The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1925-06-17

sign OF relief; he was still more afraid
OF her In that condition
Another person he feared was Es-
telle. and 1t was with relief he learned
that she was not at the promonrory.
Estelle had odd ways of wandering
alone about the country. Railway
was glad Of this temporary respite.
Going to the stables, a shanty with
TWO stalls close by, where he kept
two horses and fodder for use In IN
expected emergency, he saw that one
OF the animals was missing No doubt
Estelle had gone out riding.
Estelle's personality was a stronger
one than Railways He could never
COW her by violence, as he cowed bis
men; on the contrary, he feared her
flashing tongue when she was aroused.
He had seen Pierre, Shorty, and
Kramer gloating over the gold, and
he knew that he would have short
shrift If once his men suspected that
he was unable to keep 1t against
them, or If they trusted each other
sufficiently to combine against him.
That was why he had removed It
to the hut in the swamp, approachable
only by a single narrow track.
| There were six other men at the
promontory, one Of them, the man
whom Lee had shot through the hand,
being still disabled Railway set the
whole lot on various jobs to keep them
busy during the remainder of the day.
He knew that they would be talking
about the gold at night, but he was
making his own plans. And, left alone,
he paced the track, now gloating over
the gold, now over Joyce who still
lay silent on the bed, her lips COM
pressed. and that awful look In her
eyes.
He went to her side and cut the
bonds that bound her. There was no
need to guard her; she could not es-
cape him. Joyce sat up slowly, still
looking at him in that terrible way.
He could not face her eyes. He felt
helpless before her. He needed two
alliestnight and whisky.
"Come, dearie," he began, In q voice
that was meant to be placable, you
know everything I've done has been
out Of love for you"
Murderer % Railway trembled be-
fore her outstretched finger. He had
thought to have her at his mercy;
she seemed to have him at hers
Come, now, my dear, If I had to
treat you rough"
Murderer
HE was pulling a gun on me- He
fell into the stream himself 1 didn't
hit him."
"You-murderer
Railway beat a retreat. Her eyes
were blazing like a panther's- He
couldn't understand his fear Of her.
he crossed the neck, went into his
hut, and began drinking. His mind
was muddled, and worse, his will was
wavering. That girl was bad enough
then there would be Estelle to face.
Curse those womenl The mental
picture Of Joyce rose up before his
eyes. She had never seemed so de-
sirable He saw her unconscious in
the mine again, with her short, fair
hair hanging about her neck, her eyes
closed, helpless. Curse heri Why
had he only been thinking Of the gold?
He had had her at his mercy then
He looked cautiously into the hut
again. Joyce was still sitting on the
bed, still as carven statue. Rath-
way was beginning to be afraid that
she was going mad. If she would
only give him the chance, he wanted
to tell her that he would share the
gold with her. Why couldn't she be
reasonable7 1t was that id Ander-
sonl How long would she be thinking
Of him? Weeks, perhaps
His suspicious of Joyce and Ander-
son dashed him, and he ragged all the
afternoon, abusing his men, and Civ
ing them unheard of tasks. He had
the boats cleaned, the engine over
hauled, drum of gasoline placed in
the motor boat He sent some food
to Joyce. The men grumbled and
went about their work sullenly.
PATHWAY fancied he saw looks pass
ing between them, as If they had
SOlu6 btCItl l1C OC-
lieved they were conspiring against
him. And where the devil was Es-
telle?
In spite of the hate that he now felt
for her, he turned to her in his
thoughts in time of difficulty. Curse
the womanl She was getting too
strong a hold on himl He must send
her packing.
His desire for Joyce was constant
goad to him. But he was still afraid
of her. He must give her time to
weaken. 1t was not dark enough.
And he had not drunk enough.
At nightfall the men began a ca
gathering In a hollow between
the huts, protected by skin roof and
sides. but open in front. where a huge
fire was kindled. Usually PATHWAY
kept liquor from them, except when on
long journeys and for the weekly de-
bauch which he permitted, but now
they were openly defying his rigid |
rule. The possession Of the gold had
everything.