The Mesa Trail

d into red embers, floated a slow, musical laugh and a few words. The patois was totally unknown to Shea. One of those words, however, drifted across the darkness and smo

hy did these natives spea

on City the previous night; how Logan had gotten lost in the lava beds-even to Shea's innoce

as no other than Abel Dorales; he was certain of it, he knew i

Thady Shea was probably at Number Sixteen. He had come with cunning intent, he had come with cunning

he night to his ears, to save him from temptation. At thought of how, a few minutes ago, he had bee

and started to

which would transfer to the Empire State Chemical Company, for the sum of ten thousand dollars, all the rights, holdi

ble but widely known signature of A. Mackintavers. This Dorales filled out in the name of Thaddeus Shea, an

ed up sharply, t

rales was too completely astounded to move-astounded by the realization of how he had just

his coat pocket. Too late! The big fingers of Thady Shea gripped down on his wrist, and Shea's right hand to

sat on Shea's wide lips. "The airy tongues that syllab

left hand drove up to Shea's face, landed

t the shout of Dorales would bring the two Mexicans, and the knowledge fired him. He m

d aside; the impetus of Shea's rush, or rather fall, threw Ab

rst thought was to turn out the lamp. Then, taking from the corner the axe helve, Shea passed outs

no answer but came steadily at them. Hesitant, they awaited his approach, again addressing h

d hastily; too hastily, for the bullet only whipped Shea's lean cheek and p

ing wretch could not well obey such an order with a smashe

ve turned and went in

over his shoulder, and returned to the shack. There he lighted a match, got the lamp burning again, and clu

e face of his native prisoner, and presently the man sat up and stared

," said Shea. "Whe

or," whimpered the

comin

ntil Se?or Dorale

ime." And Shea smiled. "Do y

hat she would not get there

aning up the sale so hastily. It also set his mind at

rately. Therefore, Mrs. Crump would return upon the following afternoon or e

. Crump arrived home. If Dorales were safely out of the way for a day or two, there would be no danger in

been studying, and upon its back wrote a note to Mrs. Crump. The check caught his eye, and he pulled it towa

it for a moment over the oil lam

She'll know I'm honest, perchance!

note. The whimsical thought came to him that, if he presented this paper at a bank, he would get ten thousand dollars for Mrs. Crump; he had no intention of so presenting it, howev

which he had written, a

ily apprised of it from other lips. Farewell! I take my leave to seek an errant soul upon

ddeus

e note, and nod

s crystal, yet 'twil

o concrete bases. His idea of doing penance, of seeking either ultimate strength or ultimate failure again in the world, was vague. His secondary motive, that of not drawing h

ich often lead men upon the trail of f

o Mrs. Crump. Then he procured that lady's whiskey and poured a generous portion into a tin cup. This time, he deliberately smelled of it, and smiled gr

, methinks," he said to the staring

ales. Forcing open the thin, strong lips, Shea poured his mixture into

. Crump, then motioned his prisoner to help him lift Dorales. The latter was no

ative. By the light of the lamps, the uninjured captive was working under the directions of Shea, w

o fear from them, and headed his bumpy equipage toward No Agua. When the ca?on road warned him that he was close to that lone hovel of desolation, he stopped the car and took f

onorously, "drink-or

led with liquor, the two natives drank the contents with avidity. Shea tossed away the empty fla

ump, and he had no desire to meet her at present. If he went west, he would get into Arizona. All he knew about Arizona was founded

est of enemies before dawn, and with a vague scheme already in his mind. All h

snoring mechanic in Aimes' garage wa

the deepest dye! But yesternight they tried to jump my claim, wherefore I laid them by the heels, an

day morning, the mechanic was blissfully ignorant of Shea's identity, and Thady had no intention of disclosing it. Despite protest, Shea left the crippled flivver in the garage, the three snoring o

on, he took the rough and rugged road that led off to Datil and the transcontinental highway into Magda

known as Abel Dorales, tied hand and foot, and two natives from the Mackintavers ranch, one having a broken arm. The garage mechanic's description of Tha

ould have a thankless and possibly dangerous job, so Ben Aimes left Mackintavers alone, and left Dorales to tell the sorry tale i

n of the state was in a roar of laughter; Dorales had a reputation as "the worst man to monkey with" in existence. Added to the joke was t

there in a hired car from Silver City. She came alone; Gilbert and Lewis were in jail aw

he had made no comments. At the shack, she found the papers which Thady Shea had left. She read his note, and muttered something abou

Thady Shea, and properly indorsed, which had been presented for payment by Mrs. Crump. Promptly and delightedly Mackintavers gave it his O. K. Quite n

what had really taken place. Then he telephoned to Silver City in all haste, only to find

f his soul, Mackintavers had a deep grain of humour. This was the first time he had ever known Abel Dorales to be put a

all," growled Dorales, w

ever fear, I'll get that money back, with interest! I've a scheme in the back of my head

ughs to my face, except you, gets something to remember. And,"

eave Mrs. Crump be for the present. I want to get the matter o' those stone idols settled, and under

' silver dollars. I've me eye on two or three o' them

m going to get him if it takes me ten years! I'm

Santa Fé," soothed Mackintavers. "He can't hi

e wasting time on these idols, anyway. I never knew

nce of those gods in his house had brought him the loss of ten thousand dollars. He was the last man on ea