The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-06-10

I
entrance to the mine to be known Z
any of his aides.
Railway was looking uneasily abou
him. Its In the gorge. then| n
muttered. And, throwing OF all pre-
tense of concealment, There's no wa.
down. I've walked round and rount
the id place a thousand times"
Lee tilted back the stone and showed
Railway the hole beneath 1t. Rath
way stared at 1t In amazement, utter
ing an oath as the stone came back
into position.
II shall 90 first" Lee said, land light
the candle Miss Pelly-" Railway
muttered, but Lee could not bring
himself to call her by the mans name
twill please follow me. You, Rath-
way, will come last"
Lee pushed the stone back, lay
down on the ground, and, after show
ing the girl how to elevate 1t from be-
meath, descended. When his feet we're
on the first rung Of the ladder, he Lit
the candle. In a moment Joyce ap-
peared, and then PATHWAY behind her,
clinging to the opening and looking
down with uneasy suspicion.
Hold tight to the rocks" Lee
called. ats slippery, and If you lose
your hold there's deadly drop below"
He led the way down, shifting the
candle from hand to hand alternately
as he descended, to illuminate the way
for Joyce, until he reached the bottom
orifice Then he began slowly to COM
plete the descent instructing Joyce
where to put her hands and feet, guild
ing her, and bracing himself against
the cliff, ready to sustain her weight
in case of a slip. However, all three
reached the floor Of the gorge without
accident.
Railway muttered, looking about
him. In the moonlight Lee saw that
he was dripping with persplration. He
was trembling with excitement.
Lee said eight fatal words: 1.-THE |
rock marks the entrance to the tunnel"
Railway looked at it and nodded
II had some difficulty In finding 1t
before" Lee added. He turned to the
girl. Joyce dear, I'm going to show
Railway something that I think It
would be better for you not to see.
VIII you wait where you are for a
Few minutes7 We won't go out of your
sight"
VERY we'll, Lee" the girl answered
Iuietly. She had understood what
Lee meant Immediately. Lee took
Pathway through the laurel tangles
nd showed him Pelly's remains. He
howed him the initials on the handle
f the revolver.
Railway stood dumbly staring at
he skeleton. He was trembling even
lore violently than before
He must nave fallen from the cliff"
aid Lee, indicating the broken bones.
Aye, but where's your proof that
g PellyT' Railway burst out sud-
emily. why, man, there isn't court
the land would admit that skeleton
proof that Pelly was dead That's
like as not the body of his Indian,
arrying Pelly's revolver"
Lee obeyed the instinct not to tell
athway that Leboeuf was alive.
Besides" Railway went on, "as for
P.-Well, that might mean anything,
larles Patrick, or Clarence Peel.
here used to be a Clarence Peel In
Is district who disappeared. swear Z
ats the truth, Anderson. Any old {
ner will tell you that I'm not lying
you. N-no, Anderson, you can't
owe that's the body Of old Pelly, Just v
ON those Initials" q
Lee wondered at Railways agita-
N. The man seemed quite beside
mself. He twined his fingers in his 5
ack beard, and shambed away with ..
peculiar hunched SLOUGH. Lee led
n to the cross above the little grave.
i think that's proof" he said
ietly.
But Railway, clenching and un-
nching his fists, said nothing. Lee
mt back, calling Joyce, and they
'ceeded in the direction of the cave
pointed out the pans and cradle
P-NoAo VI uyAdIulJiuR. l
aye, but the gold-where's the
ar Railway demanded. II
nave seen none" answered Lee. Il
H. II you remember, made no
lrantee as to It,"
How do I know you haven't taken
away" Railway shouted. save II
may have stolen my gold as Won II
le my wife. You may be planning In
take my wife and my gold awav II
ether" {.
zee looked at him In amazemen+ n
halfway was nearly crazed bv a
le passion, probably. Lee thought c
anticipation Of obtaining the treas. a
OF old Pelly. k
I'VE taken no gold and I've seen
e. he answered. 81 must ooo,r
ind you Of our agreement, Ratb- i
athway pulled himself together F,
an effort. AYE, that's all right" -
answered. "This looks like Pellv,s
,. Let's look inside. Have vou
inside, Anderson?
We only explored the entrance ~