The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-09-26

"Where does this northern gang
come fromT
"Out Of Calabasis, senior, by way OF
the river"
"Then they will enter down below,
through the gorge. This is no place
for us. Suppose they were delayed
last night. and took chance to come
on this morning by dayllght-and why
not? They'd be under rock cover all
the last part of the way. It's beyond
here that they'd have the open desert
to cross. Let's ride down there and
wait. Saddle up. both Of you; there
is just as good camping ground down
| below"
Within five minutes the three were
trotting soberly down the valley. Not
one of them glanced back, and Debo-
rah lifting her head higher and higher
to peer after them through the brush
screen, watched until they disappeared
entirely about the sharp protuberance
of rock, which marked the end of the
vista. Kelleen had done this pur-
posely; his conversation with these
men had been largely carried on for
her benefit and guidance. He knew
where she was; that she could easily
overhear. Through these means he
endeavored to convey to her unsus-
pected the complete situation In |
which he was involved, and then, this |
accomplished, he had inveigled the two
unsuspecting Mexicans away, thus Civ
ing her opportunity to escape unseen.
Deborah was not yet wholly con-
WINGED Of the mans innocence. In
spite of his evident intention of shield
ing her from discovery, his intimate
association with Bob Meager, the I'M
Outstanding between him and San
chez, was seemingly proof positive
that he was an important link in this
The man was endeavoring
to make her think otherwise, but the
doubt of him fingered in her mind In
the night she had begun to trust, to be-
ieve; the fellows very recklessness
md good humor had been attractive;
her vague suspicion seemed to vanish
n his presence But now this doubt re-
urned with redoubled vigor, and, for
he moment, she actually feared him
is much as the man she had tried to :
ill. More, perhaps, for Meager was :
'nly rough, passionate brute, while
he very nature of Kelleen rendered
lin far more dangerous adversary
f he also was interested in her-and :,
he girl felt that he was-she was in ;,
reater danger now than on the ranch
rom which she had fled. She shrank :
rom the thought, yet it haunted her, .
nd would not be driven away Where :
ould she go? What could she do to !.
scape the mans return? Suicidal, :
npossible as it appeared, she must =
nd some means Of leaving that fatal -
alley before he came back again .,
lone seeking her. !,
The girl drew back slowly, with =.
yes searching the open valley, intent ~
rst Of all on reaching the horse graz b,
g below. The only possible way was h,
lie one she had taken In climbing i,
lere, along ledge of stone close in
yafnst the rock wall. The whole face =,
the cliff was mass of trailing b.
mes, clfnging in some mysterious way he
imperceptible crevices in the rock,
implicitly yelling its front far I'D l..
'ove her reach. Deborah pressed ~,
ese back to gain passage, and had -
lvanced dozen steps or more, when ~ ~
e stopped, paralyzed with fear, star -,
g into two terrifying eyes. She ~ ~
uld not move a limb, or scream In ~
at first instant Of horror. Then a -
nd reached out, swept the conceal 10 ~,
3 vines aside, and gripped her. III.