The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-10-17
CHAPTER xi-contlnued.

II cannot very well help uStenln8i
doubt If ! believe"
Believe or not, as you d-n please,
be broke forth impatiently. "This II
no time or place in which to play
The truth Is have been white will
you-sQuare. came here seeking
you last night I knew this was 6
thieves hole, Of course, but had nc
suspicion that we we're going to rur
into their outfit at this time. But
when we did. l had to act along with
them. There was no other way. had
you to consider and had something
else to consider. lied to them, not
10 you--to both Sanchez and Bob Mea-
ger. They are going to get the sur
prise of their lives tonight. Now lis
ten. l came back there for you;
tried to trace you all the afternoon.
knew you couldn't be far away. be-
cause you had not taken the horse.
Finally l decided you must have
climbed the cliff on foot, and 1 came
US was very happy about 1t, but I
had some knowledge of what was on
foot from Sanchez Only Bob wasn't
there for that purpose; he pretended
to be, but he had something else up
his sleeve. You don't know what he
was really up to, do your
NO" she said quickly, not willing
yet to tell her tale, why should II"
Kelleen went on, undiscouraged
81 didn't know how long you were
hiding there. But that Is why came
back"
Because you saw me?"
Eyes and because l believed Bob
was up to some trick. 1 even had rea-
son to suspect did I not, that you
two might be there togetherT
She faced him Indignantly.
"You thought 1 would secretly meet
him?'
"Why not? You evidently believe
every evil of me. How did 1 know
you had told the truth? You are his
wife, by your own statement Why
shouldn't 1 suspect, finding you there
together? Anyhow 1 went back to
discover the truth. That is why am
here with you now"
BELIEVING what Of me?"
II hardly know-except not that
You were not with him, yet that is
his horse you are riding. He fired |
at you, DID he not?"
"Yes; be went past me down the
gully aft0r you left. 1t was dark then,
and I was not seen. stole his horse
and rode away I doubt If he even
knew 1t was woman he shot at"
The l1stlessness suddenly left her
voice.
But am not going with you," she
went on coldly. IF you are a man
you will not try to urge me. l trusted
you last night, but not now. VIII you
let me goY
"Where7"
''Tll find my way; have a horse,
and the stars. BY morning I'll be In
sight of some point of guidance. Any
how If the choice is between the cruel
desert and you, take the desert. Am
free to gor'
Kelleen laughed.
You leave 1t to me, them Well,
say you are not going. am not the
sort Of cur who would let you COM
NIT suicide just because you have
taken dislike to me. You would be
lost In ten minutes; you don't know
his country-it's treacherous as hi.
Now listen you are going to trust me
whether you wish to or not. You
needn't like me-that cuts no ice In
his affair-but you are going to learn
hat when l give my word to either ,
nan or woman, I'm going to keep 1t. I
Now, that's fat. II you want to 60 ]
Jack to Bob Meager. all right. I'll I
AXE you to him, and we're done. But
When you talk Of my turning you loose G
n this desert. to take your chances s
'ut there alone, am the wrong kind '
# man for any such job. You can v
late me all you please, but we stick t
ogether until I get you where there f
re white folks" s
II believe ] do hate you'll" (
Gan right; don't mind that. VIII t
on do what tell you to do?" a
He had spoken quickly, almost v
arshly, and the tone of command had q
reused Deborah's resentment. The s
NO Wills clashed, and neither would +
I've way or seek compromise. Deep g
own in her secret heart bit Of faith
l this Daniel Kelleen yet fingered, &c
ut she was in no mood then to ac-
1t. He was threatening h
err; trying to frighten her; endeavor- e
lg to force her into his power, and
he resented It UNNECESSARILY. "
mo, will not" she said sharply. :.
Take your hand eff my Bride rein !" Il
She struck her mount suddenly, and
lie startled animal sprang forward, 81
hirling sldewise from the blow. ca d
sening against the flank Of Kelleen's ir
orse as 1t swept swiftly past. The W
ext instant the wild race was on a,
trough the black night. She rode b,
scklessly, desperately. lashing her d
'ount with the Tapping end Of her h,
ems, yet, leap by leap, Kelleen drew C
loser, riding as he often had before ri
heading off a wild atamDada of | q,