The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-09-19
CHAPTER TX
A New Viewpoint.


She had been sleeping for nearly
two hours, with head supported on a
saddle, the steep wall of the canyon
on one side of her and the valley itself
shut completely of by thick growth
of shrub. She had not realized how
tired she was, and, In fact, rested there
some time In this nook Kelleen had
found, staring with wide-open eyes up
at the strip Of blue sky, her mind
still active. The knowledge of who
this man really was had brought her
instant relief, and new sense Of
safety in his presence So her heavy
eyes closed. and she slept.
Something must have awakened the
girl suddenly, for she sat bolt upright,
with eyes wide open in fright. Kel-
leen had disappeared, but beyond this
no change of any kind was apparent
The entire scene was so calm and
peaceful that Deborah's heart cease1
Its first violent throbbing, and she
even smiled at her earlier fear, and
arose expectantly to her feet
What had become of Kelleen?
Through the tree branches behind
which she had been concealed Deborah
searched the full length of the chasm
within reach of her vision, but dis
covered no trace Of his presence. 1t
was not likely the man would be abb
sent long. 1t must already be noon
by the sun, and, actuated by a desire
to do something, she finally began to
arrange a meal for his return She
had opened the bag of provisions,
when suddenly her eyes caught sight
to her right. objects at first hard to
distinguish. and then quickly dis
cerned as two horsemen, emerging
from the very cleft in the rocks where
she had decided the canyon probably
ran They came steadily on, growing
more distinct each minute, yet still too
far away for recognition.
She crouched lower behind her
screen, and waited breathlessly. Two.
what could that mean? 1t seemed
highly improbable that Kelleen could
have encountered a friend in this
who was returning with him. If this
was. as he so evidently believed, a
hidden lair Of outlaws, a rendezvous
for border crime, it was hardly pos
sible he had met with any comrade
here, Tiff he was really what he had
claimed to be. The thought Of that
If" struck her like a blow. But was
le? was he? Her eyes strained to
watch every movement of those ap-
preaching horsemen. She could per- |
,eive enough already to be certain that |
ielleen was not one of the group; |
hey were both Mexicans, or at least
% attired, and their mounts bore Mex
can trappings. Little as the girl
new of the frontier, she at once real
zed the danger of being discovered
y such men.
Deborah was conscious of trembling
n every limb, as she crouched there.
ehind the leaves, instinctively grasp
ng the only weapon in her possession.
hen she suddenly recognized one of
he riders as Juan Sanchez.
They had followed her then. and
'ere seeking her now. There could
e no possible doubt as to Sanchez
lission. How the fellow had reached
here so quickly, and why it even had
cen suspected she had sought this
emote spot Of refuge, were unsOlved
uestions. yet 1t was highly probable
lat searching parties had been dis
atched in all directions. and the
Iexican had been the one whom Fate
nd headed that way. Anyhow she
,uld not speculate as to how or why.
he must find hiding place some
here among the rocks.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)