The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-10-17

!, out; there Is no better time"
3 II never knew until morning; unit
: finally recognized you. Then yol
told me that story-told 1t so I almos
! believed 1t true, almost trusted you
Really had to believe, or pretend t.
believe, for I was there alone will
J you, helpless to protect myself, IN
able to escape. / was lost In the des
ert. Then you talked with that Mex
lean cutthroat, where I could hear all
you said. He accepted you as one OF
the gang, and even obeyed your orders
He believed Bob Meager had sent you
out here. You were certainly lying to
someone, and naturally I supposed II
must be me. There was every reason
why you should lie to me. When you
rode away together 1 was sure you
would soon be back alone, and 1 de-
termined you should never find me
there. 1 made my choice-it was the
desert and death rather than you. You
| leen?"
yes, 1 understand" quietly. go
on, let's have 1t ALL"
"Then up above, In that little gully,
1 ran onto you again; 1t makes no
difference how I happened to be there.
1t was hours later; I had some time
| in which to think, and began to won
der If my decision had been right.
Then, in the gathering dark, I crept
through that patch of sagebrush and
found you In private conference with
Bob Meager. You were surely not
playing part then, for you had no
knowledge you were being overheard.
After that how could 1 still retain
faith in you or trust myself with you?"
Kelleen did not answer directly, his
gaze leaving her face and turning in
quiringly to the strange scene re-
vealed below. He stared at this mo-
ment in moody silence Then he
swung down from the saddle, dropped
the rein over the horses head, and
stood beside her.
II am going to tell you," he said
calmly, "if you consent to listen. VIII
you trust me enough to dismount"
There was something about the
man, his quiet confidence, his low,
even voice, his entire personality,
which Deborah found impossible to
resist. Hesitating an instant, even
shrinking back from any personal con-
tact, her lips refusing a direct answer,
she yet permitted his hand to close |
firmly over her own and draw her |
down from the security of the saddle |
to the common level Of the desert |
sand. Without a word of urging or
explanation, Kelleen led her forward
to the very edge Of the cliff, where
an exposed rock, swept bare by the \
wind, gave them a seat. Directly be-
meath lay the narrow valley dimly
lighted by that single fire, about which
black dots constantly moved, too far
away to be clearly visible. 1t was like
a scene thrown upon screen. Kel-
leen dropped down beside her, peering
first over into the depths, the flicker
Of the distant flame barely Illuminating
his face. She could not help but mark
Its strong outline.
"You really do not understand what
Is being done down thereT she asked
at last, as he held silent.
II do not" He glanced aside at
her. the trace of smile on his lips.
There is something going on here
lutte beyond me. had supposed this
vas a plain case of smuggling war
munitions over the line into Mexico.
But 1t isn't. Casebeer's outfit must
lave come in through that lower pass
the clump of trees"
extending his hand, land the only feas-
BILE way to the border lies up the op-
,osite ravlne, directly behind the
abin. All they would require here Is
water for the stock and guide. That
vas to be Sanchez Job. He was to
ssure them that the way ahead was
pen. unguarded. and lead them over
he safe trail. They need all the rest
4 the night to make it In"
"But-but they are unloading the
Mules"
"That is exactly what they are do
Of them; and taking the stuff
ack into the cabin. They are not
DING on at all; they are going back
Now, what does it mean?
Why did Sanchez lie to me about II?
nd Bob Meager?"
Deborah sat up straight.
"Why shouldn't they lie to your"
he asked quickly. IF you are really a
hat you pretend to be to me?" a
because they have no suspicion O
ley can have none. Not thing has t,
rcurred to arouse such doubt. The O.
anne has been played too carefully. | t,
IS not that. Meager has not the b
lintest suspicion as yet that am not II
ne Of his kind. The fellow. together e,
18th Garrlty, is pulling off something a.
ere out Of the ordinary, which they
ant to keep me out of-that's ALL"
He stopped suddenly; then turned,
nd placed his hand firmly on her own
here 1t rested on the rock surface,
Is voice changing. kl
Miss Deborah. there Is no masque OF
lde between us. do not know why Is
talked to you as freely as did last
ght l must have liked you very
oh Nd tod rx-ha