Evening star., 1940-05-17
CHAPTER XIV.

"YOu say Jim S1lcott Is pr1S-
oner?" Anne called down to Mosely
from the window In q low voice.
How do I know 1t is true?"
II didn't say 1t was true. I said
I thought so. Would you recognize
the necktie he wore tonight?"
He took something from his poe
ket, rolled 1t into q ball, and tossed
1t up to her. Anne looked at the tie
and the color ebbed from her face.
She had seen it encircling Jim's
throat scarcely an hour ago.
where did you get this?" she
asked.
II picked it up on the street.
There were signs of a struggle. I
thought I had seen Silcott wearing
the tie. The way 1t is torn makes
it look like it had been snatched
from his neck"
She tried to crush down the rising
panic in her. 'Is he dead? Have
you killed him?"
He lifted a hand in a gesture OF
rebuke. THAT won't do, Miss Eliot.
If I am to help you-if we ar, to
work together-you will have to
trust me-" He added, in q moment,
II don't think he is dead. If he
hadn't been alive they would not
have taken him away. But he may
be wounded. Perhaps you heard
shots some time back"
Anne did not trust him in the
least. The men who had captured
Jim were Hat T men and they had
done it at the orders of Mosely. But
she had to go along with him. She
could not leave the man she loved
to his fate. Nor could she appeal
to 1t. Window for help. He would
call his soldiers. and Jim would be
killed by Mosely's men to silence
him. Swiftly she made up her mind.
I'll be down in two or three min
utes." Her eyes picked up the horse
tied to the post. do we walk or
ride?"
"You ride. I'll walk. We won't
have time to get another horse"
Anne Rides Horse.
She changed swiftly to a rough
walking dress, put out her lamp,
and tiptoed downstairs. Mosely
helped her into the saddle and
walked beside the animal.
Where are we going?" she asked
presently
into the hills. Maybe we're on
a wild goose chase. AL I can say
Is that I'm playing q hunch as
to where the hide-out Of this gang
is."
why viii they give him up to
us?"
For money. Outlaws will do any,
thing for money. have $500 with
me. That ought to be enough-if
we are In time"
TN timer" she echoed. "You mean
-" Her words died away.
If I am right, this is q gang Of
outlaws with whom Silcott used to
work. He sold out, or just quit them
Il don't know which. But one was
killed by officers and two went to
the penitentiary. They blamed Sill
colt and now they mean to get
even."
He told his story smoothly, and
Anne did not believe word of it.
But she had to play along with him
until he showed his hand.
They came to the hill country,
and after time to an arroyo, into
which Mosely turned. The gulch
widened to a little park. In the
moonlight Anne made out . fence
and some deserted buildings.
Mosely Speaks Strangely.
As they drew closer Mosely Stop
ped the horse, apparently to rest
it after the steep climb. He began
to speak, abruptly, as II what he was
saying followed the line of their
talk. But I tell you, Miss Eliot,
that Silcott is not only scoundrel
but a fool-and dangerous fool to
follow. He has led you into trouble,
so that you have played with fire
as a child would. And nowhere
you are"
Anne looked at him, surprised at
this outburst. It did not make sense.
You take his side and follow
him." he cried. Whatever that
rascal says is right to you. He has
cast spell over you. Do you think
I am a fool and do not know you
are in love with himp"
He flung the charge at her vio-
lently and she declined to discuss
1t. "You brought me here to find
Jim Silcott. Are you going to take
me to him?"
MN0t Until haua told 1,oa, that