The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-10-18

FOLLOWING the opposite wall they wouit
miss any contact with Gomez body
and there was nothing he could do but
stand and let them pass
The two men had turned the sharI
corner. the slight sound OF their move
ments ceasing TO reach his ears. Their
the faint glow OF match reflected
along the rock wall. the silence broker
BY Meager's voice
There's the lantern. Juan-in that
niche. see. Here. turn up the wick
The flame frightened suddenly but
the outer tunnel yet remained black
Only In the distance the light fiickered
along the walls. casting weird shad-
ows. One of the men evidently held
the lantern up. peering about curl
ously.
Hes not here. senior; where's the
old devil. anyhow
They moved forward with the light.
and Kelleen. all fear swiftly lost In
his intense interest. erept on 10 the
curve 10 the tunnel. from which point
he could see their dim shadows. Behind
him. but unnoticed. daylight began to be
visible through the mantle OF vines con-
cealing the entrance. The dark figure on
the floor assumed vngue outline. TIE
two men In the lantern glow came 20
halt. thrusting the light forward,
peering at the object which had at
tracted them. The Mexican Identified
II FIRST In a sudden cry.
ITS a body. dead man." he ex-
claimed HE has been killed
Manuel Z"
Meager held back. the coward grip
ping him, but Sanchez bore the lam
tern forward. desperate 10 learn the
truth. His startled voice came down
the passage.
-'Tis not Gomez" he cried. 'and no
face ever saw before. Perhaps you
know the manT"
"No; but there has been a fight OF
a murder-see. he has been shot and
In the back. by Cd Gomez must
have done this Job. But what has
become OF the old devil7 And who
was this kid7 What was he doing
here7 See n there is anything In his
pocket, Juan. Give me the lantern"
He held II up. ms the Mexican
dropped 10 his knees. and began 10
rummage through the dead mans
clothen The increasing daylight OF
the desert found entrance far above.
and stole down the narrow passage In
fatpt. CHASTITY gIImmer. which only
added to the ghastllness of the scene.
The strain was too much for Meager's
nerves. and he swore grufily.
Come on" he said hercely; bring
the light. Wen search every inch OF
this id hole"
KeIleen turned. his first impulse
being to escape. to rush toward that
dim glimmer OF light now plainly
marking the cave entrance. Yet the
futility OF such an effort came 20 him
instantly. There was a better way
than that. and he whlrled back 10 face
them, as the two came cautiously for
ward. the glow Of the lantern gllmmer-
Ing like n red star The hand with
the weapon in II fell 10 a level. and he
fired. the glass pickering into thou
sand pieces. the light instantly extin-
guished
Kelieen's plan Of action had formed
swiftly In his mind. He had q gllm-
mering OF what this conspiracy meant.
but must learn more. Only one
method WIS possible confession
from Bob Meager. The real secret OF
this tunnel was In his possession. now
that Manuel Gomez was dead. lie
must be made 10 talk.
The advantages in this encounter
we're altogether on bis side lie knew
hem. where they were they possessed
no knowledge OF his exact position. |
who he was. or whether they faced |
)ne opponent or a dozen They had |
,een taken completely by surprise.
startled by the sudden attack. con.
used In the darkness He had both /
n them absolutely NJ his mercy.
The silence WAS intense after that /
irsf startled second. There was no
not even the sound OF /
lreathing audible. The two stood mo
ionless. crouched back against the
vail. peering into the blackness from
Whence that tongue OF fame had
eaped Into their very faces yet re
ealing nothing. They could neither
hink nor act Who had fred--Mansel
;orDez7 some enemy who had trapped
henri We're they facing one man. or
dozen7 Into what bad they bllndIy
ralked7 Confident Of his own safety.
that be had the whlp hand.
SelIeen smiled griniy. every nerve
ense. hiss revolver poised The sifua-
lon pleased him
Drop your guns. both o. you r" he
sternly- quick now I've
q you against the light
~Wh0 the h--l--''
stop that Drop them. or I shoot
besides lantern. It's a
afr trigger Tn playing WITH
He heard both weapons fan 70 the
DOR. Neager enfssfis irnpotenfly. bot
ie Mexican silent Keileen laughed
kick them away from you-fhnf's
gh' Not bad fellows when properly |
sndiei. see. Nov up with your