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About The Red Cloud chief. (Red Cloud, Webster Co., Neb.) 1873-1923 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 3, 1921)
JTJESSS SBISwwscsa'awJK . -s..JC jswaMcsi. -i .. s - r.MJirli:..w:Jr,Cr! '1 RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF fi i.1 31 I i XyyiTtTfTtitmrTmiTmniniiiTigHiTttttnTtiimiiTmHiniTiiim COMRADES rimimTrTrmmiiTiiiiTimTmniiMniiHiniiTntginTtitMtitttttTm "YOU CARE FOR ME." Synopsis. Tom Shelby, a rancher, rides Into tlio frontier town of Poncn, looking for a Rood tlmo af ter a lonjr spoil of hard work nnd loneliness on the ranch. Instead, he runs Into a funeral that of Dad Calkins, a retired nrmy man of whom little la known. A Klrl, still In her toons, survives Calkins. Mc Carthy, a saloon keeper nnd I'on ca'e lending citizen, decides that the girl, now alone In the world, should marry. 8ho agrees to 'pick out a husband from the score of men lined up In her homo. To his consternation, sho selects Sholby, who had gona along merely as a spectator. Tlio wcdlng takes placo and the couple net out for Shelby's ranch. With them Is "Kid" Macklln, whom Shelby has hired as a holpor. On tlio way tlio girl tolls her husband her nnmo Is Olga Carlyn, and also tells liltn something of the peculiar circum stances of her llfo. Upon their ar rival at tlio rnnch Shelby Is struck down from behind nnd left for dead. Ho recovers consciousness to And that Macklln and his wife havo gono. Ho starts In pursuit Ho loams his wlfo Is an heiress, that her abduction has been carefully planned and that sho has bcon taken to Wolves' Holo, a strong hold of the bandits nnd bad Indians, neachltiR Wolves' Holo, ho Is dis covered by "Indian Joe" nnd forcod to accompany him Into the holo. Here ho claims to bo ono of the conspirators and Is locked up pend ing developments. Ho contldcs In a. Moxlcnn girl, Panchu, in lovo with Macklln, who Intends to marry Olga. Pnncha, planning to get rid of her rival, releases Shel by and guldos him to a hidden cave. , CHAPTER X. Continued. 10 Descending wns fur easier tlinn the toilsome climb through the darkness of the night before. There wns noth ing In sight so fur ns the mouth of tho ravine where It opened Into the mnln valley, Ileyond that ho could per ceive moving figures, nnd occasionally hoar the sound of n distant voice. It was cearly evident to his mind thnt something unusual must havo oc curredsome news of disaster or ap proaching danger to arouse such ex citement among the citizens of the Hole; and he also felt convinced that this more Important thing hnd for the time being, at least, rendered his own escape a mnttcr of small considera tion. If any attempt hnd been made to trail him, this effort had certainly already been abandoned. As he leaned forth from his hiding place he saw, Bcarcely a hundred yards nwny, the log walls of that hut, concealed among the trees which he had dimly noted from the crag nbove. This was prob ably where Olga hnd been confined. Ills henrt beat rapidly as he studio the outlines. Could she be there still? Was Mncklln with her? or had she been left there under guurd of some of bis lad Inn allies? If she was there, and not too se curely guarded, It might be possible for him alone to effect her rescue. Tho Inspiration to make the attempt ap pealed to him strongly. If he only could get her away unobserved as far ns that cave, he believed It possible to follow the trail to the summit. The project appeared simple enough, as ho turned It thus over In his mind; nt least It surely could do no hnrm for him to determine definitely If the lady still remnlned Imprisoned there. lie would venture far enough to assure himself thnt this must be the fact. Shelby wus sulllclently conscious of danger to uso every precaution; the training of yenrs enmo to his aid. The rocky hanks of the st renin were suf ficiently high to conceal his advance, and the creek curved about so as to approach the hut within n few yards. Assured thnt the water would thus conceal his trnll, he crept across the narrow open space, and lowered h Im pel f over the bnnk, crouching knee deep In tho cold stream, safely under cover. Thus protected ho wndetl slow , ly downward. lie saw no evidence of ' nny gunrd, and became convinced the cabin also was deserted; that If this was actually tho place where Olgn had been confined on nrrlvnl, she had since been removed elsewhere. As he drew nearer the plnce appeared old, rather dilapidated and long desert ed, n shack "scarcely fit for humnn habi tation nny longer. The one window was hoarded up, and the patched roof of tho lean-to sagged dismally. This was certainly not the place; no one appar ently hnd lived there for ninny n year. Still, now he had ventured so much, It might be well to take n look Inside. Assuredly no harm could be done by his searching the rooms, nnd this would require only n moment or two. Ho drew himself up Into the weeds, and wiggled his way forward until ho obtained a full view of the door. It was tightly closed, hut unguarded without. Indeed his search revealed no sign that tho hut had been visited for months, until he enme within a yard or two f the long step before tho entrance; then ho suddenly en countered footprints In tho softer ground, and was ablo to distinguish where some ono more than one, ho thought hud pushed a passage through tho surrounding tangle of weeds. He studied these signs Intent IE. 3st discerned nothing resembling OF By RANDALL PARRISH n woman's shoe. Tho moccasln-shod feet, however, hod passed over the ground again nnd ngnln, nnd he even believed, one, nnd pcrhnps more, of the wearers had sat on tho 'doorstep Impatiently stomping their feet. To his Judgment the placo had Indeed been under guard, and that recently the marks were comparatively fresh and clenncut, as though tnado within a fow hours. Then, In all probability, this had been tho prison where hlfl wlfo wns held. He had stumbled upon It. Here, undoubtedly, wns tho very spot where she hnd been confined under guard during the past night, yet sho certain ly was not there, now. The deserted uppenrance of the place was proof posltlvo that she had been taken else where. Voices sounded off toward the brondcr expanse of vnlley, but too far nway to present danger oven as he stood cautiously up, and looked out over tho tops of the weeds he could seo nothing to crcnto alarm. Ho was alone, unseen, unsuspected, nnd yield ed to the dcslro to team what was within the hut. She might have left somo message, some sign of her pres ence, which would prove a clue. Tho outer door was secured merely by a wooden latch, nnd opened enslly to his touch.' Afraid lest some un known eye might mark his movements, Shelby glided quickly In through tho narrow opening, and Instantly pressed the door shut behind him. Ho was In almost total darkness, tho only light finding entrance between the Ill-fitting boards at tho single window. Ho felt his wny blindly across the room, guided by this dim ray, and, discover ing ono of tho boards sonfewhat loosened, managed to wrench It free, thus permitting the gray daylight to gain entrance. This gave him a dim view of the Interior, a nearly square room, Inexpressibly dirty, nnd without furniture, except n rough bench thrust buck against ono wall. Straight ucross from where ho stood Rome black object lay upon the floor, so Indistinct In Its outlines he could not, In thnt faint light, detcrmlno what It might be a pile of rags, per haps, or a shapeless heap of rubbish. He stepped forward, curious to learn Its nature, yet stopped suddenly, star ing down In speechless horror, no wns besldo the bodies of two men. both dead, gripped together, stiffened In tho very attitude with which death had overtaken them. They had died fighting like wild dogs, and their strnngo posture told tho whole story. Shelby, crushing buck the dread he felt, tried to part them, but tho stif fened limbs would not yield. One was a white man, tho other nn Indian, tho latter shot through tho chest, the for mer apparently choked to death, the rigid red fingers of his antagonist still clutching his thront. Hcyond on the tloor luy a revolver and a knife. Shelby stared at the gruesome scene, unable to remove his gaze. In the dim light the features of the two men were almost unrecognizable. What had caused this tragedy? this fierce Both Dead, Gripped Together. death grapple? Ho could only con jecture from what little he knew of the circumstances. Beyond doubt ono of these antagonists would bo tho gunrd whom Macklln had left to watch over his captive while he de parted. Hut the other? Somo ono who sought entrance probably; somo one endeavoring to reach the woman, either Inspired by good or evil Intent. Yet which wns the guard? which tho Invader? Those who had accompanied tho Kid nt the ranch were nil Indians, and It was thereforo most likely that u savage had been left to watch over tho girl. Then It was the whlto man who thus sought to rench her. Fqr what purpose? Shelby bent down and peered In quiringly Into the agonlzea face of the 1 I m ' s2 PERIL Copytf ht A. C McClnrf A Co. dead whlto man. The features were discolored, distorted from the agony In which ho had died, tho lips drawn bnck, disclosing a grinning row of teeth. The face scarcely appeared human, and yet wai vaguely familiar. He hnd seen It onco before, rovcnled In the glare of a match, and the recol lection came brifck haunting him the fellow wns Slagln, Hanloy's partner. Then lie had come there for no good.' Had come thcro In the night tike a slinking car, knowing of Mncklln's oh sence, to carry out some foul object of his own. Tho ranchman drew In a long breath, and stood up. Tho silence and gloom oppressed him, as his eyes once more swept ubout the dismal apart ment. It wns surely a fit abode for murder, 'but the sight of those two dead bodies Interlocked on the floor wns more than he could bear. Obey ing the first lmpulso he dragged them, still gripping each other, across the floor, and thrust them under the bench, flinging over them tho folds of a tat' tcred blanket. But what of her Olga? Surely no one could have been here since these two men fought? Otherwise their (bodies would have been found, nnd enred for. It must be that Macklln hnd not yet returned, and that Ilanley knew nothing of SIngln's desperate venture. Then the girl must still be confined In the house, helpless to es cape and guarded by these dead men. The thought sent tho blood surging into Shelby's throat, and his eager eyes sought the only door opening through tho side wall. It was tightly closed and secured by a strong bar of wood. He picked up tho revolver from the floor, nnd went swiftly for ward, prepared to face whatever might bo revealed beyond. Tho bar fitted snugly) yet ho forced It free of tho clasps, nnd pushed the door open with his knee, watchfully peering Into the darkness behind. He saw nothing, no flutter of movement, no evidence thnt tho place was occupied. In spite of daylight without, the room, with its shuttered windows, remnlned black, nis heart almost ceased to beat, yet ho advanced Into the room, flinging the door wide open behind him. This admitted sufficient light to cnnble htm to dimly make out his surroundings a couch, covered with a bearskin, n rudely made chair, a bucket of water In one corner, and a faintly revealed figure against the further wall. "Olga!" he exclaimed, "Olgal" She moved, leaning forward eagerly. "Who are you? Who calls me?" "It Is you, then?" he sprnng forward. "Don't be afraid ; I am Shelby 1" "Shelby you I Tom Shelby! O God I this Is not a dream?" "No, no I I am Just as real as you are. See; touch me. You thought I was dead?" Her bnnds were In his own; her eyes, still Incredulous, searching his face In the dim light. "Dead yes I They told me so; an Indian said he had crushed In your skull. He boasted of It; and when I asked that Macklln, he only laughed, when ho said It was so." "Laughed, how?" Her eyes fell. "He ho didn't seem to think It could mnke much difference to me; that I would core." "Rut do you know who he Is? Did he tell you? Did tho fellow explain Ills purpose In this outrage?" "I do not know ; he had no time, no opportunity; wo were never nlone. Whnt do you mean? Was this all dono for some deliberate purpose?" "Yes, It was, Olga. Ills nnmo Is not Macklln at all; It Is probably Churchill havo you ever heard that name be fore?" "No; I am sure not." "It was your mother's name. She came from Virginia, nnd wns heiress to considerable property. It wns left to her In trust, nnd her uncle was the trustee." "My mother?" "Yes ; she never know this while she lived, but your father lenrned somo of the facts after her death, and en denvored to veIfy them. Ills search was what started trouble; for your uncle, the trustee his niuno Is Cor nelius Churchill had made no effort to locate the heir to tho property left In his care. Instead he had used the money, believing himself perfectly safe. When he learned of your fa ther's suspicions, ho became fright ened." "Can thin be true?" "It evidently Is true, strange ns It seems. Then your fnthcr wns killed, perhaps through some row engineered by Churchill to put him out of the wny, nnd they mode every effort to find you. You nlone stood between them nnd this Ill-gotten wealth, For tunately you could not immediately be located ; you had been hidden away In a Catholic school, and, before Church Ill succeeded In discovering what school you wore at, Calkins took you away, and destroyed every trail." 'Calkins I Who and what was he?" "A sergeont In your father's troop; a faithful fellow to whom your father had confided his story before ho died, nis one object was to keep you safely out of Churchill's hands until you should becomo of ace. That was why he dragged yon from town to town nnd kept you In poverty." "But why did he never tell mo all this?" "I ennnnt answer thnt; no doubt ho thought It best; believed the time had not come. I understund ho acted under legal advice. Then, you know, his death was very sudden." "Did he kill himself?" "I do not think so now. Thnt wnt the Btory In Poncn, but It Is my belief he was murdered. You hnd finally been traced; the man who had suc ceeded In finding your trail wns In I'oncn. Calkins bad to be put out of the wny." "You menu Macklln?" "Yes; only, us I snv that Is prob ably not the fellow's nnme he Is Cor nelius Churchill's son." "Where whero did you learn nil this?" "Macklln told, the story, when he was drunk, to another rnscnl. I crept up to n camp-fire one night und heard the latter relate the tale." "Where was this?" "On Dragoon creek." n "Yes but when?" "Night before Inst; while T was seeking to trail you." She hod never released her grasp of his hand ; now It tightened. "Night before last; you you never knew It before?" "Certainly not." "You didn't mnrry mo be because I had all this money?" Shelby Inuglied lightly. "Lord, no; I never suspected you had live cents." "And nnd," she went on earnestly, "you you followed after me. hurt ns you was, never knowing nbout nil this Just because It wus. me?" "That's sure right; leastwise until I struck this outfit over on Dragoon creek, nnd I can't sny that I cared a d n nbout the money nt nil; only It gnve me n notion of what was up. I'd come Just the same; you can bet your life nn that." "Oh. I am glad you said sol And you you actually don't enre for the money?" "Care for It I Little girl. I ain't given it a thought. I'm hero for you I" "Me? You care for me?" "Well, I reckon I must. Long ns you're my wife, I'm your husbund, ain't I?" "Yes," she said, rather wearily, "I understand." Her glance wns toward the open door Into the other room, and she seemed nnxlous to chnnge the topic. "Whnt what happened out there last night? Do you know? There wns fighting, nnd n shot tired. I urn sure I heard n cry, os though some one wns hurt, nnd then after that everything wns silent." "There wns n light," he answered, "and It cost the lives of two men one white, the other Indlnn. I found them gripped In each other's arms there on the floor, both dead 1" "Both dead I Two of them out there. How horrible! Who are they?" "One must have been your guard." "Yes, the Indian; but the other?" "A rufllnn named Slagln; he was one of the fellows I overheard tnlk Ing about your case. He must have known that Macklln left you here nlone last night, and came to see you for some purpose. He must have en countered the Indian unexpectedly, nnd the, two went Into tho death grap ple." t "And both were killed? "Yes; the red wns shot, and the white choked to death. It was n game fight nil right. I couldn't pry the fel lows npart." "And they are there now?" "Not In sight no; I rolled the bodies bnck under a bench out of sight, and threw an old blanket over them. Now see here, Olgn." he went on earnestly, "we've got to get out of here before nnyone comes. I know n place .where wo catflilde. and a trail thnt leads up from this Hole; but tho first thing to do Is to get safely nway before Macklln gets back. You will go with mo?" . "Of course; but do you dare mnke tho attempt by daylight?" "I don't; dnre anything else. Kvery minute wo waste here adds to our danger. You have nothing to tnkc with you?" Sho shook her bend; then suddenly sho lifted her eyes ngaln, nnd looked him directly In the face. "Tom Shelby." 'she asked Impetuous ly, "Is whnt you snld actunlly true that you nre.Just doing this because you have got to, being my husband?" He stared nt her, surprised, nnd confused by so direct n question. "Sure; thnt's what I ought to do, ain't It? But maybe you don't exactly sabo whnt I mean. I I reckon I've got to thlnktn' n lot about you lately; since that galoot took you away I mean; and and well, I'm d d glnd you are my wife," ho broke forth des perately. "That's honest how I feel nhout It." The clear eyes watching him smiled, nnd she stretched out her hand. "You nro sure then It Is not Just n duty. You renlly want mo to go with you?'' "I nln't much good telling these things, but that's what I want. I reckon there nln't no world big enough to keep me from huntln' you up God ! did you hear that?" It was tho harsh voice of a man singing, tho voice of Joo Mncklln. CHAPTER XI. A Shot In the Dark. She stood clutching him tightly, both storing In startled fear out through the open door Into the dim light of the front room. Tho whole situation flashed through Shelby's mind If Macklln was alone he could handle him: yet thcro was danger that the i man mignt shoot, and the report overheard by others. Then, ngaln. he might not be nlone. It wns heftor to mnke sure first, nnd then act. But how? A possibility occurred to him It wns dnrk within that second room; he could slip back into the corner, and remain concealed; perhaps the, fellow would talk, would reveal his plans; nt least, once at his case, ho could be mode tho victim of surprise. But would Olga plov the part necessary? "Can you,net?" he whispered hastily. "We must fool, thnt fellow." "How do you mean? Whnt nm I to do?" "Make him tnlk. Let him think you ore all right; nbove oil keep him from susplclonliig that I am cither here, or even alive." "But how can I?" breathlessly, "with the door unbarred, and thee dend men? He will know something hat gone wrong." "Tell him they fought and killed each other, but that first they un barred tlio door. You found them there, nnd dragged the bodies under the bench. You dared not go away; you were afraid mnke up some story. Here he Is now I" He left her frightened nnd dismayed by this sudden emergency, nnd sprang back Into the dnrkest corner, crouch ing against the log wall. If she would only Induce Mncklln to reveal his plans, gain his confidence. He could "God! Did You Hear That?" see her there' In the dim light bending forward and listening, a slender girl ish figure. Then the outer door crashed open, letting In a flood of light from without, nnd a step sounded heavily on the floor. Tho young woman straightened up, tho clenr profile of her face revealed. Somehow Shelby knew she hnd braced herself for the contest. Macklln must havo stopped just within the door, storing about him In uncertainty. "Whnt the h 1 Is up here?" he burst forth angrily, confused by the gloom. "Snm, where ure you any wny?" "Who Is Sum?" sho asked quietly, and taking n step forward. "Is that the name of the Indlnn you left on, gunrd?" He gazed nt her open-mouthed, for the moment too astonished to oven find speech. "Whntl" he stammered flnnlly, "why, what arc you doing out here? Who opened that door? Where Is the d d red snake, anyway?" "I do not know very much more than you do, sho replied quietly. "There wns a fight out here sonic time during the night, and the bar ucross tho door was knocked down." "A fight! who were they?" "A white mnn, nnd the gunrd. They were both killed." "Both both killed?" he seemed un able to grasp the fact. "Who was the white maiiT' "I do not know." "And you did not even run nwny? Did not Iry to escape?" "Where could I go?" she nskvl. "What was thcro for me to do but wait for you to return?" "Well, If this don't beat h 1 1" he exclaimed. "Why I thought you was afraid of me. You nln't, hey?" "No; I I don't think 1 nm. You wero not rough with me, nnd nnd you snld you would hnvo something Inter esting to tell me when you got back." Macklln laughed, evidently relieved. Sho had spoken ns n child might whoso curiosity hud boon nroused. "Oh. I see. my girl; you've been thinking this over, hnvo you. und de cided I might not be quite so hnd nfter nil. I thought mnybo you'd get over that tantrum after awhile, for shucks! I knew thnt feller Shelby was nothln' to you. Yon Just mnrrled him tor git nwoy from I'oncn didn't you?" "A sinele shot rang out sharply. He saw Macklin flirtfc up his arms and reel back ward." ITO HE CONTINUED.) Mr. Slmpklns In Hard Luck. Mr. Slmpklns wns complnlnlng to his bosom friend, Jenkins, nbout the nu merous Ills his wlfo hud brought upon him In tho course of their 'association. "When llrst I met her," ho snld, "I was struck dumb with admiration. When I mnrrled her I wns blind with love, and now," he added, "I'm deal from her everlasting talking." - -f ToCuf e aCold in One Day Take Grow' 3 Laxative Brarrso -isj Quinine tablets Be sure its Bromo The genuine bears this signature SOc 'I'm Happy and Well now tor i tookDr.Pferce's Favorite escriptiop" , Dixon, Nobr. "For tho young girl de veloping thore la noth Tng better than Dr. Plerco's Fa vorite Prescription. At that time of my llfo I was Badly In need of something to strengthen and build me up and I found jUBt tho tonic I needed In 'Favorite Prescription.' I would ndvlso its use by all young girls at thlB critical period of llfo." MRS. E. LONO. Favorite Prescription contains no alcohol or nnreotlc. Send 10c to Dr. Plerco's Invalids' Hotol in Buffalo, M. Y for a trial pkg. of tablets. DuyFairy Sodas packed in tin Jk Jt6keep the doirttyfrethnessmH IIFAIRYSODAII Wi'S? 5HWnn,tDAMHIE5 uunwMMUuwnA u i i-uw nrw As Tasfy and Fresh As foe Day They Were Baked That's tho wny you Bet Palry Soda Crack ra when you buy them in returnable cans. Packed while atm warm from tho ovens, these crnckcru retain their flavor and crisp neas until used. Returnable cans are molMure proof, dust proof, Inssct proof, odor proof. Buying In full cans is economical ana satisfactory always. Ask Your Grocer lor MEN'S fAIRY SODAS and bo sure you get the genuine. 126 MAMMOTH JACKS I have a bargain for jun, enmo quick. . im ijriiuun n iiuit xtjmkjsi v Uedar Kuplds, Iowa ' FRECKLES BsSl Nervousness. "Does tobacco make you nervous?" "It does," replied Mr. Meektou, "If Ileurlettu catches mu smoking In the house." To Have a Clear Sweet Skin Touch pimples, redness, roughness or Itching, If nny, with Cutlcuru Oint ment, then bathe with Gutlcura Soap nnd hot wnter. 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I get lame acroaa tho small of my back and I can hardly get nroundrt I stoon over I Ket dizzy ana can hardly seo. When I Bi uaiins iviunoy j'iiih and uvke them Just ns Erected, they always cure mo of the attack." Get Doan's si Any Store, 60c a Bos DOAN'SJLV FOSTER. MILBURN CO., BUFFALO, N. Y. J-"rSC-K 1 tfr- - ' -i----LfipP----i--n i i mm iASi- j W. N. U., LINCOLN, NO. 5-1921. A. l r v-Uvtatr v- Ufr - - JWIMWt ... to -.-.. . .. ... JaMiMMssssaaasasaaaaaaMsaaaaaaaaaaaaa1 )r J ' ft" imnf