The Holly chieftain., 1923-11-08
CHAPTER TX
A New Viewpoint.

She had been sleeping for nearly
two hours. with head supported on a
snddle. 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
nt 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. KEEL
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 ceased
Its first violent throbbing, and she
even smiled at her earlier fear, and
arose expectantly to her feet.
What had become of Kelleen7
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. Il
was not likely the man would be ab-
sent long. 1t must already be noon
by the sun. and. actuated by 4 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
Of something moving far below. and
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 friend In this
sp0t--a man in whom he had faith
who was returning with him. II this
was. as he 80 evidently believed. a
hidden lair of outlaws. a rendezvous
for border crime. 1t was hardly pos
sihle he had met with any comrade
here. if--if lie was really what he had
claimed to be. The thought OF that
"if" struck her like blow. But was
he? was he? Her eyes strained to
watch every movement OF those ap-
prOaching horsemen. She could per-
ceive enough already to be certain that
Kelleen was not one Of the group:
they were both Mexicans. or at least
so attired. and their mounts bore Mex
lean trappings. Little as the girl
knew OF the frontier. she nj once real
lied the danger Of being discovered.
by such men.
Deborah was conscious Of trembling
in every limb. as she crOuclled there,
behind the leaves. tnstinctively grasp
ing the only weapon in her possession.
Then she suddenly recognized one of
.he riders MS Juan Sanchez.
They had followed her then. and
were seeking her now. There could
he no possible doubt as TO Sanchez
mission. How the fellow had reached
there so quickly. and why 1t even had
been suspected she bad sought this
remote spot of refuge, were unsolved
questions. yet 1t WAS highly probable
that searching parties had been dis
patched In all directions. and the.
Mexican had been the one whom Fate
could not speculate as to how or why.
She must find hiding place some
where among the rocks.
GRO BE CoNTlNuED)