The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-11-01

and there was nothing he could do but
stand and let them pass.
The two men had turned the sharI
corner. the slight sound Of their move.
ments c~easing TO reach his ears. Then
the faint glow of n match reflected
along the rock wall, the silence broken
by Meager's voice.
There's the lantern. Juan-in that
niche, see. Here. turn up the wick
The fame frightened suddenly. but
the outer tunnel yet remained black
Only in the distance the light ~fiickered
along the walls. casting weird shad.
ows. One OF the men evidently held
the lantern up, peering about curl.
Dusty.
He's not here. senior; where's the
old devil, anyhow"
They moved forward with the light.
and KeIleen, all fear swiftly lost in
his intense interest, crept on to the
curve In the tunnel, from which point
he could see their dim shadows. Behind
him. hut unnoticed. daylight began to be
visible through the mantle of vines con.
ceaiing the entrance. The dark figure on
the floor assumed vague outline. The
two men in the lantern glow came to
a halt. thrusting the light forward,
peering at the object which had at
tracted them. The Mexican identified
IL first in a sudden cry.
ITS a body. a dead man. he ex.
claimed. "IIe has been killed
Manuel! I"
Meager held back, the coward grip
tern forward, desperate to learn the
truth. His startled voice came down
the passage.
TITS al Gomez" he cried, land no
face ! ever say before. Perhaps You
know the MANI"
mo; but there has been a fight. or
a murder-see, he has been shot and
in the back, by Cd! Gomez must
have done this job. But what has
become of the old devil? And who
was this kid? What was he doing
here? See If there is anything in his
pocket. Juan. Give me the lantern"
lie held il up, as the Mexican
dropped to his knees. and began 10
rummage through the dead mans
clothes. The increasing daylight Of
the desert found entrance far above,
and stole down the narrow passage in
a faint, CHASTITY glimner. which only
added TO the ghastliness Of the scene.
The strain was too much for Meager's
nerves, and he swore grufly.
Come on" he said fiercely bring
the light. Wen search every inch of
this Id hole"
kelleen turned, his first impulse
being to escape, to rush toward that
dim glinimer Of light now plainly
marking the "a entrance. Yet the
futiiity of such an effort came to him
instantly. There was a better way
than that. and he whirled back TO face
them. as the two came cautiously for
ward, the glow of the lantern giimmer-
ing like a red star. The hand with
the weapon in il fell TO a level, and he
fired. the glass Pickering into a thou
sand pieces. the light instantly extin-
guished.
Kelleen's plan Of action had formed
mering of what this conspiracy meant.
but must learn more. Only one
method was possihle-a confession
from Bob Meager. The real secret of
this tunnel. was In his possession. o
that Manuel Gomez was dead. He
must be made to talk.
The advantages in this encounter
were altogether on his side. He knew
them. where they were; they possessed
no knowledge of his exact position.
who he was. or whether they faced
one opponen. or O dozen. They had
been taken completely by surprise.
startled by the sudden attack. con
fused in the darkness. He had both
OF them absolutely AT his mercy.
The silence was intense after that
movement. not even the sound of
breathing audible. The two stood mo
tionless. crouched back against the
wall. peering into the biackness from
whence hat tongue OF flame had
leaped into their very faces. yet re-
vealing nothing. They could neither
thinf MOI act. Who had ired-Manuel
Gomez? ONE enemy who had trapped
them? We're they facing one man. or
a dozenf Into what had they blindly
walked? Confident of his own safety.
realizing that he had the whip hand.
Kelleen smiled grimly. every nerve
tense. his revolver posed. The situa-
ton pleased him.
Drop your guns. both Of you!" he
commanded sternly. Quick now! I've
got you against the light"
"Who the h-l-"
"Stop that! Drop them. or shoot
something besides a lantern. It's u
hair trigger I'm playing with"
He heard hoth weapons fall to the
floor. Meager cnrsing i%mpotentiy. hut
the Mexican silent. Kelleen laughed.
kick them away from yon-that's
right, Not bad fellows when properly
handled. I see. Now up with your
hands, and back against the wall
there"
He could not see the fellows. not so
they obeyed the order. II was q blum
which worked because they half he
l,aved themselves s~ilhouetteA apajns,