Phoenix tribune., 1924-12-06
GIFT OF THE DESERT

visible through the mantle OF vines con-
cealing the entrance. The dark figure on
the floor assumed vague outline The
two men in the lantern glow came to
halt, thrusting the light forward,
peering at the object which had at
tracted them. The Mexican identified
it first in a sudden cry.
Its a body, a dead man." he ex-
claimed. "He has been killed
Manuell"
Meager held back, the coward grip
ping him, but Sanchez bore the Ian
tern forward, desperate to learn the
truth. His startled voice came down
the passage.
"'Tis not Gomez" he cried, "and no
face 1 ever saw before. Perhaps you
know the manT'
"No; but there has been a fight, or
a murder-see, he has been shot; and
in the back, by Cd Gomez must
have done this job. But what has
become of the old devil? And who
was this kid? What was he doing
here? See If there is anything in his
pocket, Juan. Give me the lantern"
He held it up, as the Mexican
dropped to his knees, and began to
rummage through the dead mans
clothes The increasing daylight of
the desert found entrance far above,
and stole down the narrow passage in
faint, ghastly glimmer, which only
added to the ghastliness of the scene.
The strain was too much for Meager's
nerves, and he swore gruff1y.
"Come on" he said fiercely; "bring
the light. Well search every inch of
this id hole"
Kelleen turned, his first impulse
being to escape, to rush toward that
dim glimmer of light now plainly
marking the cave entrance Yet the
futility Of such an effort came to him
instantly. There was better way
than that, and he whirled back to face
them, as the two came cautiously for
ward, the glow of the lantern glimmer-
ing like a red star The hand with
the weapon in it fell to level, and he
fired, the glass fiickering into a thou
sand pieces, the light instantly extin-
guished.
Kelleen's plan of action had formed
swiftly in his mind. He had a glim-
mering of what this conspiracy meant,
but must learn more. Only one
method was possible-a confession
from Bob Meager The real secret of
this tunnel was in his possession, now
that Manuel Gomez was dead. He
must be made to talk.
The advantages in this encounter
were altogether on his side. He knew
them, where they were; they possessed
no knowledge of his exact position,
who he was, or whether they faced
one opponent or a dozen. They had
been taken completely by surprise,
startled by the sudden attack, con-
fused in the darkness. He had both
of them absolutely at his mercy.
Tho silence was intense after that
first startled second. There was no
movement. not even the sound of
breathing audible. The two stood mo-
tionless, crouched back against the
wall, peering into the blackness from
whence that tongue Of flame had
leaped into their very faces, yet re-
vealing nothing. They could neither
think nor act. Who had fired-Manuel
Gomez? some enemy who had trapped
them? Were they facing one man, or
dozenf Into what had they blindly
walked? Confident of his own safety,
realizing that he had the whip hand,
Kelleen smiled grimly, every nerve
tense, his revolver poised. The situa-
ton pleased him.
drop your guns, both Of you'll" he
commanded sternly. "Quick nowI I've
got you against the light"
"Who the III"
"Stop that Drop them, or 1 shoot
something besides lantern. It's a
hair trigger I'm playing with"
He heard both weapons fall to the
floor, Meager cursing impotently, but
the Mexican silent. Kelleen laughed.
"Kick them away from you-that's
right Not bad fellows when properly