The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-09-13

A&&4r@s Iyt A-Ir INN lNy 1o4rh DcIyr
surely. and IN no cueI-perhaps he hal
fallen 70 where he lay while climbin.
that narrow passage above But III
woundf There was none visible-no
even = bruise on the face. As q won
an. Deborah shrank from touching TN
body. bat her training &c e nurse in
sfsntiy conquered She mus; learn III.
truth. disegreeable as the task might
be. On Der knees. exerting all hei
strength. she partially turned the BODY
the man had been shos in the back
She seemed 10 comprehend IL all in
q fash, visionins the scene az she rose
quickly 70 her feet He must have
done the desd-thsf older man with
the besro-shootinx trsacherousiy
from behind II had been deliberate
murder. But the purpose was not 50
clear. To all appearances the assassin
had never even approached his victim
after be fell Confident Of the deadly
accuracy Of his aim. be had left the
inerr body lying where II struck, IN
touched, not even the dead mans gun
being removed from ifs holster, or the
folded biz Of paper released from those
gripping fingers
The unspeakAble. treacherous horror
OF the act appalled, Deborah. There
must be some reason behind II all.
II was too cold. cruel. deliberative not
% have definite cause. No speculation
now could solve the mystery. but the
murderer stin lived: he was back
yOnder IN the darkness she had Just
ieft. He would no more spare her
than he had shown mercy 20 this other
victim. II be stil slept she must take
advantage OF the moment for escape
the one chance up that long passage
toward the CLEAN Of light at the top
She stepped across the dead body,
grasping her skirts tightly in one
hand; then hesitated for an instant.
0bsessed BY a new thought Perhaps
that paper might explain all. might
prove the very key 20 all this mystery.
She bent. and wresfed Il from out the
stifrened fingers. hastily endeavoring
70 learn what II contained. II was a
thick. tough sheet. the folds showing
yellow and dirty a. though Il had been
carried 4 long while. and there was
writing inside IN fine penmanship. but
80 indistincf her eyes were unable 70
decipier a single word in that dim
light She thrust n into the bosom.
OF her blouse. her eyes anxiously
searching the only possible way out.
II scarcely promised even that. as
revealed by that single ray barely illu-
the passage. Apparently an
Irregular sired hole. worn between
ayers Of solid rock by the action OF
water. II led upward AZ a sharp angle.
and. while wide enough az the lower
sxtrsmity 20 permit The entrance Of
man. seemed 20 contract az
be upper opening 40 as 10 make II
rery doubtful n an ordinary body
'0uld squeeze through into the open
Iir beyond. Yet Deborah felt that she
,ad no choice but 70 accept this single
hanee OF deliyeranee. She could not
emain there with the dead man. nor
etrace her steps backward 20 where
be murderer remained asleep on
'uard Her belt was still about her
,alss. but It's holster was empty. BE
orc beginning 20 climb. she drew the
cad mans gun from It's scabbard. and
tuck II into her own. As she did 90
he light from above gllmmered on
peari-studded handle. and a barrel
Z blue steel
At nrss the climbing was NOT aim
ult. the slope gradual with the walls
afficienty wide apart 20 AFFORD com
arstiyely easy passage. Drawing |
erself forward by her hands. with /
,ef cropping In the darkness below ,
pr any projection against which they /
,ald rest she won her way upward.
lmost inch by inch. soon creeping Z
rer a narrow shelf. able. finally. 70 I
I upright within a shallow niche az Z
he side. where the stone had been I
allowed out for q few inches She I
as brcathless from the hard climb. '
" heart beating rapidly. She could !
'e nothing. hear nothing. yet her mind o
etursd again the dead face Of that 4
~ staring up az her--she could not Z
, back 10 that Nor % that other Z
ring horror beyond She must 20 h
!; better % die there. caught help. ;
s~ly IN that rocky hole. than ever q
fail again into the power OF that Z
asst shs iisseasd intently. hearing =
thing then lifted her hands to feel n
ward she Dfted cue foot. seeking q
fragment q rock % rest upon Then q
fare q rcd ~ the Inferno a DUN. 5
aiiiei report echoed along tha TIA. :,
isonlng walls and a bullet brushed :,
r hair aattening itself On the rock b
yend h
she shrank hack into the little niche. q
arceiy ccrtnin % her esrape. and q
stel there On her knees. rot ventur. q
{ % move. Tho shot bad come from "
low ~ that there could bel daahf. b
g there was no other report. no e
lsement O. reveal any presence <.
'horah had no question as % who y
a rrr,i-lt must BE- the uau she n
a hed from IN the oatrr cave. lie Ia
~ have seen her outlined against %