The Holly chieftain., 1923-12-06

ullA.
60 on" he said soberly. as she
stopped bresthless. "Le1's have this
out: there ts no better time"
n never knew until morning; until
finally recognized you. Then you
told me that story-told It 30 almost
believed 1t true, almost trusted you.
Really had to believe. or pretend to
believe, for I was there alone with
you, helpless to protect myself, IN
able 10 escape. I was lost in the des-
ert Then you talked with that Mex
lean cutthroat, where could hear all
you said. He accepted you as enc Of
the gang. and even obeyed your orders.
He believed Bob Meager had sent you
oW here. You were certainly lying to
someone, and naturally supposed 1t
must be me. There was every reason
why you should lie to me. When you
rode away together l was sure you
would soon be back alone. and I de-
'termined you should never find me
there. I made my choice-it was the
desert and death>rather than you. You
understand what mean, Daniel kel-
leen?"
Yes. I understand" quietly. ''Go
on, let's have 1t ALL"
Then up above, in that little gully.
I ran onto you again; 1t makes no
difference how happened to be there.
1t was hours later; 1 had some time
in which to think, and began to Won
der II my decision had been right.
Then, in the gathering dark, I crept
through that patch of sngebrush 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 still retain
faith In you or trust myself with your"
Kelleen did not answer directly, his
gaze leaving her face and turning in
quiringly to the strange scene re-
vealed below. He stared Mt 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. WIZ
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 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 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 seat. Directly be-
meath lay the narrow valley. dlmly
lighted by that single fire. about which
black dots constantly moved, too far
away to be clearly visible. 1t was like
scene thrown upon n screen. kel-
1een 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 10 not understand what
is being done down there?" she asked
ut last, as he held silent.
II do not" He glanced aside at
her. the trace of n smile on his lips
There is something going on here
quite beyond me. Ind supposed this
was plain case of smuggling war
munitions over the line into Mexico.
But 1t isn't. Casebeer's outfit must
have come in through that lower pass
yonder-beyord the clump of trees"
extending his hand. "and the only feas-
ible way to the border lies up the OPP
positc ravine, directly behind the
cabin. All they would require here Is
water for the stock and Il guide. That
was to be Sanchez job. He was to
assure them that the way ahead was
open, unguarded. and lead them over
the safe trail. They need all the rest
Of the night to make 1t in
"But-but they are unloading the
mules"
'"rhat is exactly what they are do
ing-all OF them: and taking the stuff
back into the cabin. They are not
going on at all; they are going back
unlOaded. Now, what does it mean?
Why did Sanchez lie to me about it?
and Bob Meager?'
Deborah sat up straight.
"Why shouldn't they lie to you?'
she asked quickly, "if you nre really
what you pretend to be to me?''
because they have no suspicion
they can have none. Not n thing las
occurred to arouse such doubt. The
game has been played too carefully.
It's not that. Meager has not the
faintest suspicion as yet that ] am not
one Of his kind. The fellow. together
with Clarity, Is pulling OF something
here out of the ordinary, which they
want to keep me out of-that's ALL
He stopped suddenly: then turned,
and placed his hand firmly on her own
whore II rcste6 on tho rnck c,,rfucc