The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-09-20
Gift of the Desert

III ~ nNH III lfFtANNAF nAA4 AtAA ~ tuA
II lessiy In his hand
II you are such a dirty. low-dov
II brute" he said coldly. III would real
be a pleasure 10 put you out OF Il
III world / sometimes wonder why
II don't The Mex tells me you got ma
II RED last night Was fl the real thin
II this timer
II THAT'S none Of your ID business
III perhaps not but let's be socis
II while we are together. Partners ougt
not 20 quarrel. Surprises me 20
II should desert the fair bride 80 soof
/ You seem 20 have your head wrappe
up--eouldn't be love tap. could III
Meager's temper obtained full con
troll at this unpieasantry.
I'll. was drunk I" he growles
viciousIy. But she'll pay for II, IN,
next time get hands on the wench.
$50 she got away. thsnf Lord
Bob, always thought you was q
woman tanner. This one IL Of another
sort. then. than those you are accus
toned 10 handling; doesn't take kind.
ly 20 the caye-man stunr'
she'll take II. all right, the d--n
little vixen. She hit me when was
drunk. and then got away; hid in the
old iady's room. I reckon. for | couldn't
md her nowhere. But I'll bring the
giri out o. there tonight. by Cd. an
she won't have no drunk man 10 deal
with neither"
Kelieen laughed. evidently well sat-
isned with what be had learned. and
having no further desire 10 add 10
Meager's discontinue. His FESTIVE
horse suddenly sprang forward under
the quick thrust Of the mans heel,
crushing through the tnngie Of sage,
and up the steep bank 10 the level OF
the desert above. Deborah had barely
time 10 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 10 his PTS
toi butt. yet was already too late
kelleen had gone over the crest, the
faint echo OF laugh floating behind
him tantalizingly.
All the girl could do was 20 remain
silently where she lay behind that
cluster OF sage II was already grow
Ing dusk. and shadows hung over the
gully. becoming deeper with every
passing moment If she had escaped |
observation so far she would soon be /
perfectly safe. And abe was-she was |
The certainty was like glass OF
wine. the blood coming back 70 her
heart. her pulse steadying. Kelleen
had ridden on, never pausing: she
rould 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 cursing
finally ieaping forward
across the gully 70 where no could
Itare out over the edge OF the bank
owHri whore his enemy had dlsap-
'eared Neither man. then. had seen
Ter: yet she dare not move or attempt
o change position the slightest mo-
ion might mean betrayal. She shrank
ven closer In the shadow waiting.
Would Meager stay there. or 20 awayf
n truth. OF tho two men she dreaded
I'm the least. despising the fellow so
thoroughly as 10 have largely lost her I
sar--but Kelieenl She was actually !
freid OF him. n she had stlll retained !
ny lingering doubt ms 10 what he was. }
rat doubt had entirely vanished dur :
X this conversation. The man had '
orn no mask talking with Bob Mea- I
or; made no attempt 20 disguise v
imself she recognized him now as Z
'ief and border desperado. no better. c
rohably. than those he associated d
ith--and far more dangerous. &
u seemed 70 Deborah as though r.
Iat dimly outlined ngure standing az n
10 edge Of the bank would never N
owe His actions. and certain NUT b
red words. aroused her interest. and b
IA her IN concealment watching his Il
cry movement The fellow pur-
'sed something--but whatr Those \
rely were night glasses through ii
hich he searched the horizon. cross h
8 from side 10 side Of the ravine. bl
a lying nat on the sand while sweep "
tof ftfftN fFi'ff nun men nt luCns ~
Fidentiy nothing was discovered 20 W
'skcn suspicion. for he came back ~
his horse and loosened a long rope 90
He'd about the saddle pommei and. h
IN this on his arm. trumped down m
, gully. within yard % where
= lay. hts figure fading almost IN. IL
nifty into the darker shadows below.
Az that moment the girl scarcely &c
aeeived What his mission might he. ne
r whole mind seemed 20 concentrate lai
the opportunity for escape which M
absence offered she arvSe crouch. Nh
! upon her feet. yet hesitased an In. as
nj. Feeling sudden curiosity % its
rn what Mceger might be searching
+. He could not 60 far. Tor the ra- a
= ended abruptly axsln.t rock
u. she had mental picture o. the mo
ue Coed Cd could the man ~ mi
kinx after that narrow opening
Vuxh which she had inst cscapedf VIZ
aid Il be possible he knew ~ ltx
.ssna.. fh.~.f ..b.-. a.. -.