The Washington times., 1934-12-25

der. On your way, buddy.'
The lights of the cantina dis
appeared as Dick rounded turn
In the steep street. The sound
Of his mares hoofs echoed back
at him from deserted cabins and
crumbling shacks that now grew
more infrequent, until at last
the village fell behind. Ahead
the road climbed steadily up
ward. To the left a mine shaft
reared it's giant timbers, and
Dick knew that Headquarters
House stood on the hilltop just
beyond.
IN THE DARK
Almost Immediately it loomed
ahead of him out of the night,
black, silent and portentous, a
great three-storied structure once
white but now bleached by wind
and storm and the passing years
to a respondent grey. A low
verandah encircled it, and on
three sides long windows, heavily
Shuttered, gaped like great blind
eyes into the darkness. No fainJ-
est glimmer of light told of oc-
cupany. Keeping safe dis
tance, Dick circled. AS he left
the road it grew darker, over
shadowed by pines, and a slight
movement ahead brought him
to an instant halt. Slowly his
eyes grew accustomed to the
gloom, and Dick made out three
horses tied to a low fence. He
touched one.
It was still hot and steaming
from hard riding. Dick dis
mounted, unfastened the halter
of the nearest horse and led it,
with his own mare, down the
slope, where he tethered both to
the branches of a pinon. Re-
turning, he loosened the cinches
of the remaining horses, then,
as an afterthought, cut the reins
and threw them into the brush.
Satisfied with these preparations
he moved swiftly toward the
house.
Avoiding the steps, he reached
up, and raising himself level
with the porch, leaped lightly
over the railing. Cautiously he
tried each window in turn, only
to find the shutters fastened
from the inside. He approached
the door. The knob turned, but
again the way was bolted be-
fore him. One chance alone
remained, and stepping upon
the railing, he reached up to
the low, overhanging roof of
the porch. At last his search
ing hands found a precariouS
hold on the wooden caves, and
with a jump and a swing, Dick
clambered up and now kneeled
on the steep edge of the porch
roof. Directly before him a
small window stood out, and
making his way toward it on
hands and knees, Dick thrust
the blade of a small knife be-
meath the sash. Slowly, but
noiselessly, the window raised.
For a brief second he listened,
then with drawn automatic
Lowell stepped inside.
Pitch black about him. The
heavy, muSty air of long diSuSe
pervaded that inky darkness,
and with outstretched fingers
he felt his way about the walls
until at last his hands encoun-
tered a door. Reaching lower
he found the knob, turned it,
and opening the door a few
inches, looked out upon a dimly
lit hall. Worn stairs led up
ward toward the unseen source
of light, and from above, Dick
heard the angry rumble of
mems voices, followed by a
woman'S defiant laugh.
CINDACITY WINS
Nora'S voice! At the sound
O1CA SI4p O1l I11c duGOI1ldGlC
frightened. He tiptoed across
the narrow hall and put his
foot on the first step. Beneath
his weight it creaked loudly
throughout the house. The
voices stopped. Tense and
Crouching. Lowell waited. No
sound. Another step
With one wild leap he darted
back to the shelter of the dark
ened room as blindingly from
above him a flashlight blazed.
With one rapid swing Lowell
closed the door to Scant crack,
and peering from his hiding
place. made out the burly fig
ure of a man descending the
stairs, his flaShlight casting be-
fore him a wavering circle of
illumination. Directly outside
the footsteps paused. and for a
moment Dicks hand clenched,
ready to strike if the man