Evening star., 1941-06-05

called 'cattleman's gleam' in your
eye"
Il should have, it's been my whole
life" And then he lapsed into
grim silence, as if he had been
tricked into betraying something of
his past.
They were within 100 yards OF
the water reservoir now. Miss
Allison, let's leave our horses here
and walk up. We don't want to
mess up the tracks, in case there
are any"
Dropping their horses reins, they
proceeded slowly on foot. The
ground was hard and stony. II
would only be by merest chance
that there would be any tracks, but
1t was the merest chance they were
looking for.
A Surprise for John.
They walked slowly, scanning ths
ground for footprints, but reached
the spring without finding any
traces. They went over the pipes
and reservoir carefully, but all
seemed to be in order. 1t seemed
unlikely that any one had been here
since Johns last visit.
Have you ever done any ex-
ploring around here, John?" Allison
asked with grin.
"Exploring7 No, I don't recall
that I have"
"All right, I'll show you some
thing. Turn around, shut your eyes
and count 10 slowly"
John turned around and slowly
began to count. When he got to
10 he opened his eyes, called out
Here I come" then turned to face
an empty cliff. He was too aston
Ished to move. but stood staring
around him with unbelieving eyes
Miss Allison!" he cried. Miss Alli-
son-where are you?"
He scanned the jagged surface oi
the rocks quickly, but could see
nothing that would conceal grown
person.
And then wondrously he heard
Allison's laugh and the next instant
her head appeared around the side
of one Of the rocks.
Now, do you believe in black
magic?" she called gaily.
81 certainly do" he confessed as
he came toward her. What kind
of a place is this? How did you
happen to discover it?"
"Dad and found it when he was
making the reservoir. The entrance
is hidden by this first rock that
sticks out here in front. Here, stoor
down and turn sharply"
John did as instructed and found
himself in a natural, circular cave
well lighted by rays from the sun
coming through jagged rock for
nation In the ceiling. well, I'll be
darned," he burst out. who woulc
ever guess this was here!"
John Asks Questions.
"As far as know, you and are
the only living persons who know
about it. Dad and I called it Pun
kin Castle It's rather that shape
and I was deep in Cinderella
about the time we discovered it, Sc
that was my name for it. I likec
to pretend that it was my pumpkin
coach In which I could ride forth
to meet my prince charming" She
laughed as she climbed out of the
cave.
As they made their way back tt
the horses, Allison suggested tina
They skirt the crest of the summit
and return down the other side
Sohn walked along in silence.
~I know what you are thinking
John. You are thinking that
wouldn't be safe, but any one tina
would shoot Ret in the back ISM
brave enough to take a shot a
either of us in broad daylight. Blu
you know we might find some clu'
that would tell us who it was"
well" John said, "all right, bu
you ride behind me all the wa!
down"
Allison laughed at his concern
but she nodded and said, "All right
I promise"
They climbed into their saddle
and started the tedious trip arount
tbs summit. 1t was too rocky fo
q well defined trail and they let tn,
horses pick their own way. The op
posits side seemed peaceful enough
as the horses slowly swung bacl
and forth to break the steep descent
Several times John dismounted
scanned the rocks carefully and 81
lsnt1y remounted. Several times h