The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1937-12-13

cave. tie was hcr man, she HlVH|
obey. She had thought OF all these
things aS she climbed. She had
faith in his ability to take care Of
.himSclf-what harm could befall
q grown man and woman. adc-
quatcly equipped with water,
food. 4 lantern, spare candles,
everything? She had no belief III
ghosts and such yarns. And she
had an Indians patience: she
could wait.
WAL. IF YOU already been up
there 10 look, that settles that.
Hades ruled. They've slipped off
somcr'crs." He shook his old head,
confused ut theStrangc turn of
events.
HOLMAN went on with the
work ne was hired to do, building
first permanent pole frames for
the tents. making tables, chairs, n
fireplace, then assisting HadcS
Jones to build 4 corral. He was
plodder type unless something
stimulated him into cXtrancouS
action.
He did talk once TO Honey Bee
Gml about his deal with her con-
corning Mary Melissa. But Honey
Rec was not inclined TO discuss II.
She was surly. Things had got
ten out Of hand. All three of
them were. in fact, getting anXi-
Gus, increasingly touchy. as days
passed
And Hoffman may have noted
that HadcS was absent part OF the
time. but they didn't bother. The
old man, as Il matter Of fact, was
cutting trail" He rode and he
walked, inspecting every ravinc,
every coyote track. every posi-
bic plac" for signs of the missing
ones. Il bothered himthat he could
pick up no track.
On the fifth day of Bob'S and
LlSSa'S absence. HOLMAN left the
camp himself, permanently. Tenn
pcrS all were strained by that
time, and the shawdow incident
20 Holhman'S departure served TO
relieve HadcS some. He had
"blowcd off steam" as he would
have put il. Scott HOLMAN,
lucky 10 be- alive, must have had
a long and tircsomc walk back 70
civilization, but IO-odd miles
wouldn't Kill him.
Soon after Sunup on the sixth
day. HadcS was still At the corral
doctoring a mule that had been
injured. when he CHANGED TO
glance up the face of the cliff.
WAL. I'll be fried and but
tered" H. exclaimed. mumbling
TO himself. Thar goes that Squaw
mp thar"
IL was true. Honey Bee was
climbing the ladders. She had
thought HadcS gone for the morn
ing. IN usual, perhaps miles from
camp and entirely cut Of range
as I. vision. She had broodcd all
night
Mental pictures of Bob and
Mary Melissa had bcdcvilcd the
Indian for days. She couldn't
stand il, she told herself. So she
determined at breakfast to climb
the ladders, take a lantern of her
own and og into the new cave.
The time had come when she
could no longer obey her lovcd
ones command To wait. She must
Sec II he We're in danger.
When she had reached the top
ladder Honey Bee had worked
up an intense hatred anew for
Mary Melissa.
He would not have been lost,
but for her" Honey Bee told her
self.
She lighted the lantern. after
u quick inspection of the castle
rooms. II burned c%cnly, brightly.
She entered the darkness, quickly
saw the Chalkcd arrows Bob had
made, marking his and LiSSa'S
trail. She saw the Shrivclcd hu-
man body in its niche. too. paused
u moment To study il. Death
Death would take the white girl
out % the way" Honey Bee was
thinking
On the Indians Countcnancc. as
She stood there. came Il strange.
somehow savage expression.
II L.. .unl hnhLuNA