Obscured entrance. At first she could
not be sure, but finally the vague out
lines Of the man seated on the rock be-
came visible. He was huddled for
ward In such grotesque posture as
scarcely to appear human, but gradu-
ally the girl realized what the uncouth
shape must be, could even detect the
long, scraggly beard, the great breadth
Of shoulders, and the rifle, on which
he leaned. With this discovery came
the instant assurance also that the
fellow slept soundly. A thrill of hope
brought courage, and new strength to
her limbs. Might 1t not be possible
for her to steal forward silently, and
then, with a sudden spring, clear the
obstruction of vines, and gain the free
day without, before the slumbering
guard could even comprehend what had
occurred? The horse was not hun
dred yards away, and even If she had to
leap boldly from off the shelf of rock,
she would willingly dare all for a
chance at escape Yet she had not adj
vanced three steps until she realized
the impossibility of the effort-the
sleeping body utterly blocked the pas
sage.
She could perceive the fellow now
with some distinctness, a giant of
man, with long, apelike arms, bare
and hairy, an oddly formed head, al
most pear-shaped, long hair shading
the face, and a black beard sweeping
to his knees. Slowly, silently, without
actually knowing why, the girl drew
back into the deeper darkness behind
her, guiding herself with one hand
against the rough wall. Into her mind
had come the faint hope of another
egress somewhere, the very purity of
the air suggesting such a possibility,
she even imagining she felt a draft
upon her cheek. Yet there was no
glimmer of light. Once her cropping
foot struck against fragments of rock
left lying where they fell She bent
down better to assure herself Of the
obstruction, and her exploring fingers
touched pick. 1t was a mine, then
this secret excavation had been mans
work; Nature may have pointed the
way, but this tunnel itself originated
through lust of wealth. Her captors
were not outlaws but men crazed by
fear of losing what they had uncov-
cred In these rocky hills. Yet this
knowledge rendered her situation no
whit less dangerous.
of debris, discovering that this fall of |
stone did not denote the ending of the |
passage. Suddenly her cropping hands |
revealed sharp curvature in the tun-
mel, and she worked her way about |
the corner with utmost caution. Then
she stopped, rooted to the spot, her
heart almost ceasing to beat. Far
above, up what appeared to be
sharply inclined chute through the
solid rock. came streaming down
single ray of daylight, It's faint reflec-
ton resting directly upon the upturned
face of dead man, stretched ON the
tunnel floor.
Deborah, startled, swayed back
against the wall for support, staring
down Into that white, upturned face,
clearly revealed within the little pool
If light. 1t was the face Of a young
nan. his dark. wide-open eyes staring
)lindly up into vacancy, his brown
hair cut short, almost good-looking
even in death, with cheeks freshly
'haven. This last was what aroused
he girl, brought her back quickly to
life and action. He had the appear
lnce of having shaved that very morn
ng; the stubble of his beard was not
wen visible. Then she noted two other
acts-his revolver was in the holster
It his waist and the hand, held up
light against the side wall, grasped
folded paper. He had just been