The Holly chieftain., 1923-11-29
Gift of the Desert

DanR, nut still twisted In the saddle
so as to confront Meager. He had
drawn his revolver. and held 1t care
lessly in his hand.
You are such a dirty, low-down
brute" he said coldly. "it would really
be a pleasure to put you out Of the
world. sometimes wonder why I
don't. The Mex tells me you got mar
ried last night. Was 1t the real thing
this timer
That's none Of your id business"
perhaps not, hut let's be social
while we are together. Partners ought
not to quarrel. Surprises mo you
should desert the fair bride 80 soon.
You seem to have your head wrapped
up-couidn't he love tap. could itf'
Meager's temper obtained full con-
troll at this unpleasantry.
HI. was drunk !" he growied
viclously. But she'll pay for 1t. the
next time get hands on the wench."
80. she got away, theni Lord.
Bob, always thought you was a
woman tanner. This one II Of another
sort, then. than those you are accus-
toned to handling; doesn't take kind
ly to the cave-man stuffy"
"Shsrl take 1t. all right. the d-n
little vixen. She hit me when l was
drunk, and then got away; hid in the
old lady's room, l reckon, for couldn't
find her nowhere. But I'll bring the
girl out O there tonight, by Cd, an
she won't have no drunk man to deal
with neither"
Kelleen laughed, evidently well sat
lsfled with what he had learned. and
having no further desire to add to
Meager's discomfiture. His restlve
horse suddenly sprnng forward under
the quick thrust of the mans heel,
crushing through the tangle OF sage.
and up the steep bank to the level OF
the desert above. Deborah had barely
time to sink her body lower into the
sand behind her covert. when the
startled animal swept past one hoof
scarcely missing her. Meager. with
an oath, swung hand back to his pis.
tol butt, yet was already too late
kelleen had gone over the crest, the
faint echo OF a laugh floating behind
him tantalizingly.
All the girl could do was to remain
silently where she lay behind that
cluster Of sage. 1t was already grow
Ing dusk. and shadows hung over the
gully. becoming deeper with every
passing moment. II she had escaped
observation so far she would soon be
perfectly safe. And she was-she was
The certainty was like glass OF
wine, the blood coming back to her
heart, her pulse steadying. Kelleen
had ridden on, never pausing: she
could hear the dull thud of his horses
hoofs in the sand. until the sound died
away In the distance. And Meager
stood there. revolver in hand, curslng
fmpotently; finally leaplng forward
across the gully to where he could
stare out over the edge Of the bank
toward where his enemy had disap.
pesred. Neither man. then. had seen
her: yet she dare not move. or attempt
to change position: the slightest mo.
ton might mean betrayal. She shrank
even closer in the shadow waiting
| "ooaN AACdHSA SlNJ NuCAo VI ko hWhS
In truth, Of the two men she dreaded
him the least. despislng the fellow SO
thoroughly as to have largely lost her
fear--but Keileen! She was actually
afraid Of him. II she had still retained
any lingering doubt as to what he was.
that doubt had entirely vanished dur.
ing this conversation. The man had
| <alf
ger: made no attempt to disguise
himself. She recognized him now as
thief and border desperate, no better
probably. than those he associated
with-and far more dangerous
1t seemed to Deborah as thougl,
that dtmly outlined figure standing at
the edge of the bank would never
move. His actions, and certain nut.
tered words. aroused her interest. and
held her in conceaimept watching his
every movement. The fellow pur-
posed somethlng-but what? Those
surely were night glasses through
which he searched, the horizon. cross,
and lying fiat on the sand while sweep.
ing me circle hefOre him inch by Inch.
Evidently nothing was discovered ia
awaken suspicion. for he came back
to his horse and IOoscned long rope
colled about the saddle pommel. and.
with this on his arm, tramped down
the gully. within yard Of where
she lay. his figure fading almost in.
stantly Into the darker shadows below
At that moment the girl scarcely
conceived what his mission might be.
Her whole mind seemed to concentrate
on the opportunity for escape which
lis absence offered. She urOse crouch
Ing upon her feet. yet hesitnted IN in
stnnt. feeling sudden curiosity tn
learn whnt Mcngcr might be scnrclllng
for. He could not go far. for the ra-
vine ended abruptly against rock
wall. She had II mental picture OF the
scene. Good Cd. could the man be