The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-10-04
BY Randall Parrish

casebeer's OUTFIT must be through b.
this time. Go on down and start back
You paid hlm7"
81, senior; he never unload I'll
do; he what you call 'hardrboil.'"
Hes hard-boiied. all right. but By
Cd. he's got 70 hold his d-n tOngus
over this dealt III 20 on down with
you and have a final word with him
III tell that guy something he'll not
forget Come on; there's nothing
more for u 10 30 up here"
The frightened girl, crushed into
the shallow hole. half beneath the
slladOwlng rock. dare not stir for some
time. The men might decide 10 re-
turn some dim suspicion might enter
their minds. causing them 10 retrace
their steps. She could see nothing
her face pressed hard against the
sand. and the sound Of the two died
away quickly. Al last. unable 10 re-
main In that posture longer. she eau
ti0usly lifted her head and gazed
about into the darkness. There was
nothing 10 be seen or heard. and she
AiAANANt NAAHFhNFI W HfN ltftf fAAArAh-
10 the rock edge for support. IL was
all plain enough. yet she could not
seem 20 think clearly. and her limbs
were 20 weak they would scarcely sup
port her body. Kelleen had been
killed. murdered Neager had crept
up In the dark. and shot the man down
In cold blood as he stood siihouetted
against that CLEAN OF fire. The victim
had toppled over he cliff. and, II not
already dead from the bullet, must
have been crushed Into pulp ON the
rocks below.
These facts came home more and
more vlsibly 10 the girls mind. She
had escaped discovery as by miracle.
and yet 70 what endl She was alone.
lost. without either horse or weapon
TO aid her IN escape. Both animals
had disappeared IN the desert night,
her revolver had gone down with Kel- |
leen. But one slender bit Of fortune
remalned-her presence there was
still unsupported The man whose
discovery she had most reason 10
dread yet believed her back al the
ranch. hiding from him behind locked
i0ors. but helpless 10 escape his re-
turn. How she had ever eyaded his
was mystery. yet. thank
God she had; and this fact alone
gave her a slender chance.
Assured az last that the men had
'eally departed. measure Of strength
returning a. she moved her limbs and
aced the realities. Deborah crepf
'ack upon the HAT surface OF the rock,
md gazed frightened into those dizzy
lepths below. II was like a night
mare. the hOrrid memory which haunt
u her OF Kelleen's body whlrllng
Iown through that glare OF red light
iut by then the Hight had faded. the
lstsnt Ore having died down to red
sh. and her eyes were unable 20
enetrate the gloom beneath. She
tared into black void, seeing no
iovement. hearing no sound The
wful silence and loneliness crushed
er spirit.
what could she dor Where could
he go1 Not 20 those men there In
he valley surely not 10 bob Meager. !
skiing for mercy and release. lie I
ms impossible: her bitter hatred OF :
Inn more intense than ever. To all !
10 wrong done her In the past was !
ided now this brutal murder OF Dan (
J kelleen-and suddenly. unexpect- y
ly the giri rcallzed what this last y
cant 20 her. She refused 70 ac-
rowledge the truth. fought Il back G
Iere alone In the darkness. yet Il n
ould not be altogether ignored. Dan. .
kelleen was iead-gone from out A
r life forever--and there came into h
y heart desire for revenge. a mad n
pulse to htly punish the murderer II
le longed 10 become the instrument n
prove her loyalty 10 him by action. :,
4 howf What was Il possible Tor 1.
- 10 dot \
She stared helplessly about into the n
use biackness % the desert. aud up Il
the desert stars overhead. her mind a
~eSscd with these questions, II was Al
longer herself 81 much rs the "
oused memory % him. She would r,
Try on his work she must at what
rr cost hut howf The cavalry. a,
"a stationed al Rox canyon They Vi
re waiting for the approach Of er
sebeer's outft. or else some word \,
command from kelieen. They XII
nd not be Oar away over thereto "a
} south he said. and he had pointed m
that direction. The stars would tr,
h her 70 keep the poluts % the kr
npass until daylight came. and then n
'eiy she could discern something n
, to steer her course b.. She must a.
on foot. straight cut Into the des- 90
F, there might noe be one chance In IN,
Iundrvd % her going right--yst the in
! chance was better than remaining y,
~ for Bob Neaxer 20 lind her. She W
AID rather die mlssrably IN the sand "a
Sc than fsel that wretch touch her an
IN. God. YES. the Mss 81 Death an
fia be sweet. compared 20 the touch fof
bis lips. she shud,Nred AZ the "a,
axht IT'S wife the subject ~ his IA
cerv<se<. helpless 70 repcl his 10