Show III fill I 1 I 1 I 1 the alm ALM desert desa moon M lu mystery IL ar ifer A ry by KAY CLEAVER STRAHAN W service 3 fa 0 by dot doratt co coi i loo inc ifill if III it if fill if fill fill if I 1 if if III I 1 if if mi if anim I 1 I 1 fit I 1 I 1 fill I 1 I 1 fill r SYNOPSIS sarn stanley wealthy owner awner of the desert moon ran ph tells his mary mairin that his hl former twin daughters danielle and all elle are ar coming to the ranch to live their mother bl belne aing dead and their father daniel CAnni ziano who had been the cause of samo sam at divorcing his wife in the penitentiary te tent iary sam has adopted 9 boy bay ohn lohn now grown to ma man n beoh ind ia fa girl martha bli thyl aal yal lally jally healthy but weak minded urn mrs jill jalle ticker marthas nurse nur lives with them hubert land a win wanderer derer bind and cau field johns john wartime buddy at an expert aro the oth or er members member of 0 the household houe hold the hii girl arrive erh marln har it taunt rouge to believe there to tg a sin bin later motive in tire the twine pr pre e 13 nc CIDa at tha th A ranch john bee becomer enraged to pan PAni lelle elle caulle Caul Cau flold ld mow we k pronounced I fItIng toy tor gabrielle CHAPTER APTER IV 3 the calban ibe the girls had been on the desert afoon boon a little better than sla six weeks when on sv enu bum come came out into oy where I 1 ws wits setting brend a iary 11 tip hp began real solemn tot fo him the ancients aed to haye cities flint they called balled elal es of refuge no ino matter what q fellow haij done it he be could get inside into on of those cattia lie he was your nl at ways kinda seems like that to me a 0 city of refuge lenda how I 1 what have you been ua ui td tb that adu ion are ire heading this first 1 I bitite nt b teed aeri to anything allm balm un und and I 1 balm it tb be hut but story mary iamb bartme hgo SIK you F rie to me with acine assli cl ins I 1 laughed them off if I 1 ditth not nol laughing now rin worried things ire rb going on around fiera 1 whitt I 1 won want t to lk know an wv 4 to la whet do you know nothing what tho do abu you I 1 nothing Wt int I 1 d do 0 then saml a binl I 1 what do conr nothing that 1866 now how have been IV n b bad a d place e fo for r both to lo laugh nelt neither berof of Us did afave you any idea sant ques why the ille gails go growling alt efrer tha place afoot abild dayt anat jo IV when h en they should ba iri iii their bids bedar welt alf I 1 now 1 juat what tye known 11 alfin li fliey are aid ifor r something sure it re taj they a are re hunting toi for something ek g pu pill bhatt W fiala j 1 1 I dad dont hut hot whatever tt it la in tily they ire anre goehr to use it to gel K rev revenge to ingui inaura 6 revenge ne b IVI saw sold y f jt it your iwa way only I 1 ape ont night to ti heal aaby wy to that filar they tin orne to flits roach foi for the purpose ot of rev Vnye c p ite ve oge h 11 surn sum film belt unless they arp tire ire nt ti roe me about Cantie ziano swoot else dad they say when you happened to overheat overhear this revenge remur kl ij if tie be ans ready at U tast to listen I 1 vas wore than ready tu to tell what little I 1 knew told een to lo confess aig in ii about hiding tn in the ho clothes clollie a closet i well weli well tie ha drawled when I 1 had tint shed my story we are ably making a mount mountain aln out ot at a molehill hill I 1 go 0 o fooling around utter after them uny more inure it if I 1 ivere you alary theres a acl looi loose iiii somewhere ehnts sure aure but it ta Is not in the moons weve got nothing on our nr consciences we dont nevi need to worry dont nied need to lo worry I 1 sam find and 1 I sitting la in that flint peaceful talk ing so BO smart and frivolous and de le elding that we did not need ned to worry in 14 a memory I 1 could welt well be shed tit 0 we need to worry a bit more than it if id in my covered voe reil pan 0 of bread I 1 nut not a tilt till more than it there had liven a den of rattlesnakes lestin ices in the under the sink or instead of vente tu in tho tank ot anthe the backof bark ot the stoie that Is now how safo and peaceful we really were at ai that minute tc tf it we tied lad had agrist enough to know tl it mien cheni I 1 that stint four weeks from that flint very evening three but I 1 buesa tt it would be better to teu tell things straight glitt along aling ua aa they hop bened end it to me a rood hook book cannot be hurr lel tel tiny any more than a t uke cuke ran can alx antl anti and siti sift the dr ingredients la Is the way all recipes for cakes begin for airee uree days with tile the fourth of july fere f ere was to lie be a bl big celebration and rodeo at telko sam suggested BUggea ted at noon on an the second londot of july while we were nt at dinner that maybe all of us would like to go BO all it that Is except martha and him xit x it were never lever good for martha I 1 spoke right up anci ana said to 10 count ine 1 out ut I 1 know knew the dej deaerts erts in july toy boys were alnut ft fiand and daany wasi was interested gaby comilia la in late greeted abe idea ath the same enthusiasm with which a woman greets mothe la in the clothes clot liea closet whence the crave for a fourth ol of july celebration she asked we have never seen a rodeo donny dondy answered go by all means in eanis gaby said buy pink lemonade march in the parade hide in the liberty ear car mrs bingin would be stunning as the godless goddess of liberty with dout dont let my stunning ness stop atop anything 1 I 1 sold 1 I 1 am nut not going well think it over banny told it would he be fl a long hot ride larob rob ably we vve should all have a plea titue line right here at tome home rut but there was something in the way she find said it too quickly tn in an liver to a lunk look from roni unity gaby that made me think there was more to tn tier her back ing out of the hie plan than hue had appeared on the surface galiy caby nod just besun begun her dinner hiie rest t or of us had finished no go according ditt g to our cust custom tri we excused ourselves and went our ways chenot tried to atay with goby but martha fussed bussed and insisted that he come with tier her I 1 had ti t sure feeling that danny would return and that she and unix would have to any to 16 ench each other I 1 went into the klir kitchen lien stepped luk back into I 1 the tass pan pantry try and opened hie puss pos window a crack just us as I 1 opened the window win low I 1 heard lihn gay 1 I panny was tn in here 1740 0 o gaby suld said hut but wont you come in und and talk to me me uli al lout iut About flits tills I 1 dialed riot flot icela so I 1 did not know what ifie until site she said bald why avont wont you kiss hiss mcl 11 I 1 say I 1 dont want to pick lowers howera in finhert lands hands yard 1 l tinte you I 1 he be sore nt at me batty john a said 1 I allut hut im cm telling you vim ahn ts a lot nt neared the truth fihnn th n than what you ou sa say y john wits one aine of the poorest talk era aver ever hii heard ard one or of those strong wen men supposed up posed to tn in the weba and who lio are likewise uli josef to every word that they cul colida libi lr it jains Jl ina ins did khey caunt counted e backards bac karda haj 1 abar benr fin vinvent vent i 1 proven over and oil ay iy alint I 1 love you in every I 1 way i I 1 have made myself 11 here ai henisse I 1 been bieni able to ci binen nen my feelings feel ings rot for you 1 I tank john said that triest at i that stuff you pull IP lust to spite ponny it spite her though I 1 she he kii aws ashes the only girl in the world for me I 1 wish cut af it out all of that galay wont you and judit lie be good friends voul not wani nip me for an iti enemy enty would OHI 1111 gettone Gett lne fit at anit anything hint going any place anly Ier hups it if dunny should hear bear you have hae matte made le to roe me 1 I have never naile love to you it would tin lie your word mine I 1 think would gouid take m mine ina tt it it came en me to it a showdown aste n h here r e chilia flunt iliin t vou ou try arv tn t a maue trouble betwee vanny runny and me IMea littig nut hi nr ng tant it would rit he be for anyone who tried it alloo lio I 1 Danger dangerous olis pan dan w stuff out hit where riven are mei killet loose tonight all that hint eh Jolin johnned Johnn tild ld X loot opened john came in I 1 nin vii voice uncle la Is to looking king every where ire for y you dnny want jnnny questioned when the dour had closed behind john made you fou both look igo an angry ackry just jus bow mever nev e r mind ate are you going to that fools with only a day or two left bowl i 11 1 I nut it you dont want nip to iid 1 l love going I 1 know there here to Is no an use in here in other words you would sacrifice my future for or a rodeon I 1 more than half lindt believe tant you know knew whal possible object could I 1 have isvet ninny ny my dear very man y that flint getting rid it ir tte tile would the others aasten to ine I 1 it it anerd nerd tint it 11 I 1 thought alu you were this from me in riler order to bury toe me olive alive tn tit this flits lort forsake it pole and torce force rue nie to you at mid it john i ly jre ive been a tool fool I 1 why can cant I 1 learn tn in take into consideration your d n stand this dnn pent ranry rancy tot tor one instant that la Is piling gang to krei keel me here did y yuu u think with a weapon like that la 11 my anaida chrtt id stand for anything tens less thon a daty efty prop our plan would hi hien been en tippler entler onS ler sini hut ill have hae rov my staure a aure out dut of of tills this anyway so it if you do know kiino 1 aoby I 1 dont lon know ill wear lint flint I 1 dont atlow could II 11 out but surely you aou I 1 int that la Is tor for bouto you tn say darling miling darling Darll ng na s sio she said bald tt it then was as wicked a word as aa I 1 bad ever lla its toned bened to for me ce give john to me ive changed my mind if do that ill stay right here and settle down and do an imitation of a moral model wife that would satisfy even you only olty you as aa it jotin john were a childs toy to be passed about v give him to you if I 1 were willing to you could and you know knoby it you yon wont so bo that but keep your righteous fingers out of my life stop your preaching arid meddling I 1 am ain going to the he cabin now you would hetter better come with me weve searched that cabin a thousand times limes 11 all the some same it to Is the one logical place far ar removed and under cover the robin cabin Is the one sara built to live ahe in when he first come came to the valley it Is up boulder creek about half a mile from the sam has kept it in repair inside and ofte out I 1 think to sentimental memories though he declares it t to Is because he dislikes Ar wreckage on the place when john and martha were little things sam used to hide e their christmas presents up there under the shelf it the kitchen the li about three feel feet wide vide Is built across one end of the kitchen it served aadi tot hr p a filble ceble pantry had and sink being a bin n he be built it right handily I 1 tike ike a chest cheat so an that the entire tire top lop at it had to to be raised to get get to the storage blace underneath there was no secret about it all anyone 16 had to do vas to m move 0 V everything off tile lie top of it and lift the lid hut bur I 1 had rend mad liow how the hardest problems for detectives always turned out to be bom something ething that had find been too simple to notice a my plan was to go up mere and raise the ltd lid I 1 on my way I 1 met the girls coming home borne I 1 imagined that flint they looked at me with suspicion lon I 1 passed a ulious the sweet clover hay bay and hurried along half nn an hour later when afien I 1 was expecting instant death at alt any minute I 1 thought about tha tant t sweet clover smell and how I 1 have been of it and of uie hie blue sky shy nod fresh fiest nt air and of bt iho green things lighted bellow with sunshine and I 1 took huoh a vav vow that it if I 1 ever lid did gt get a chance to enjoy hem again I 1 would spend the remainder at 0 my life in so doing und in being grateful to the cr creator F ator bt them la in the cabin i went at once to the kitchen and removing fesh bas li I 1 fly books und and reels from the shelf lifted it bock back I 1 nio am sure that I 1 had expected to find and it empty what I 1 had bad not sz AX pecked to flud and what I 1 c certainly had ciul never hoped to find was what wits there any number gumbei of neatly wrapped packages addressed to at mr r sam stanley sent by express and rid labeled variously 11 danger tanger explosives tI handle andle with fare core it t did not tatie take any common conini oo sense to know straight oft tint thit sent to tn him or not sum sam was as not mixed up in any business that nid nad to do with eipl bombs und and it wa was 8 easy enough to remember then tant ahn 1 sam hild tint not been to mattall latt for the post past ten anys that hubert clubert lland ha hail 11 been making tile the trips down for the mall mail expressage express uge and supplies just as he came into my mind I 1 heard hi his a voice it was a startling but I 1 tit of d a Bb beafter etter ex lh ha N K ahta j cuse than that for surely barely no mortal ever did a more thing thin than I 1 did then I 1 climbed into that chest along with those packages and low ered the lid down avdi me if I 1 had any idea I 1 suppose it oust must nave have been a desire not cot to let him know that I 1 h had a d dis discovered C his bis secret hla bla and gattys together undoubtedly but I 1 cant remember having any thought at all until just as aa the lid alsed I 1 remembered the sad poem about the bride and the mistletoe chest then i heard through the thin boards hubert clubert land talking to some one come into the kitchen I 1 I 1 chose death by suffocation or combustion sly my dear woman were the first words I 1 heard from him you may M ay set your mind at rest rest I 1 am not go going ing to marry the girl I 1 am not a marrying man as aa you know and if 1 I were she abe have me you leave her alone then understand me leave tier her alone if I 1 believed my ears that was mrs stickers voice thai flint was mrs N dah 4 I 1 14 I 1 am sure that I 1 had expected to find it empty ricker nicker not noi only thi tallying king but talking like that in to hubert lland hand you flatter me tie he said jealous still after hit all these years 1 I told you you that I 1 ma marry I 1 rry tier her and that she have me if I 1 were willing to she though thought sho sit she e is s mad about you she cant can t look jook at you without loe lobe n her eyes nor dor speak to you without kilthou t joke love to in her voice site she to milo h id it but she ahe cant hide bide it from me I 1 know she loves lores you I 1 am not cot sure whether I 1 read it or whether i I 1 figured it out tor for myself but I 1 do know it Is a fact that to no woman ever accuses another wom woman unless of being in love with a man unless she could imagine being tn in love with him herself As to that hubert hand said possible difference would it make to you ollie only that I 1 would kilt kili her and you too before I 1 would let her have you hasy easy on there my girl four last in t attempt at alt murder at least I 1 hope that wai was your dour last attempt was not you yon may recall very successful 1 I would be successful another time I 1 kept quiet very quiet quiel surrounded d tn in there by explosives find and but there by people P who ed of 0 murder its as calmly and as comfortably ats as I 1 if f they were discussing moss roses ve very ry quiet did not seeni deem litif quiet erin enough tigh they went anio nto th the other room of tte babin t and stayed there ere for a few minifies I 1 could not hear what they W att wal were saying but I 1 did not budge an inch after I 1 i heard 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