The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-09-26
CHAPTER Ix-continued.

Her eyes traced the rugged bluff
hopelessly; to attempt scaling that
would only bring her into full view
yet there was a fringe of thick
bushes below into which she might
plunge. This seemed the only hiding
place available, and she crept through
the thick fringe Of brush into the
shadow. The two horsemen came
slowly. cautiously, up the slight slope,
staring about them suspiciously, yet
finding nothing at the summit but q
bit Of trampled grass to tell that the
spot had been occupied previously.
Deborah, secure in a cleft of the
rock behind a five-foot screen of
chaparral. crouched motlonless, with
ears strained to detect the slightest
sound. She was unable to see, but
could hear plainly, and there was no
difficulty In recognizing the voice of
Sanchez.
Whatever do you suppose has be-
come of them, loser" he asked COM
plainingly. "They were to have come
yesterday, you tell us, and yet they
are not here"
"But someone is, senor-see, there
has been camp made"
THAT was the guard; the ranch
brand Is on the pony grazing yonder;
/ took note as we rode by. l wonder
where in HI the fellow has gone?
But he has naught to do with Case
beers outfit. The gulch is empty, ex-
cept for the lad we met below"
"And what does he do In here,
senior? Who was it you call him"
Sanchez laughed mirthlessly.
Hiding out, Jose; there is no rea-
son to fear that guy. He's the KID"
"The Frisco Kid?'" Sure. 1 hear
of him. They say he held up the Los
Colos stage"
Sanchez laughed.
"'Tis not all they say. He Is the
DEVILS own, If half the tales be true
a smooth-spoken boy enough, but not
the sort to make sport Of Meager
knows hlm-aye!" and he slapped his
knee roughly at the happy thought,
"and that Is why the lad Is here, no
doubt. have 1t now; Bob could not
come himself, Jose, so he sent this
fellow. But why the HI didn't he
tell me, l wonder?"
"Who tell you-the 'KidY"
"Hither one Of 'em; like to know
what I'm bein' stacked up against on
a Job like this. Casebeer's lucky, but
his outfit this trip would be a mighty
rich haul If he should happen to fall
down.
"GunsY
"Ampunition, and booze for villa;
ZONE combination that. 1t is to 90
,ver the border tonight, and a nice
vad Of money comes back. That Will
re the KIDS job, perhaps. If Meager
Doesn't show up by dark; we haven't
my orders beyond here"
you think Senior Bob maybe would
END him to bring back the money!
Sure; It's f1fty-fifty with Casebeer,
md Frisco Is all right He's square
. they make 'em, I've always heard.
eaises HI, Of course, now an then,
ut he never double-crossed anybody.
int that him roundup that BLUM
onder7 Sure 1t is-ridin' this way.
m goin' to ask him straight when he
cts here"
Deborah, frightened by what she
card, lifted herself slightly so as to r
Re better up the narrow valley. The
pproaching horseman was in plain
lew. and. even at that distance, the &C
Irl had no doubt as to his identity. al
Ter very heart seemed to cease beat al
,g as she knelt, anxiously watching tf
Is approach, the horse Looping stead Oh
y, the man swaying gently to the N
lovement Of the animal. Who in sc
eed, was he-this Daniel Kelleen? as
liz Frisco Kid"f Was he a real @
AN In whom she could trust and be-
ever In whose honor she could con- af
LEI be
Or was he what these ruffians so
'nfdently proclaimed-an outlaw, a IT,
Of the frontier, an escaped
Ion, hiding from justice and even WI
w engaged in the committal of sli
line? These fellows took It for ra
nnted that he was present on the
me criminal mission as themselves; W
had deliberately left her, and rode
way seeking traces of Casebeer's ju
ing in the valley-seemingly there br
a. no escape from the one conclu- ca
on, that he was part Of the con- ca