Phoenix tribune., 1924-12-06

I've got you boys covered; make one
false move, and you'll sure taste lead.
Now throw that belt about the Mexi-
can-sure know who you both are;
l came here cunning for you two
guys-around his arms-now, d-n you,
draw it tight Yes-thats exactly
what mean-strap them to his
body"
Just what happened is not clear.
Kelleen could not see; he dare not
take a step closer to make sure. The
chances are that Sanchez had two guns
at his waist. He had discarded one.
but the other yet remained. Not GER
tain that he was not outlined against
the background of light, he dare not
attempt to draw; but now, his hands
lowered, as Meager drew the belt
about his arms, desperate, bitter with
hate, his fingers must have gripped the
butt. With one cOnvulsive effort he
fired in the direction of the voice. The
bullet struck the side wall, sent
splinter of rock tearing into Kelleen's
cheek, yet, even as he staggered back
half blinded in the flame, he had
glimpse of the maddened Mexican,
running blindly down the passage. An
instant the fellow stood out clear, his
head thrust forward, his arms still
held by the belt clasp; then Kelleen
pulled trigger, and the runner sprawled
out, fiat and motionless, into the very
center of that little pool of daylight.
1t was the swift work of an instant,
then darkness, and Meager's huge bulk
crushed Kelleen against the wall in
one mad effort to kill. For a moment
the smaller man, taken completely by
surprise, struggled helplessly to escape
the stranglehold of those clutching fin
gers. The revolver dropped from his
hand, and he was forced resistlessly
backward, strangled, unable to tear
loose that viselike grip. AS the two
fell, however, Meager's head struck
the rock, the sharp blow so dazing
him as to permit Kelleen an instant
Of relief, long, fresh breath, the re-
lease of one arm. Underneath him,
pressing against his hip, lay the gun
he had been forced to drop. With des-
perate effort he gained possession of
the weapon, thrusting the muzzle saw
agely into Meager's side.
"D-n you'll" he choked. 'Feel that
Get up, or I'll blow a hole clear
through you. You dirty brute, to kill
you would be a pleasure. Get clear
up Do you know me nowT
The fellow, thoroughly cowed shrink
ing back with the point of the revolver
still pressing hard against his rib,
suffered, but made no reply. The
widening radius of daylight gave Kel-
leen the outlines of his bulky figure,
but features were invisible.
what not yet? I'm the Frisco
Kidp First you thought you'd double
cross me; then you decided murder
would do the job best Well, Meager,
neither plan worked. I'm on to your
game, and I'm very much alive. Now
I've got you. Like to make a guess
why don't kill your
"You-you want me to squeal first"
Meager hesitated, and Kelleen's gun
pushed harder.
"You better spit 1t out, Bob; I'd
sure love to shoot"
well, d-n you, what's the differ
ence? Garrity told me the fellow was
hiding in here somewhere. Manuel
used to come to him when he needed
stuff, but he never was able to track
him-he was too d-n smart for the
judge. That was what l came up here
for, and mostly the reason why
grabbed the ranch-see. Garrity fixed
things, because he knew Manuel had
a hi of lot o. spoils stored away
We wanted free hand. When | come
up l fired every American. and took
on MeXicans I knew. We run just
cattle enough so as to get an excuse
for exploring the desert. We knew
the d-n slippery cuss was hid around
here, but couldn't get onto his hole"
'Well. go on"
Seems he wasn't doing anything any
more, just hiding out; none of his
gang viii II uuu SOl 81 uOl lOE
the old devil he was afraid to show
his nose above ground; nifty thousand
for him, dead or alive. you know
that last raid had got the o. S. after
him as well as Mexico. and he was
smart enough TO lie out here until 1t
blew over. Maybe we never would
have got on to him if Sanchez hadn't
struck his trail one day by accident
over beyond Silver springs. That led
him into this valley. and then he got
lost again After that we kept a
watch. II didn't do no good for some
time, the old fox was too sly. So
finally Garrity put up meeting with
him-they had some secret signal ar
ranged between 'em-and in that way
we traced out this cave and got him
cornered."
"Cave! It's a tunnel, amt it?"
II don't know what it is I've only
been here once before-in the dark
What's your idea?"
"That Manuel found 'Alvara's Lost
Mine'-it's got all the earmarks."
GTho-fho T.ocf Minop n,bay