Hungry Horse news and Columbian. [volume] (Columbia Falls, Mont.) 1946-1948, 1947-06-06

| and between rl1tS IN Wluu-uiiNen e'ouN
q three-quarter moon seemed to plat
the ice-coated barn with silver.
| An hour had passed in quiet when
in an upper bedroom, Ellen Maxon tip
toed to the door and slid into her broth
er's room to whisper to him tensely
Chef Maxon frowned and shook hi
head. Chef whispered that he meant tt
investigate the barn, but Ellen hatlJ
vetoed that.
"Clark has gone to Sleep" Ellen said
with inality. II can hear him snoring
! But If he awoke and saw you before
the barn door, he would fire before he
was wide enough awake to see that you
we're not the outlaw he's waiting for.
He can't mistake me, though, if he sees
me-my hair and skirt. Not in this
moonlight"
Ellen had her way and crept down
stairs with less noise than floating
feather.
Opening the front door by inches,
she closed it cautiously behind her, and
in only minutes more was inside the
barn, cropping her way up the draughty
stairs to the loft.
At first, the sound of heavy breath
ing up there frightened her. But she
bravely struck match, cupped her
hands about 1t and tried to guide its
light in sweeping arc about the loft.
1t burned out in her fingers in her sheer
surprise when she saw ragged Mex
lean peon fastened to the rafters, with
blood trickling from bruised wrists.
"Help me, senorita" Juanita pleaded.
Swiftly Ellen Maxon lighted Ian
tern and started to look for something
with which to cut the stout rope that
bound the youth. An axe, as blunt as
it was nicked and rusty, finally served
her purpose, and with every saving
motion her anger against Clark Weber
grew hotter.
"Who are you" she whispered tense
y. "Why did Clark"
Il do not know, sencrita, why the
nan you call Clark kidnap me. Unless
t be that he hopes to get gold from
ny family" Juanita was improvising
hastily. Even now he expects my poor
ather to come with that ransom. And |
have warned that maybe my father |
llso brings gun !"
AS she spoke, Juanita unbound her
mikes. She stretched and rubbed her
lumbed flesh, cycling Ellen, hoping this
Dung woman would believe the story.
CLARK told us-my brother Chef and
that he had something here that
you'd lure Ell Caballero Rojo," she
aid slowly.
1T cannot be me-" Juanita said
agerly. you are Fastener, no? You
o not know that this outlaw of whom
GU speak is always the lone wolf? You
SIX men if that is not true. l can 20
ow, SIT"
Go, yes, but carefully! Ellen ad-
'onished. CLARK is at the kitchen
a gun !"
Juanita followed Ellen down the
airs and waited for word that all
'oked safe. Prepared to make her
ash, Juanita whispered
One does not forget such a favor
this, senorita. Adios. Madre de Dios
atch over you" And she was gone
ke ghost.
Ellen watched the slim figure fade
to the night. She slowly twisted an
lgagement ring from her finger.
We're through, Clark" she whis-
red.
Fear-gripped Russ Bartle had made !
agreement, on the spur of the mo- ;
ent, which he now regretted. He ,
iced his Office floor, cursing himself .
+ promising to wipe out the Weber :
axon mortgage if Clark Weber CAD
red Ell Caballero Rojo.
1.-The fool might be just lucky enough
deliver the goods" he muttered, "and +
en- I'd be out four thousand dollars
7e got to hedge out of that promise" o