The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-14
CHAPTER XXI

Since they had slipped away In the dawn that morning, Mary Me- Iissa and Bob had been gone six days. They weren't assured of that until later, but Bob estimated that they had been gone anywhere from four to eight days; he just couldn't say exactly how long they had first been in the cave, so har- rowing were those dark hours.
 It is almost miraculous that Hades Jones didn't find them in all that time. Left to his own in- clinations he no doubt would have climbed to Defiance Castle, found the inner cave entrance and start ed a search. But Hades was past 70 years of age. Climbing 600 feet of assorted ladders and precarious toe holds was not exactly easy, and he realized it. Not that he couldn't do it-oh no! But 1t would be best to have a good reason.
 He didn't worry much until the third day, in fact. He had the rather vague note that Bob had left. Honey Bee assured him that Bob and Lissa had departed in the direction opposite. the cliff. The main worry for Hades was the fact that the absent ones had not taken their horses. Where could they be going on foot, for so long? There wasn't anywhere to go, that he could figure. Furthermore, why couldn't he find their trail?
 Two days had passed before he thought to look for tracks, and wind had blown considerably in the meantime. Hades once was an expert trailer, but blowing dry sand soon erases tracks and a trailer is forced to detect such dif- ficult signs as broken grass, shoe marks on rocks, bent wigs in brush. This is very had to do in desert regions. Hades circled the canp a half mile or so out, but he copld pick up no likely signs. He came back and questioned Honey Bee.
 "You say they never said where they was going to?"
 "Bawb say they go away, us to wait" Honey Bee insisted.
 "But where to, damn it?'
 She shook her head, T wish I could say" the Indian girl de- clared, truthfully.
 "Waal we better climb up then look. They mighta got hurt or something" Hades leaned back to stare at the high cliff cas- tie.
 Scott Hoffman had squatted, cowboy fashion, within hearing of this conversation, and now he took part for the first time.
 "Aain't you already been up there. cookie? Didn't I see you up on them ladders last night?" Hoffman addressed Honey Bee.
 The girl nodded. She had in- deed gone up. Most of the way, but not quite all. She had been incoming about the matter, medi- tating over the absence of the man she loved. The thought of his talk ing her rival angered her in the first place, and his prolonged ab- sence with 'Lissa was beginning to drive Honey Bee into breeding jealousy. But Bob had command ed h CT to silence about the new cave. He was her man, she must obey. She had thought of all these things as she climbed. She had faith in his abiliyt to take care Of himself-what harm could befall grown man and woman, adequate ly equipped with water, food, a lantern, spare candles, everything? She had no belief in ghosts" and such yarns. And she had an In- dian,s patience; she could wait,
 "Waal, ef you already been up there to look, that settles that" Hades ruled. They've slipped off some'e Ee shook lis old head, confused at the strange turn of events.
 Hoffman went on with the work he was hired to do, building first permanent pole frames from the tents, making tables, chairs, fireplace, then assisting Hades Jones to build a corral He was a plodder type unless something stimulated him into extraneous action.
 He did talk once to Honey Bee Girl about his deal with her con- corning Mary Melissa. But Honey