The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-05-20

1t all. Another thing that led Lee
], that conclusion was the fact that n
s mining operations had been carrie
S on there for a considerable time-lon
J. enough for the pans to have ruste
j through.
e If Pelly had taken refuge within tn
2 gorge, 1t was incredible that he woul,
not have resumed operations.
And these seemed to have been In
terrupted Unexpectedly, to judge from
the exposure Of the pans to wind anC
weather.
Perplexed and disappointed, Lee
turned his thoughts toward the cap
ture of the man who had attacked him
in the tunnel. He could no doubt
throw light on Pelly's whereabouts.
Perhaps he was the assistant of whom
Joyce had spoken.
Lee expected that he would be lurk-
ing In the tunnel, ready to renew his
attack, but this time there should be
no such fasco as before.
Lee made his way back on the oppo-
site side Of the gorge. Here there was
thick growth of dwarfed scrub laurel,
which had taken root in the soil
brought down by the little stream, and
bordered 1t, extending back from 1t
toward the cliff In a sort Of miniature
jungle. Something protruding out of
this growth arrested Lees attention.
1t was a wooden cross carved with |
the name HELENE PELLY, standing
up above low calrn of boulders.
Lee stood and looked and vaguely
mournful thoughts coursed through
his mind. 1t was a sad and lonely
Durying place for Joyce's mother. It's
existence there was In itself a testi-
nonY to the old mans mental con-
he should have carried
lis wife's body through the tunnel to
hat place of his dreams. And yet IT
vas certain that no prowling thing
would ever violate that grave.
Lee went on, and, few steps fur
her, stumbled against something else
1t was the skeleton of a man. the
ones protruding through the rents and
alters OF the scarecrow clothes. The
iurel tangles sprouted between the {
IDS. The bones were bleached white.
Re flesh had long since disappeared.
one bony hand still tightly clutched
lie handle of a large, old.fashioned n
'volver. The muzzle was choked with b.
ISL; there were rusted cartridges in to
de.
Olsengaging 1t with difficulty from hi
e fingers, Lee saw, on the less rusted W
rllon OF the handle which they had In
otected, the Initials, G. p. ag
But he hardly needed that to know ia
az his mission was at an end. and
last barrier between himself and to
yce overthrow. or
ne problem so inscrutable an nj!
lr before had been solved. All cause wa
antagonism between them had thu
ne to an end. ths
And Lee was conscious of ouiet Of
isractlon. 1t was the happiest solu- of
l. ana though Joyce would grieve, i'm
would come to see that 1t was the del
I. She would be glad, after the Of
shock, that her father would not bot
Q to face the ordeal which he had the
AIDED for so many years. I
ut as Lee looked down at the re- for
ms OF the dead man, he became ere,
re OF single fact. Nearly every ling
on one side of the skeleton was now
'en-the skull, ribs, arm and leg the
IS, and pevis. beat
len Pelly had not died of stroke fury
rom sudden attack of heart fall D
lie had fallen from the summit NJ cold
CHI perhaps he had been him
down, for the revolver which he Loni
been clutchIng showed that he had the
encountered or anticipated an a r
y. hagg
o. hlled with mixture of emo sleeE
happiness for their future. grief He
lie news that he must break TO But
:, Lee made his way toward the pair.
Il. he k
all at once he made the singular abou
Unexpected discovery that he did the
now where the entrance WOO clusi(
no he