The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-08-24

ular army, who has volunteered for
special scouting detail to stop this
border work The character of the
Frisco Kid has been made to order,
to permit of my thus gaining the con-
fidence of these outlaws. The whis-
per reached me week ago that mu-
nitions were being run through -here-
that Bob Meagers outfit was doing it {;
that Ills was the leak we had
been unable to stop. came up to
Nogales; hung around there in the
lowest quarters of the town, picking
up stray bits of rumor Finally I
heard about Clarity, learned he was
going out to the Meager ranch. His
henchman split little, leaving me to
believe there was going to be run
made across the line this week.-Mrs.
Casebeer outfit. That's why / came
out; that's how Clarity picked me up
at Silver Springs, and rode on with
him to Meager's.'
She was deeply interested now, Inn
pressed by his earnestness.
Il had sent word to our people from
Nogales. There is narrow pass
through the hills on the trail below,
which this outfit must use Just before
they cross into Mexico. There is no
other way south leading from here.
Early this evening a squad of cavalry
got there from the north, and are
waiting"
Sand If the outfit they are watching
for do not show up tonight, or early
tomorrow, what will the soldiers dor"
"Hard to tell. This halt here has
knocked out my plans completely {;
my guess at the game has gone wrong.
AS 1t is I have the choice of two
things-either remain here and learn
what these birds are really up to,
or else ride south, bring those troop
ers back, and round up this entire
outfit on general principles. I'd like
most Of all to discover where Mea-
ger is"
Perhaps can help you. have a
story to tell you yet"
Deborah spoke rapidly, clearly, de-
plotting her experiences in the con-
cealed tunnel, her escape up the mar
row passage leading to the desert
level, how she came to be hidden in
the gully, and what had occurred there
after Kelleen had ridden away. The
captain listened eagerly to her recital
Of adventure, interrupting the narra-
tive with numerous questions. This
fresh knowledge brought new ele-
ment into the affair, complicating the
whole matter
'You say this was tunnel?" he
asked finally. Dug out, you mean?"
"The light was too poor for me to
tell very much. thought at the time
it might be an ancient watercourse,
but work had certainly been done on 1t.
found a pick and shovel on heap
Of loosened rock. Quite pile of bro
ken stone lay at the farther end, as
though it might have been blasted
from the wall. had to climb over it."
Kelleen drew long breath, his hand
shifting his knee in sudden conviction.
by Cd" he said slowly. II be-
lieve 1t must be the Lost Mine Mea-
ger may have found it, and is trying
to keep it to himself" =
"The Lost Mine'?"
"Yes; 1t is tradition of this coun.
try. an old Spanish legend. believe,
but implicitly believed for hundred
years. Men by scores have lost their
lives hunting for it from one end Of
this desert to the other. The story
goes that it was fabulously rich, dis
covered by Spanish explorer, who
carried samples of ore clear to Mex
leo City. He came there twice with
laden mules, but refused all definite
information. and the men he took back
with him as helpers were never per-
mitted to go beyond the edge Of the
desert. He would then go in alone,