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Show v THE TIMES-NEW- NEPIII, UTAH. S, ., y I? RANDALL CVPyZSGftT Vt - Ll yi. .VA.C.MCCL(3C .If. utmiTM w.mw - nfii-- "INDIAN JOEl" Synopsis. Tom Shelby, a rancher, Into the frontier town of Ponca, looking for a good tlrne after a long spell of hard work Inand loneliness on the rant-tistead, he runs Into a f unerul that of Uad Calkins, a retired army man of whoru Utile is known. A grlrl, still In her teens, survives Calkins. McCarthy, a saloon keeper and Ponca's lending citizen, decides that the girl, now alone in She the world, should marry. agrees to pick out a huHband from the score of men lined up In her home. To his consternation, she selects Shelby, who had s;one along merely as a spectator. He declines the honor. Indignant, the Kirl dismisses the assemblage. Shelby runs Into two of the rejected suitors, and in a fight worsts them both. Angered at their rcnurkn, he returns to the girl, determined to marry her, If she will liave him. After his explanation she agrees to marry him. The wedding takes place and the couple set out for ranch. With them Is Shelby "Kid" Macklln. whom Shelby has hired as a heloer. On the way the girl tells her husband her name is OlKa Carlyn. and also tells him something of the peculiar circumstances of her life. Upon arrival at the ranch Shelby Is struck down from behind and left for dead. He recovers consciousness to find that Macklin and his wife have gone. He starts in pursuit. He learns his wife Is an helresa, that her abduction has been carefully planned and that she. has been taken to Wolves' Hole, a stronghold of bandits and bad Indians. rides . CHAPTER VIII Continued. Shelby vlsloned all tills In his memquestioning Ills chance of ever successfully Invading such a spot w ithout arousing suspicion. It was plainly proven by their testimony that Macklln was taking his captive to this spot for safe hiding. He nnd his Indian accessories had ridden on, anxious to breach this sv,rlty with us little delay as possible. But would Shelby dare to follow? To be sure, except to the Kid, he was unknown, which Yet the might make him welcome. danger of detection was great. Apparently, there was no other feasible wny In which he could hope to serve Olga. lie weighed this, with no conscious thought of himself, coldly and deliberately counting the chances, and decided to make the attempt. Convinced as to his duty, and urged to It by the personal Interest be felt In the girl. Shelby cast all hesitancy aside. He would make the attempt; fortune had surely favored him thus far, and might again. He went back to where the buckskin waited, mounted the animal, quiet enough by this time, rode down to the edge of the Stream, and sat silently In the saddle while the beast drunk. It was a dark, clear night, the stars overhead like lamps In the sky, the air cool and fresh. He turned the pony up the valley, making no effort to hurry the desirous only at present of keeping well In the rear of the two horsemen ahead. lie knew the course they would tnke, must take, up the valley of th, Pragoon as far as the great bend, und then across tre plateau until they reached the Cottonwood. lie would limply follow cautiously until laylight, then search for the trail to ai ate sure, and endeavor, from some elevation, to pick them up with his Held rlt'twg. The (trass In the valley was thick, hut not long. It presented no obstacle to travel, but the horse's hoofs made no noise. Finding the rider undemonstrative, the buckskin lowered his ami moved forward sleadily at a rapid walk. Shelby swaying In the Middle, half asleep, jet keenly awake to any niisual sound. Hour after lour passed, the valley narrowing ps they advanced, the hills on either band growing dnrker and morp sharply defined, ami the ribbon of the s!;y above constantly enntrast-Ing- . The man endeavored to think, but found II useless; there was little lie could plan In advance only continue on and trust to fori tine. Ills mind leaped from point to point, yet Selt'ed upon nothing. He knew where he was in a vmrte wnv, rrcnltltiir to memory the outlines of this mnntry as traced upon the map, but by this time be wnx well beyond !b rnnce f bis own cattle, or ntiy region he hud ever hutted over. All about stretched the desert of the Und Ijitnl.'J he mild picture In bis mind Ibe scene presented from those bluffs, .either of broken, rocky country, or dlsmnl desert, white with alknll. It was a land devoid even of animal or bird life, waterless nnd forlorn, avoided even by Indians except for concenltnent. In It thOM? hqy tit. darkness be heard no sound life the distant ory, rir'o & CO. !. mm? t If m wi fai'itt curiously 'about. He dismounted, and, after a few moments' scrutiny of the ground, decided that he was still safely on the trail of those traveling uhend. There were two truces sufficiently defined to Indicate the passage within a few hours of both Maeklln's party, and the two otiiers. Neither oulfit h:ul ninde any effort at concealment, but Shelby, fearing the latter might be camped for breakfast, left his horse to crop on the short grass, while he advanced on foot. The trail was obscure, but not difficult to follow when once discovered. Hanley and his companion had not ventured the passage until dawn, the murks of their horses' hoofs so fresh as to convince their trailer they were scarcely He beyond the sound of his voice. even found where they had dismounted, waiting for daylight, the ground littered with the ends of burnt cigarettes. Slu lhy loitered an hour before venturing to follow. There was no other way out, nnd so he munched at a cold meal, and permitted the buckskin to browse along the bank of the stream, well concealed by a fringe of willows. Then, both horse and man refreshed, he went forward on foot, lending the nnimnl, and began the upward climb. In places It was not unlike a cave,j and Shelby had no Idea how far he had gone, when he suddenly emerged out from the gloom Into the sunlight of the summit, with a clear view across the level plateau. Shelby stopped, holding the horse back below the summit nnd gazed anxiously about. The soil left no trait and, with the naked eye, Shelby was unable to distinguish a sigu of life within the radius of vision. Everything bad the appearance of death the death of ages. He stood upright and swept the circle with his field glasses. He was barely In time; for far off there to the left, scnrcely discernible even then against the black, overhanging ridges of rock, ha made out two slowly moving objects. They were not distinct, he could not have sworn what they were, but there was no doubt In his mind as to their identity. He studied them eagerly until they disappeared down a coulee, and then carefuly marked the course, his point of guidance a high pinnacle of rock standing out against the sky. He was an hour reaching this objective, but once there he found the trail plainly traced along the edge of the bank. It led In and out amid the Intricacies of the hills, taking, of nec- I Ml nni-nm- !, h'-n- He Suddenly Emerged Out From the Gloom, easily, ic winding n course as to give Shelby no view abend and soon confused hitn In point of direction. He could only move forward cautiously, fearful lest they might have halted for some purpose, nnd watchful of every trace o' (heir pnsngc as other ravines were constantly n.iiting with this through, which he v. as blindly fccllnst his wny. He came to snnd and lest nil signs of the trnll Instantly, searching fur ft In vain for nearly an hour before confessing himself at fault. Then, leaving the horse below, he climbed the nenrest hill for a view of his surroundings. The sun gave bim the proper directions, but alt about stretched the same dreary, bare ridges of rock, offering no guidance. There was no life vlsl-hl- e anywhere and although he malted for some time, sweeping bis glasses iiowi of 5 h.. back and forth, he gained no glimpse The fititt Mjit gray ,f dawa gave of the two he endeavored to follow. lilm g11mr-of bin sorroi'ndlngs, and, They had vanished as though swaln a alight ridrr. of !andV he finally lowed tip by the earth. The sun was n-ur liipctred wnmi, aid gazed J already In the west and desperately be fj determined to try the level. Even this, amid the Intricacies of those branching passages between the round hills, was difficult to achieve, yet he finally discovered on exit and ventured toward the north, confident that the Cottonwood would surely He somewhere In that direction. lie came upon it so suddenly and unexpectedly as to almost daze his faculties. Almost without warning he stood at the very edge of a yawning hole and stared in amazement down Into those depths below. Again and again he had heard this scene described, yet had never before comprehended its reality. A huge cut straight down, fully a mjle wide, cleft the plain In two, with no visible signs of Its presence until one stood at the very crater's edge. At night he would have ridden off without the slightest warning of danger. And below I Feeling sick, dizzy, Shelby swung himself from the saddle, crept cautiously to the edge and looked down. He had no conception of the depth, for It already was hazy down there, as though he gazed through a blue fog, but how small those trees appeared, mere toy trees, and the silvery stream running through the center seemed scarcely a yard wide. A yard, why, If it was actually the Cottonwood, It must be a hundred feet from bank to bank! Cod! What a hole ! What a ' freak of nature ! What a wilderness hiding place! He lay motionless, with eyes searching up and down the valley. To the right he could not determine how far It extended, but to the left he could discern the silver shield of water where the Cottonwood came tumbling over a precipice. One of the two possible entrances was there f the other must be along some one of those numerous Ride ravines, whose black entrances be could dimly perceive. It was all so serene, so peaceful, the truth seemed impossible that be was actually gazing down Into a veritable hell on earth, a rendezvous of white thieves nnd Indian murderers, n border fortress for all the nameless deviltry of the frontier. And he must Invade the Hole, alone, If be would be of service to this woman By sheer recklessness be captive must pierce the thing to the heart. Yet bow was it to be done? Not even a mountain goat could find passage down those rocks even by daylight and In another hour all would be darkness. He could not remain there ; before night made the search impossible he must at least find water and a place In which to camp. He stared down Into those deepening miiifs below, already beginning to blot out the features of the valley. "God, what a hole," he breathed ; "It is like looking straight Into hell. The only way down must be somewhere to the left. Case told me they passed In under that waterfall." He gotto his teeti $ih the pony trailing behind, moved backward away from the edge of the chasm into the open plain. Suddenly, as his glance wandered searehingly . toward the chain of rock hills, the man stopped, his heart pounding. What was that moving yonder, just emerging from out the mouth of that ravine and becoming clearly outlined against the gray alkali? He knew almost Instantly the advance of a drove of cattle, debouching through the narrow defile and spreading out as they attained the wider open space. There must be a hundred head and even as he comprehended, horsemen appeared In their rear, spurring forward to turn them to the left down a shallow gulch. There was no way he could escape observation; no possibility of hiding on that hare plain. Shelby's brain worked like lightning. There were five riders ; he could Count them now ; Indians mostly, although one was surely white. There was nothing left him but audacity and lies. He must take the chance, the one chance, mad. desperate, yet yielding a possibility of success. He swung the field glasses to his eyes yes, one rider was white, o squat figure with a red beard, and another, the fellow at this end. apThen he peared to be a Mexican. laughed grimly ; the vortex of his glass rested on the exposed flank of the neorest steer and ho saw the brand. T!y all the gods, they were his mm cattle! The humor of It flushed In bis eyes, but the Jaw of the man set The d d thieves! He sternly. strode forward, (he pony trailing at his heels, find then the Mexican saw bim. throwing up one band In a swift signal and spurring bis horse recklessly across the gray plain. They met half way, Shelby still afoot, the other sweeping up at full speed, his horse brought fairly to Its haunches by the cruel pressure of a Spanish bit. The fellow was a handsome devil but for the evil in his eyes ond n disfiguring scar down one cheek. The eyes of the two met and the rider's band dropped Instantly upon the exposed butt of a revolver. "Ituenas (Has. setior," he said harshly, staring. "What Is the meaning of - "Old Matt I know him." "Good; then I have met a friend. We were there, back In those hills, when my girth broke see, where I have fixed it. I fell behind and they rode on. I thought to follow easily, but, you must know those hills, the trail was lost; perhaps L took a wrong turn, for suddenly I found myself on this plain." The Mexican sat motionless, his eyes as suspicious as ever, but his fingers no longer gripped on the revolver. The last of the cattle had disappeared down the coulee and the white man was riding toward Neither them across the alkali. changed position until he came up. a lump of a fellow," with staring eyes and complexion the color of parchment. "What the h 1 Is all this, Juan?" he questioned roughly. "Who Is the fellow?" "He travel with Matt Hanley an' get lost ; so he say." "Hanley, hey! That's some recommendation. Who else was with your party?" , "A man called Hank." Well, the story sounds "Slagin. straight so far; them two left here .' this;Shelby smiled, coolly returning bis glance. "The meaning of what, senor?" be questioned shortly. "Your being here alone! I have not seen yon before. You re not of the Wolves den." "Oh. Is that If, senor?" Indifferently. "Then maybe you will tell me how I am to find a way Into this den of wolves? I hnve looked down yonder," he waved bis hand. "You seek It, then? "Sure; otherwise why should I be here? You will guide met" "Cnramba! It depends," suspiciously, yet somewhat disconcerted by the other's quiet manner. "I would know more first. You are lost?" "Completely; yet It Is a story easily told. I was with a man named Han-Ic- y an' a fellow called Uaok." not a Sioux in blood, yt It was well known that he had been adopted Into the tribe and never failed to have a hand in their deviltry. Army officers claimed be possessed more Influence over them for evil than any chief, and Shelby had heard him mentioned with Sitting Bull as leaders In the If true, then he must Snow how far to venture, and Just when to draw aside so as to save himself. That must be it to bins war meant only an opportunity to plunder. The final result was clearly Indian defeat; he would keep out, but In the meanwhile profit all he could. The trail led downward at a rather steep grade, In spite of continual curvd The horses moved ing. faster-thathe cattle, and before the outfit reached the level of the valley the three riders had closed in on the Indian drivers. Shelby knew them at once as young Sioux warriors, and was again able to distinguish plainly the brand on the flank of the steers bringing up the rear of the herd. They were unquestionably his own stock, and, in spite of his rage, he could not be entirely indifferent to the grim humor of the situation he was being guided Into Wolves' hole by the very men who had robbed lilm. Yet his thoughts did not dwell upon this so much just then, as on the mad chnnce he had assumed In this adventure. What could he accomplish? What hope was there that he would ever emerge again alive? He was going forward blindly, led by fate, with not even a plan of guidance. He must work alone, in the midst of enemies, desperate men to whom human life was valueless, and where any Incautious word or act would Instantly expose him to discovery. In spite of (he fact that he was believed dead, Macklin would recognize him at a that he was glance, and the very claim a friend of Hanley's- - exposed hitn to discovery. In some way he must avoid them both, and yet no plan presented He could itself to promise escape. only drift helplessly, becoming more despondent of success with every step of advance. It was already dusk when they attained the level of the valley, and the overshadowing bluffs rose high on either hand, leaving them- plodding through the gloom. Yet even here they had not attained the full depression of the Hole, which required another sharp descent along the border of the stream, where a ledge of rock had evidently been blasted out. This passage abruptly ended in a wide, stone causeway, turning sharply to the left, and running beneath a waterfall, where the broad stream leaped over a ledge of high rock. It was a task to get the cattle through, yet once started, they plunged forward, following each Other with fright, never pausing until they scattered out over the plain below. Laud drew up his horse In front of a small log structure, so concealed at the edge of a straggly grove, that, in the gloom, Shelby was not even aware of Its existence until voices greeted . them. "Back again, Joe! Where'd yer pick up that bunch?" "Up on the Cottonwood ; easy plck-ln'and Laud flung one leg over his saddle In a posture of rest. "Where's Kelly? Oh, Dan; bring me out a drink. Anything new?" d frontiersman The tall, who responded, puffed at bis pipe, aud out through the open door of the cabin there suddenly streamed a light revealing his features, and the Indistinct outlines of others Idling near by. "Well, not much, Joe," he answered drawlingly, "most t the Injuns have struck out; ain't mor'n a dozen bucks left, I reckon. They tell me they're raisin h 1 already over Ponca way; maybe yer heard about it?" Laud nodded, wiping his lips with the back of his hand. "Whar's Matt Hanley?" "Oh, he an' Slngln cum' In bout Ove hours ago. 1 reckon, an' went oo up to the cove." "Have enythlng with 'em?" . "Not tbet I see they didn't, did they. Jim? Just travelln' light" "Didn't say enythlng about another gazabo?" "Not that 1 know about. They acted like they was both plum, tired out, and wanted ter go asleep. Just took a drink apiece, and mosled along." Iditid let fall an oath. d If t il "All right then, but d ride down to the cove tonight. We ll go np to your shark. Juan, and bnnk down. Come on, both o' yer.". ghost-danc- e. sure-foote- - "You Are Not of the Wolves' Den." together; I happen to know that. What's your name?" Shelby looked him squarely In the eye. "Churchill." "What! Matt talked to me about that. Fellow named Macklin stalkin' a girl down Tonfca way." "He's got her; so Hanley says, an' that's what I'm here for see?" "But you ain't Ol Churchill. The way I heard It he was sixty anyhow, " an' a "Virginia ; he's my father." "Oh, h I, an' where you been?" "Soldlerln mostly." "I see," his eyes wandered. "Sounds kinder fishy, young feller, but I ain't in no shape to tell. I reckon Matt Hanley kin straighten It out, an' If he is down thar, the best thing we kin do Is to take yer 'long. If yer lyln' ye'll be d n sorry 'fore yer get out ag'ln. I'll tell yer that to begin with, but If yer game to ride along, we'll see yer get thnr all right. Let's hit her up, Juan ; them Injuns will need us 'fore Come on. stranger." long. He wheeled his horse and rode off on a sharp trot and the Mexican followed. Neither man so much as glanced back toward Shelby, seemingly Indifferent as to what he chose to do. Yet he knew the customs of the West and that If he failed them now no future falsehood would ever regain their confidence. He swung Into the saddle and rode silently forward behind Juan. The cattle were still out of sight ahead, but they could hear the calls of the drivers. Shelby pressed his bronco up closer to the Mexican, who had lit a cigarette. "Is It far, Juan?" he asked. "Nnm de Plos! I heard you not. To the Hole you mean? Not far, but rough, senor; yet there Is no other way to get cattle In." "The man with you; who Is he?" Juan ethltted a cloud of blue smoke In the air, smiling pleasantly, "Senor Laud." "Laud!" In undisguised 'astonishment. "What Laud? Not 'Indian Joe ?" , "SI. senor; they, call heem that," confidently. "He verra bad man. You know heem, what?" Shelby gripped himself tightly. "I've heard of hitn, that's all. He's a Sioux scpiawman. but I never knew what he looked like before." His pony, no longer urged, fell back, trailing at the rear of the others. Juan rode on, unconscious and Indifferent, blowing sp'.rals of smoke Into the air. and humming the strain of some Spanish melody, but Shelby was staring beyond him at the while man slouched down In his saddle. So that fellow was "Indian Jims" Laud! As never before be realized to the full the danger Into which he advanced. "Indian Joe" Land ! When hadift he heard of him? For years certainly, evr since he had been In this north cot, n try, yet In appearance the fellow was not at nil what he previously bad Imagined that desperado lo be. Laud was gross, bearded, dirty, ; to all appearances a mere barroom tough, yet no man oa the frontier bad a worse record or was more dreaded and despised. Why wss he here stealing cattle on the very rergt of Indiaa wart True, b wu down-easter.- coarse-featured- ," raw-bone- "Because yoa are a woman, suets, and beeaoi I think you are straight." I (TO B Bower-Bird'- s CO.NTINUKU.) WOMAN AVOIDS AN OPERATION Hope Nearly Gone, butLydla E. 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