The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-08-15

, the circumstances. And Mrs. Meage
would only break down and cry; I'm
| der no conditions could she be Of thu
!; slightest service, her terror of hel
stepson was the real cause Of hel
nervous breakdown.
No, there was absolutely no one K
, rely upon but herself. And what
could she do? The girl stood up ir
the darkness, her hands gripped, hel
eyes on the opening through the
chaparral leading toward the house
the trail along which Bob Meager had
disappeared. She must follow him
She must face this thing alone, with
all the desperate courage she could
muster. If the worst came she must
act, swiftly, decisively-even to kill
ing the monster. There was no other
choice left, no other possibility of
escape. But where could she procure
a weapon? She possessed none Of her
own; had never dreamed Of owning
such thing, yet they were plentiful
enough about the ranch. Surely one
could easily be secured.
ImpeIled by this thought Of self
defense, realizing clearly that she
could turn nowhere else with any hope
Of escaping this defilement; that she
could neither flee the place nor find
assistance, Deborah, the color high in
her cheeks, her lips firmly pressed In
determination, advanced resolutely
| through the darkness toward the
house. She would defend herself at
all hazards; before she would submit
| to that brute she would shoot to kill.
| The men Of the home ranch were
evidently at supper, the big dining
hall being lighted, and, as she slipped
past the unshaded windows, she had
glimpse of the fellows within and
heard their voices conversing loudly
in Spanish. They were a motley
bunch, scarcely a face down the long
table that was not vicious and de-
praved-the scum of Mexico, the ma
jority exhibiting Indian blood. They
were precious gang of ruffians, in
deed, worthy of their master, and the
girl crept away, glad to escape the
sound of their voices. There was a
single dim light burning In the bunk
house, but no sign Of any occupant.
Undoubtedly every hand on the place
was at supper, and no better oppor-
tunity could be found in which to
seek for and appropriate some forgot
ten weapon. She advanced cautiously,
listening intently for any sound, eager
to accomplish her object Once armed,
she would feel more confident; the
very touch Of weapon in her hand
would bring her renewed courage.
The clubhouse was long building
Of adobe, the hunks lining the walls
open at both ends, the only light a
lantern swung from a center beam.
The glass of this was blackened with |
smoke, and only dim radiance made |
the interior barely visible. However |
there were no occupants. Without |
hesitation, but with heart beating |
wildly, she slipped silently within, her
eager eyes swiftly searching the va
cant hunks and the wooden pegs
above, on which dangled a miscella
neous collection of garments. She ad-
vanced gingerly, satisfied that if any
occupant had left his belt behind 1t
would be found in one Of the hunks.
She had gone entirely down one
side, and moved across to the other
before she found what she sought, her
heart leaping exultantly as she per-
ceived the CLEAN of q steel barrel in
the dim light. 1t lay fully exposed on
top of a dirty blanket, a wicked-look-
ing "A In a well-worn holster, with a
belt containing a half-dozen cartridges.
She grasped these in her hands, con-
scious, even as she did SO, of the
sound Of voices outside. The men
were already returning; scarcely a
moment remained before some of them
would enter the upper door. The mo-
ment was sufficient to permit the
frightened girl to dash out of the
lower entrance into the darkness be-
yond, and crouch there, the prize still
in her hands, waiting oppor-
tunity to steal away toward the pro
lection Of the ranchhouse. None of
the fellows chose that entrance, but
surged in through the other without y
l care In the world.
The two who had entered first
stretched themselves out in hunks OPP
)osite each other, putting vigorously
IN their cigarettes, and conversed In
english, evidently proud of the ac-
One she recognized as
Tuan Sanchez, who had accompanied
Bob Meager on his return, and had
ince been made foreman, a swarthy,
'vil-eyed half-breed, with a long mus
ache and livid scar on one cheek.
The other was an Indian, mere boy,
tut with cruel mouth, and face hid
ous from pockmarks Sanchez called
lin Pedro, yet talked to him as he
night to a dog. 1t was the boy who ;
Questioned eagerly: l
"Vat he say, senor-the man?
ear eet not all, the fools they make
o mucha noise. We have fiesta?"
Sanchez blew cloud of smoke into y
he polluted air filming the ash of his