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Show I THE COMRADES' By RANDALL NEPHI, UTAH. TIMES-NEW- S, PERU I PARRISH 3opyright, A. C. McOlurg XII. CHAPTER The Attack on the Cabin. There wns no sound from without, excVpt occasionally tlie echo of n distant voice shouting. Shelby, martlet) hy these words and iiliirnn'il by her agitation, swiftly crossed the room. Tlie hody was pone, actuully K"te! As he bent over, incredulous, distnistlnir the evidence of Mk own eyes, he could perceive the stain of lilood In which the man had fallen, hut that was all. There was no semblance of n body there. '"Judas Priest!" said soberly. "This beats anything: ever I saw. He couldn't have been killed, hut I never saw him twitch a muscle after he dropped. Gone! Purn If I know what to make of It. Why, where could he have gone to? There ain't hut one way out from this shack an' he sure didn't go out there." "No, he couldn't," her voice quavering. "We would have seen him If he had." "Seen him!, Of course, we would. He must have revived and crawled away. You bet, there ain't no mystery about It. Dead men aih't movln' around an' there ain't no angels cotuln' down to carry that cuss off. What's happened Is, he got back strength enough to crawl. Likely he got into that hack room out o sight. Anyhow I'm goin' to find out what's happened. You keep an eye at that hole In the wall yonder, while I scout around a minute. If you see anything movln' In shootin" distunes, just blaze away. Don't hesitate a moment." She went forward as lie told her without a word and stared out, yet nervously turning her head about at the slightest sound. Shelby waited a moment, listening, and then stepped confidently forward across the threshold of the inner door. He had no doubt that he would discover Macklin dead or alive, outstretched on the floor. The fellow must be there; he could Rave gone nowhere else. The place was as black as night; a step. beyond the entrance and he had to grope his way blindly, unable to distinguish a -- ingle object. There was something grim and ghastly In feeling about with his feet for an unseen body. Then the fellow might still be alive, even dangerous. He stopped at the disquieting: thought and spoke sharply Into the gloom. "Are you there, Macklin? Come, speak up; nobody Is going to hurt he you." There was no response, no movement, no sound of groan, no pulsing of breath. The stillness was Intense, horrible. Shelby gripped himself and began to advance slowly, guiding his passage nlsng the wall, expecting every Instant to encounter some obstacle. His groping feet touched nothing. Inch by Inch he explored the floor of the room, the perspiration beginning to stand In , drops on his forehead. There was no body lying there, no form of a man, either living or dead; the place was absolutely unoccupied. He could hardly believe this true; his mind refused to grasp the fact; he came back to the door dazed and unnerved. All nature, all reasoning told him the man must be somewhere within the cabin; any other thought was simply Impossible; yet where? He had already explored every Inch of surface to no result. So bewildered and was he before this mystery that he was even startled at the girl's voice asking rn eager question. "Is he there? Did you find him?" "No; he's gone as though he had k ialr of wings." dum-found- "P.ut how could he get out?" "That's what I say. I'verything Is olid; no human could vuriWh through these walls; there Isn't a window not boarded up and only that yine door. We wasn't outside ten minutes, nor ten feet away from the step. A rat couldn't have passed without heln" seen. Ill a mod If It don't make me shiver, for, by thunder, however It happened, he ain't here; he nin't nowhere in this cabin. An'." he sddi-rl- . peering at the door, "there nln't no trail o' bhx.d to show that he crawled way: Just that little pool what he laid In." "Could he have, got through the roof, or the floor?" Shelby laughed despondently. "Lord. I don't enMly see how he could; ff'sfifteen feet to them rafters an' no opening, while, Judging from outside", the floor in lis! rest tilmn ,n Ntlie ground. Who shot him, anyhow? Did you sec?" MY. 1 dhl." she explained excitedly, looking that way. toward w here the board was riped off the window. 1 Just had a glimpse of a face behind the muzzle of the gun. It was a woman ; I am sure It was a woman, with bluck eyes. Then tin- - smoke obscured everything and lie was gone." "She must have been I'jinchii." he admitted, struggling with the Idea. oure. that's all plain "Why. of enoiith. .vle oerl'cnril what he said ai!I fired in mad passimi." "What do you ivenn? What are you Ni'kln- - about? This jrfrir "Sure; I told Jou hm,i her; she helped me pvcppn bin; iiltlit. She was over Marklin. Khe Is ernzil.v iei'luii - vixl in IS ft berv Willi her lilnlliar; "1 wne ii- little outlaw, no doubt, knowing no Inw hut her own passion. She must have been there when he boasted to I.aud that he would leave her and marry you. It drove her crazy and she h shot." "I can iinili'i'stiind that yes," Olsra burst forth,' "and later she was sorry. I believe It was she who came back and took the body away." "1 hardly sec bow thai theory helps Mow could she take him?" nuieli. ".IVi blips she may know some secret passage. There might be one underneath. I do not know, yet In what other way could the body have been removed?" Shelby shook his head gloomily, his eyes searching the floor for any evidence and finding none. To all appearances it appeared smooth and solid. "I don't know." he said. "That Idea may be as good as any. 'You might Yake this broken knife of mine an' see if you can start anvthlng. What was goin' on out there?" "Nothing much that I could see. There are men hiding behind the bank of the creek; I think they are Indians, and there may he others off to the rightt In the weeds." a guard left there to see that we don't get away. They'll wait until dark and then try to burn us out, I reckon; the bucks n't like my shooting. That wns a rifle." "Yes; the bullet struck the log." He crossed over and looked out anxiously. "I thought It might be a signal, but I guess not. Don't seem to be any- "Yes; I think one or two are crawling closer through those weeds." "Likely enough, young bucks who can't hold hack ; keep your eye on them, an' let them have It. as soon as you are sure. Call out if you need me." lie groped his way as far as the inner door, helped by tlie almost continuous flash of the rifles outside; he had even crossed the threshold, his heart a glare of choking him as red flame, already visible here and there through narrow chinks between the logs. Perhaps he was already too late those devils had fired the cabin, the licking flames even then beginning to eat into the dry bark. He had no time in which to act, or even think. Before be might venture another step forward. Olga fired twice rapidly, tlie flare of her revolver lighting up the entire Interior. What followed he scarcely knew; there was a sharp cry. ".T-js- thing moving." He straightened up again, his eyes sun-eyinthe room. "If we only had two more In this outfit we might give those devils a run for their money. The trouble is we enn defend oniy two sides, an' they know It anyhow, Laud does. I'm goin' to haul this bench over on that side; then you can stand up there, and shoot through that hole in the window while I pepper them from here In front. We'll make it hot while It lasts." She watched him shift the bench, and then stood upon It to look out. The sun had gone down, and the valley swam in a purple haze. If she Would utilize what little light still remained, she must search at once. "Nothing out there?" "I can see nothing moving. It Is growing dark. Let me take the knife." He gave It to her, and she got down upon her knees on the floor, anxiously testing the openings between the blocks with the broken blade. Shelby turned his head occasionally, barely able to distinguish her movements, yet felt little confidence In the success of the effort. Any attempt at escape through the door would be suicidal ; In all probability, In spite of die silence, and seeming loneliness of the, scene without, a dozen rifles were even then trained on the entrance, ready to shoot them down the instant either And there was no other appeared. way out, unless It might be through some secret passage existing under ground. Macklin had certainly disap peared somewhere ; the vanishing of his body was no miracle, and this theory of how It might have been ac complished alone appeared reasonable. In spite of his doubts, the man held to a measure of hope ; nothing else than this remained which he could cling to; their only chance lay In some such discovery. Vet the woman, groping on her knees in the deepening darkness gave no sign of encour agement. Shelby could bear the strain no longer in silence. "There is nothing to be found?" he asked anxiously, "no appearance of a g trap?" lifted her head, with face turned toward him. "Nothing that I eem able to move." she answered. "I have found a block which does not apiear to fit as tightly as the others; I can get tlie knife blade between, and It doesn't seem to touch any earth Itelow, jet the slab Is Immovable." "Let me try my strength." He started back to Join her, but at that instant there came a sudden hurst of rifle fire without, bullets thudding into the cabin walls, the sound punctuated by savage yells. Shelby whirled aliont Instantly, and dropped to his knees with eyes peer ing wit through the ripening between the logs. Olga also deserted her t of enrch, and climbed) to her did fense on the bench. TJ" no damage, genr-Hin"tiig billet In the solid lo?r.. ''..noug! 0 few crashed through the L.nnklnjr of the door. To Shelby i'ie meaning was sufficiently plain; the real danger lay, as he at the rear; all this noise was being carried on merely' to attract their attention. He called across, unable to see his companion, but well aware where she was. "Don't waste any shot Until you see something within range. Those 'fellow out there are Just plugging away blindly. They'll never rush this side. oien. though. Keep your eyes wld I'm going back, and try to knork off a biinril from that rear window. If I can get a few shots out there we'll block their little gaasav You bear?" She p-- 'fs "Was She Dead, or Alive?" the crash of the overturned be-- j. and the sonnd of a body falling heavily on the floor. A revolver went spinning noisily across the room, and then all was still, and black once more. Shelby could see nothing; only the blurred memory of that single Instant had seared Itself ron his brain. She had been shot his wife; this girl he had learned to love I Some stray shot from an Indian rifle, fired blindly In the dark, had found fatal passage through that broken shutter, and struck her down. His first helpless daze changed Into a rage of revenge, mingled with a wild yearning that he might yet find her alive. be cried out, "Olga !" "Olga There was no answer, no movement. All was black, soundless; even the rifle fire without had ceased. He dropped to his knees, and crept forward, feeling along the floor with outstretched hands, dreading each Instant to touch her body. Suddenly his searching fingers encountered an opening in the puncheon floor. Shelby dared .not move,' except to feel downward Into this mysterious opening. Yet he realized Instantly what must have occurred the miracle which had so swiftly disclosed this secret passage. The girl, in falling, had dislodged the very block In the floor she had been endeavoring so vainly to It had suddenly swung discover. downward to the heavy blow of her body, and she had fallen with It Into Rut the unknown dnrkness below. was she dead, or alive? Had the fall stunned her? He drew himself to the very edge listening. What was down there? Macklin perhaps; the two bodies might be lying there together In a common grave. But wait, something moved surely ! "Olga! speak to me!" ' He couldn't restrain the agony wltb which he uttered the words. Frightened as she was. dazed by tjie fall, scarcely conscious even yet, or able to ocactually comprehend what ha-curred, his cry penetrated her mlti.1. brought her hack to life. "Yes. 1 I am here, Tom." she managed to say weakly. "And you are not hurt)" his voice thrilling now with a sudden return to hope. I cannot "Oli, I I don't know. even tell wliat has happened. I stepped bark quickly, the bsnch overturned and I fell. It Is all earth around me where am I?" "In the passage hhenttt he cnbln." he explained quickly. "It fens beeii a miracle; your fall opened the trap. Perhaps we may scape from these dells yet. Make room far me to come down ; the cabin Is already on fire. Is the hole deep?" "Not very, I tltuik, and there 1 room." He lowered himself, bnt It was not to drop; his feet struck the nfesary earth floor, and, as he turned bis bauds come In coatact With the slab r J still Mangling, Just as it had fallen. Obeying the first Impulse, aware of a sudden outburst of red flames somewhere above him, he forced the block upward, back Into its place. Jamming it there with all his strength, until a sharp click convinced him the puncheon again was securely held. They were alone. Isolated. In, the black depths, underneath the burning cabin, buried deep In the protecting earth. He reached blindly out through the darkness until he touched her.Jiis fingers closing convulsively on a fold of her dress. In the sudden reaction he felt as weak as a child, unable even to control his speech. "It was God who helped us," he said humbly, "no one else could. You nre sure, Olga, you are unhurt?" "I must be bruised, I suppose; It was art ugly fall, and and I really think I lost consciousness at flrst. Then I seemed to hear you call me a long ways off. Is the cabin afire?" "Yes ; those devils started it at the rear, You can hear the wood crackle even down here, and we must get farther back out of the way. When the roof falls this part of the floor may cave in also." In spite of the increasing volume of flames above, scarcely a glimmer of red light succeeded in penetrating to where they were hidden. A very slight glow found entrance through a. narrow crack above them, yet Shelby was compelled to learn their Immediate surroundings more by sense of touch than sight They were in a mere hole scooped out from the soft earth, hardly wider than the trap door which led to it, the other puncheons of the cabin floor resting solidly upon the ground. Shelby leading the way, feeling his passage along Inch by inch, was suddenly halted by an earth barrier which seemingly blocked all further progress. He could feel that It did not wholly reach the top, leaving a space there through which it might be possible to crawl. Yet what would there be beyond? Why should they venture further at present? Laud was outside with his Indians, the whole scene lit up with the glare of flames. They dare not venture to expose themselves. Here they were beyond reach, protected from both flames, and savages. Unless some among those assailants knew the existence of this tunnel, or accidentally stumbled upon Its outer entrance, they could scarcely be exposed. Even If one or two found their way In, this barrier of earth would block them, and. If, necessary, form the best possible defense. they had perished, and that their charred bodies were tying In the midst of the still smoking embers of the cabin, there would be no guard watching for an attempt at escape. He reached out and grasped her hand, drawing her down beside him. "What is it?" she asked In a whisper. "A fall of earth nearly blocking the passage." he explained. "I have no Idea where the tunnel leads to, and. If I did, we would never dare creep out Into the open at present." "You you think we had better remain htre?" doubtfully. "Until the fire dies down ; perhaps even longer. Let them believe we died In the cabin ; then there may be some chance for us to get away." "But they will search the ruins?" "Not for some time; those Ios will be glowing embers for hours. That sounded like the roof falling In then. It was seel It has crushed Its way down through the floor. There Is a caldron of fire In that hole we dust left, but It can't reach us- here only the timoke." "Will It not show them where we have gone?" "I hope not ; probably the smoking, blazing timbers will choke up the opening, leaving It so filled with partly burned wood as to conceal It entirely. Anyhow. Mils Is our one chance. We would be shot down mercilessly outside." The glare from the burning rubbish revealed their faces, and the smoke began to swirl post them In clouds, yet did not choke the tunnel, showing there must be an opening somewhere beyond to the outside. Shelby fastened his neckerchief over the girl's no-and mouth, and protected her. as well ns lilin.self, bjfr means of his coat. Scarcely conscious of the action they sat thus, their hands clasped, gazing at the leaping figures of flame, and listening to the variety of noises reaching thotr ears. The position, while one of brooding horror, did not apparently Involve 'immediate peril. The flames could not reach them, and It was already evident that those dense' volumes of smoke, while1 and suffocating, could still hi end:red. But being cooped up In that hole underground, un- able to venture forth, choked by the fumes, their faces smarting from the heat, the earth vrnll.s holding them In prison, death waiting for them whichever way they turned, orought a wtraln to Olgn she could no longer combat. Impulsively she clutched the man beside her, her head touching his xboiilder. her slender form trembling to a sudde'f outburst. - are most Anniversary Gifts Birthday and licre. e aily selected Kverytliing the fluent to be had. Our reasonable prices ease the wuy. BOYD PARK JEWELERS BOYD PARK BLDG ul Co. "Don't lose your nerve," he whispered, startled by her action, "nothing can hurt us here." "Oh, I know; It Is not that." the words almost a sob. "I do not think I am really frightened; only I I want to feel you near me. "Me!" he questioned surprised; "why, I haven't been much good so far." "Oh. but you have; you have been splendid. No woman could ever ask more. I want you to know how grateful I am." "Well. I don't Just like that," he protested. "There ain't no cause for you to be grateful, so far as I can see. A man who wouldn't stick with his wife wouldn't be much." "Are you here Just because of that?" Of "Well, maybe not altogether. course. I'd he here anyhow. I wouldn't go back on no woman who belonged to me. But you ain't Just that exnet-lI've somehow got to thinkin' a lot about you lately." rCb Ria Bills " s&sW IS,H JWs-- PIMP Francis f, i nKe . ..7 r a mannapr wtmc JllRooms Continental -- SALT K)6 MAIN STREET BHiy v H ? bills 1 Scienti - iccoiecToT?' v iiuiicji n.L,. vvdix sfr Un., BanK LAKE CITY, UTAH B'l&Si kopxv-3- b WW y Pleasant, profitable work for lad i el, young and old. Make your spaVe time and your information pay you well. Write for particulars. Daynes Beebe Music Co., Box i4IG, Salt Lake City, Utah. y. "Truly?" "Sure; there's a heap o things happened since we was lined up against the wall of that shack down at Ponca. I've found out more what you are than I knew then; an', I reckon, you . got a better line on me." "I I chose you even then." He laughed awkwardly. "Out o' that bunch! I don't take that as no great compliment. Say, that wns the ornarlest lot o' cattle I ever rode herd over." ' "Oh, I don't know," her mood changing Into new interest. "There were some among them not so bad. Any- ' how, I chose you." "Maybe you're sorry since?" "I am not." firmly. "I never have been. See here. Tom Shelby. I pretty near knew what sort of man you was when I selected you; your face told me tjiat. You thought I' Just took you so as to get away. Well, maybe. I did in a sense, for I would have done al- most anything to escape from that life. But I never would have, gone with you, if I hadn't honestly liked you just the same. You said in the cabin there that you didn't marry me because you knew I had money that you had no such knowledge. Was that true?" "Certainly." "Then why did you marry me?" His face, burning from the heat of the nearby flames, grew redder, if possible, with embarrassment. Her eyes were gazing straight at him. Insistent of an answer. "We'll, I ain't exactly sure that I know," he admitted reluctantly. "Maybe I sorter sympathized with you a bit, an' then I got almighty mad at the way them fellows acted. I I kinder got to wantln' you myself." "I knew you did." "You knew? But howT I never said anything like that." "No; yet I felt the change. I would never have said 'yes' otherwise. I am willing to tell yon now. Perhaps we shall never get out of this place WALKER'S BEAUTY PAKLOR, Switch transformations worth (12 for $8.50. Switches worth $7.50 for $5, by mail. Cut sample from center of head. 820 South Main. CLEANERS DVEKS. Service. Quality. Clothes insured. Work guaranteed. We pay return postage. Price Hat on request. Myers Cleaners & Dyers, 114 E. Broadway. Dry Cleanint; by Parcel Post. Send your suits, dresses, oats, etc. to us for "Master Cleaning and Dyeing." Salt's Lake's leading cleaners. We pay return charges. Regal Cleaning tt . 2nd So. Dyeing Co., 156-16-0 Write for catalog. Standard kioiMCjiiiNTS. Marble & Granite Co.. 117 W. Broadway. TYPEWRITERS: New and rebuilt, repaired and exchanged. Ribbons and carbons for all makes. UTAH TYPEWRITER EX. CO., Dept. SAY IT WITH FLOWERS. Out of town orders solicited. Miller Floral Co., 10 East Broadway. RUBBER STAMPS & STENCILS. Steals and ear tags also made. Send for samples, prices, etc. Salt Lake Stamp Co., 65 W. Broadway. i SALT LAKE BUSINESS COLLEGE. Save lodging ; work after school ; enroll anytime. t and commission, at home. potty,. Vacuum Cleaner Co,, Suit Laka ArCUTC-S192.- 00 nvu.m J BOUGHT. Best prices. Western Creamery Co.. 244 W. Fourth South. MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. e. Daynes-BeebEverything known in music Salt Lake City. CREAM HATS Write for prices. Retura charges prepaid. Smytbe Hat Factory, lit 2 3. POULTRY BOUGHT. results ship For poultry, eggs and game to Fulton Mkt Correct Write for prices. weight. Prompt returns. 0LD8MOBILE DISTRIBUTORS. Cars 4k tracks. Used car bargains. A. E. Tourssen. 44? S. Main. bt 4 ill Piston Ring cure your motor troubles. (iill Piston King Co.. bast fourth Soutli 1 RUBBER HOSPITAL. We cure injured rubber articles. Boots. Shoes. lot Water bottles. 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"I know a feller wlmt fiHhcd here for two tin' he didn't fret any more tluin you jrot In hnlf an hour." lSonton Tranwrlpt. k w-e- e You!" Ha Whlepered Ps. tionately. alive, and I want to be honest with you for once. Whatever happens, I jvohIiI rather you knew." "Itti! you cannot mean " "It Is exactly what I mean, Tom. I love you I Do you care?" "(,'nre! Why, Olga, girl, I have done nothing but car. I hardly !r.new what It all meant at flrst, the way I thought of yon. Love came to me K- -e a strange thing. I have led a man's life, ami I have known few good' women. Even now I canpot wholly realize what has come to me." He gathered her snddenlv Into hi arms, the neckerchief slipping down about her throat. "I love you I" he whispered passionately, "love yon, wife of mine." "I Lev (TU BE Tha Witching Hour. Henvy I inter I have never ee, Mich dreamy rye! Weepy 1'ntee Mnyhe you never stayed o Inle before Virginia Keel, Strenuous Diversion. "Would you iiiivlne tn to travel for my hi'iilth?" "No," replied the doctor. "A. Innn wants to he In flrst-clphyslcMi condition before ho tnkee on the worries of trnvel nottmlnj." A Vagus Idea. "WlnttVthe phij?" "The Merchant of Venice." "Wfat'n Mi f.lotr "I durum. I think he wa l)nu'c, tip for profifreriiis." Louisville Courier-Juuri- CNTINVX)J ' 1 r ... |