The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-09-13

strange surroundings. eager 10 dis
cover what she could attempt next
She had escaped from that hell under
ground. yet was but little better OF
than before. She was upon the edg'
Of the desert stretching outward
toward the Meager ranch. II would
be impossible 10 cross this on foot
with neither food nor water TO sus
tain her; nor could she for & moment
contemplate seeking refuge there, even
II II were possible. Her only hope
was 70 circle that hidden chasm. and
until she reached some human habita'
ton The hope OF accomplishing thil
was the merest mirage; the attempt
probably meant death She had no
horse. no food. yet somehow. in the
exhilaration Of that first moment Of
release. she could not wholly despair.
God had been good; she would go on
courageously. and trust Him
She arose 10 her knees. and looked
about II was a lonely. contracted
scene. amid which she was concealed
Some rift In the rocks led down 10
that opening through which she had
just crept Perhaps II had formed a
wafercourse In other ages. but now
the sand OF the desert had drifted In,
and covered all with q yellow mantle
OF desolation. The sides were too
steep to scale even on foot. the loose
saud fofIfnO awa~v arfarnOf an She wa
compelled 10 follow the course Of the
dehle in seeking a way out For the
first few yards OF advance the girl had
no suspicion she was not alone. A
patch Of sagebrush limited her view.
and she was threading her way through
these. when the sound Of a voice
speaking caused her to crouch sud-
denly down in the midst Of the thlcket
and lie motionless. scarcely daring to
breathe. II was the voice itself which
paralyzed her every volitiOn, voice
instantly recognized. never 10 be for
gotten-the voice OF Bob Meager.
He was not dead, then; the blow
struck had no more than stunned the
man, and-and she was his wife.
Deborah's fingers dug at the sand in
sudden agony. as the hideous thought
came home anew 10 her mind. In
some mysterious way he must have
discovered what had occurred. sus-
pected that she and Kelleen had rid
den away together. and then followed
like an Indian on the trail. She lifted
her head suddenly: another voice
spoke quietly. indifferently. Surely
the voice was familiar; 1t must have
been Kelleen himself who spoke.
She crept forward inch by inch.
crouching low behind the sage until
she could see the figures Of two men.
Neither one faced her: Meager sat on
the side OF the bank, his horse grazing |
just beyond. while the Frisco Kid"
remained in the saddle, his mount still |
breathing heavily. as though he had |
only just arrived after hard ride.
"Well. what difference does II |
maker" he asked quietly. Am l In
on this or notY'
"Of course you're in now" was the
surly response. Il reckon that was
what caused you TO show up in these
parts. amt it7 I wondered what was
being pulled Off when you rode in last
light. Say. Kid who really piped II
20 you-Casebeer or Garrity3"
''-rhe less you know about that the
onger you'll live. Bob Kelleen re-
,lied calmly. 1T Is enough that l do
ynow, not only what you are up to out
lere. but that II was also your game
o double-cross me. You tried the
anne game once before. Bob. The
cherne has never worked very we'll
fOu haven't got the brains to do IL
With. Casebeer never told me any
hing; nor Garrity. All needed was
o know you and your kind. You we're
ever honest in your life. and when
heard about this deal II was easy
nough to figure what was up"
''What deal. Kid? What do you
leanT'
This ranch inheritance Garrity
xed up so nicely for you. No.
aven't all the dope-not yet. But I'm
n my way to II. all right; the rawest ]
eel ever heard about. and II VIII ,
low up like a punctured balloon just /
; soon as your stepmother gets nerve
nough 20 see a good lawyer. That's ,
-ue. aln't II. Bob7"
"The old man left il 20 me- I
yes. he dld-not. | was down in
IA Mex when first heard what was a
ping on up here. Young Clair got -
old OF one end OF the story somehow. /
nd told IL to me. You remember v
lalrg' I.
"He worked here on the ranch"
"Yes; that's what made him talk. n
e's square. that Kid. and you fired r
IN. and every other American on the G
ace; then put on Mexicans. That .
AIDE him sore. When he told me a
at came pretty near knowing what
as up"
you did. hey Wanted a hand 81
. gamer W
why shouldn't 7. Bob7 held you Il
when you was fat. didn't II There II
no rrason why you should forget