RED OLOUD. NEBRASKA, CHIEF COMRADES CHAPTER XIV Continued. 15 "That Is why I nm coming hack," she tnclstcd. "I told you I could shoot." "All right," he grinned cheerfully, "come alone, then ; only you keep down out of the wny, find let me do the sniping. There 1 now you lost tne n shot! Did you hoc that buck dodge between those two rocks? He'll try Unit trick again presently." Olga cnine buck, creeping out cau tiously and finding a place slightly behind where he lay. She held to one weapon, laying the other on the rocks, together with a belt tilled with cartridges. Shelby barely swept his eyes toward lier, his whole attention conccntruted on what wus occurring below. Some thing was taking place' down there, but exactly what could not Immediate ly be determined. He had perceived men moving beyond range, dodging along from rock to rock, mere glimpse of dark figures, yet plainly enough Indians. Once he wus almost sure lie distinguished a white tnuu, through a rift In a gully, but the. fleeting view gulncd was not convincing. Never thcless ho hud no doubt but what thero were white men present. The method of attack was too bold, and determined, for navagrs alone; it was not tho Sioux idea of war. Resides the one man who would liavo a real object In this assault would bo Laud. Ueyond all question It was he who was behind the effort, urged on by personal hatred, as well as a desire to gain possession of Olga. Shelby wondered what the fellow might know. Could ho be nwnre of the cwupe of Mncklln? and that I'nnclm had ridden forth In search for help? If ho did that might account for his desperate eagerness to overcome what resistance they could offer before she returned. Yet probably not. for If he did know tho coward In him would cause him to seek flight before ho could be cornered In this place. It was far more likely thnt lie believed himself opposed mere ly by Shelby and tho girl, armed with a revolver or two, and having a lim ited supply of ammunition. He saw little peril In the adventure, nm! fig ured thnt a quick, sharp rush, his war riors leaping from covert to covert, would win un easy victory, lie would keep up a steudy rllle llro from bo hind the rocks, forcing the defenders to keep under cover, and then sudden ly scud a charging party to end the affair. Shelby smiled grimly at the mental picture, never turning his head as ho spoke to the silent girl bcsldo him. "How's AIncklln?" "Dead, I think, Tom. He didn't seem to breathe even faintly." "Tho poor devil; It will Do mighty hnrd on 1'unchii though. You got your gun?" "Yes." "All loaded, I reckon; If not you bolter fill It up. There Is goln to be h I to pay presently. When I say bo. you let drive. Keep down out o Bight till then, but when you begin to piynn make her act like n gntllnu." "Hut can't those riflemen bee you there?" "Well, It doesn't look much like they can, tho way they are pepperln' that rock. Nlco little tune the bucks nre pluyln'. Thnt's what makes me think something's up; they aim to keep us down out o' sight, so wo won't glimpse what's comln. 'Tnln't Indian nature to waste lend that way. Laud's back thero somewhere pluyln' this game. I think I got sight of the sneakln' cuss a minute ugo, but ho was out of range." "You bellevo they Intend to try and get up here?" "Thnt's my present notion; they don't look for much trouble either. It Is up to us to give that outfit the surprise of their lives." She reached out her hunil and found his, as it rested on the belt of cart ridges. "Tom l" "Yes," he answered without remov ing his gnzo from the trull below. "Don't worry about me," she snld earnestly. "You know what I mean; don't think about me when they do come. I'll tuko care of myself, all right." He cast a quick glance Into her face. "Sure, I know you will. You are l trump, a good pnrdncr. I thought that, for a long while. You won't 'forget what I told you." Til not forget." There was a moment of silence and fthen she spoke again, a sharp little catch In her voice which she could not restrain. "Tom I" "Yes." "I I don't know what ta going to happen. I I am not afraid, but but It seems to mo I I would llko to have you kiss mo once tnoro first you only have once, you know." Shelby turned his body about, leav ing bis cocked revolver lying on the atone, and caught both her bands .eagerly. "Lord, I'ri glad to hear you say that, little girl," he exclaimed, his tyes aglow. "J rackoo I've been sorter By RANDALL PARRISH half afraid o' you. Hut I ain't goln' to be any more; you sure menu It, don't you?" Her eyes looked honestly, enrncat ly Into his, Answering hliu before her lips spoke. "With ull my heurt, Tom." He drew her softly toward him, for getful of all else. Then a rifle spat viciously, and a ball struck the edge of the parapet, sending a splinter of stone flying past them. It was a long, nerve-racking wait, during which they rested side by side, Intent on every movement below, but finding little opportunity for action. Occasionally they spoke, but generally remained silently watchful. The In dians kept up u desultory fire, and be hind Its screen were evidently making a change of position, yet so stealthily us to bo hardly observed. They ex posed themselves freely enough beyond pistol range, proof that they were ful ly nwnre of the caliber of the wcupons confronting them, but closer In the savages crept from rock to rock In visible. Twice only did Shelby suc ceed In getting n fair shot once clip ping n scalp lock from an Incautious ly exposed head, and nguln winging a brave who recklessly attempted to leap across a narrow opening. This fellow dropped In the open trail, wounded In tho thigh, nnd uuablo to drag himself to shelter, and soon n sinewy rod arm reached out from be hind n rock In an effort at rescue. This wus withdrawn quickly us a speeding bullet struck within an Inch of the outstretched hand. Tho in jured warrior lay thero twitching with pain. The minutes dragged Into hnlf an hour, the strained nerves of the de fenders on edge. Olga was trembling from head to foot, struggling to re tain self-control, Shelby never relaxing a muscle, or averting tho steady gaze of his eyes. Suddenly he rose to his knees, a revolver gripped In either hand. "There's Laud now," he andounced simply. She saw the fellow also, lifting her head to peer over the low rim of rock, standing In the open trail, but Just beyond range. Ho held a rifle In his hands, which he swung above his hcud, at the samo time giving ut terance to a hoarse shout. It must have been n signal, for Instantly those rocks were black with half-nuked fig ures, leaping madly forward, with rifles flung In nlr, and giving utterance to tierce yells. It was a wild race, but the steep ascent to the cave hnltcd them. The two above, reckless now of exposure, tired as swiftly as they could presj trigger, straight Into tho red faces. Somo fell, shot down In their tracks, a few paused to reply, hut the majority began to clamber up. Laud ran forward to Join them, roar ing out his orders. Ho was In full view against the snow-covered trail, nuil Shelby swung his smoking muz zle down upon him. To the crack the fellow flung up both hands, whirled about, and crumpled Into a shape less heap. Shelby, scarcely realizing the suceess of his quick shot, stag- The Fellow Flung Up Both Hands. gered buck, reversed the gun In his hand, and struck with tho butt at tho first Indian appearing ubovo tho plutform. It was hand to baud. CHAPTER XV. A 8quadron of the 8lxth. ruucliii vnulshed Into tho fog, wad ing along the creek, and finally creep ing out below tho burned cabin. If there were any guards left there they were not encountered, and the mists hung so thick at thnt early hour she took few precautions to avoid them, Her one thought was Macklln ; love had conquered hate, und the desire for revenge. There wus a chance of suc 4K , mid ItlW i OF PERIL cess for her mission. The debris had not been searched over; It could not have been, for the fire still smoldered, hut the moment the Indians were able to overhaul the wreck they would discover that their victims hud, In some way, escaped. There would be no charred bones, no singed flesh, to tell of dead bodies consumed In the flames; they would not even find Macklln'B remains. And Laud wns no fool. The truth, In some form, would come to him nt once; he would know they hud got safely awny; nor would he ever stop until he nguln found them. And he would suspect her; perhaps had seen her face when she fired that fatal shot. Her only chunce lay now, before this revealment came. She wus .cool, resourceful; had shrewdly thought out every step. If she was still unsuspected, no one would stop her. She hud always been free to lenve the vnlley. Often she had tnken early rides, and none of tho ordinary guards would consider her going forth as at all strange. Of course, the Hole was filled now with strange fugitives Indians hiding from the soldiers, suspicious of every white face. These might cause trouble, but she must take that chunce. There was but one way to save Macklin's life tho doctor at Qerlasche. Shelby had told her so, and nothing else remained fixed in her mind. Mother of God, she would save him 1 There were three horses In the little stable shack back of the cabin. She crept cautiously up through the fog, unable to sec in the gloom, but lo cating the animals by touch. One was still moist from riding, Laud's pony, no doubt The next was her own, having scarcely stamina for such a trip, but the third was the bay Juan had always been so proud of. She led the animal out, saddled 'and bridled him In the darkness, and then, mounting in the gray dawn, with a prayer In her heart for help nnd guidance she rode slowly out Into the trail. A Are burned In front of the little house beside the falls, a mere flicker of half-burned logs, with two men hovering over It One of them started up, at sound of the horso's hoofs and gripped a rifle. He was white, a flapping hat brim shadow ing his face; the other, on Indian, wrapped In a blanket, merely lifted his head, and stared moodily. Her heart gave a sharp bound, but she reined up carelessly, as the fellow stepped Into the trail. Ho peered curiously Into her fuce. "II I, young womun, you're out d d early, ain't you? What's up?" Thero wns nothing vicious in his grcetlug, nnd her heurt quit Its pound ing. "I'm after a doctor, Sam," she said swiftly, believing boldness tho best curd to play. "My brother has been shot." "Sure, I heard thnt, only they told me ho wns dend; he ain't, hey? Had a rumpus with Injun Joe, didn't he?" "Yes; I Just heard about It. He must have tho doctor right away." "Whero tho h 1 you aim to And one?" "Over nt Gerlnsche. Thero Is nn urmy surgeon there." "Sure, but I'm bettln' tho cuss won't come, 'less ho brings the whole urmy 'long with hlra. ne'd have 'tcr mosey In yere blindfold If ho did." "Just the same hee'il come, If I And lieem," she said grimly, "for I'll bring hcem, dead or nllve. Who's out there on the trull?' "'Hcd' Hnlncs, nn' Stumpy, 'long with n couple of Sioux. The boys nre n bit Jumpy Just now with all them sojers scoutln' the Bud Lands. Maybe they'll try tcr stop yer, but yer tell 'em I said It was all right Say, what wus goln' on lust night shootln, ter beat h 1 up the cnuyon, nu' there was quite a Are, too?" "Row over the girl Macklln brought l.i," she explained calmly, "nn' the old cabin got burned." "Uome more o' Injun Joe's cussed ness, I reckon?" "Yes, ho wns In It; well, Adlos Sum." She rode forward, novt1 even ven turing to glance buck. Thus far ev erything had gone easier than she could have iioped. There were no or ders out against her, and these night guards were not even nwnre of what hud taken place. She guided her horso under the veil of falling water, and up the steep bank beyond, out Into the vnlley of the Cottonwood. There was, little danger of meeting anyone now, she needed to avoid, and oqce beyond those wutchers at the head of the trail, the way would be open. She came upon these Just be Ibw the crest, grouped for shelter under the ledge of an outcropping rock. .Haines had been drinking and was in n good humor, listening to her story with a broad grin, and dismiss ing her willingly enough. 'To h I, o' course yer kin go," he said thickly. "Yer brother pulled me out o' the Sowskln onct He's a d n good scout of a Mer. Go to it, girl; yon know the trail?" "Yes, along the edge ef the Bad Lands." "Sure ; better keep In the first gully, cr yer might run Inter a sojer out fit They're thicker than fleas out Copyliht A. C HcClm C there now, they tell me. So long, sister." It had begun to snow, big, heavy flakes, drifting with the wind, quickly whitening the landscape. The slight marks of the trull were almost instant ly obliterated, but the low rnnge of hills ahead were a sufficient landmark, and she forced her horse Into n swift puce; riding with her head lowered, but with watchful eyes pee'rlng through the snow curtain. She was nlone now ; free, with noth ing Intervening between her und Ger lnsche. Her heart bounded with the elixir of success she would bring buck the doctor to Macklln. She felt no doubt tiny more. The direct trail circled Just within the outer rnnge of the sand hills, making It Impossible for her to mis take the wuy even In that mnze of snow. She rode more carelessly now that she was safely out of sight, nnd free from any possibility of pursuit. The horse, with lowered bend, seemed to feel the urgency, nnd plunged for ward, eagerly. Suddenly us they swept around a sharp corner, seeing nnd hearing nothing to warn of nny other presence In that solitude, they, came nt full tilt against a hulted column "Well, What's This?" He Growled. of cavalry. Before Pancha could even Jerk up her reins, a sturtled trooper hud gripped the bit, und held her mount helplessly pawing the nlr. "Well, what's this?" he growled, tugging nt tho frlchtencd animal, and dragged half off his feet In the fierce struggle. "A Mex! Say, fellows, this looks like Arizona. Lay hold here, Mapesl Call the sergeant, somebody; I've got this bird! whoa there! now, whnt's nil this about, young lady?" "What Is It Summers?" the ser geant, pushing through the ring of men, peered curiously up nt her from under the brim of a battered campaign hat. "She Just come ntearlng in, ser geant, like she was goln' somewhere. She wns sure rldln' like h 1, an' she Is Mex, ull right. "So I see. Well, senorlta, what are you doing out here?" Ills fuce wns kindly, if stern. "Senor, I ride for a doctor," she said earnestly. "I'lenso do not stop me u man Is dying." "A man? Where? Is he a Mexi can r "No, senor, nn Amerlcnno; he wns shot; he verra bud; If I And no doc tor, ho die maybe." "But where were you gdlng?" "To Gerlnscho, senor, there Is army doctor there." "Not now there ain't; he's back here with us somewhere. Where Is this fellow who's hurt?" She hesitated Just an Instnnt, yet there was no avoiding tho truth. If the doctor wns here umong these sol diers, sho would have to tell tho truth or else desert Macklln to his fate. Be sides, whnt did sho caro? Her hntred of Laud suddenly flared Into new life. Here wus the opportunity for revenge, as well as service. "In Wolves' hole, sonor." WolVi' hole! Good God! did you come from there? Pass the word for the major, some one. Whnt's that? Oh, excuse me, sir," and he came stiffly to nttentlon, facing tho heavy set, middle-aged officer, with Iron-gray mustncho and goatee. "Whut have you here, sergeant?" the latter asked briefly, "Mexican wom an?" "Yes, sir; she Just ran Into us at full tilt. She claims to be after a doctor to attend to a wounded Amer ican over In Wolves hole." "Is that so? Perhaps this Is good luck. Who Is this American, senorlta some d n white renegade?" "He mnn I love, senor." "Oh, that's It Then perhaps we can do business. We've got a surgeon here with us. ,If you will show w n wny got Into Wolves hole, Til promise he'll take care of your man, all right." "You ask me to guide you?" That's the bargain. We hnve been trying to locate tho place for two days. Who Is tho leader of those outlaws?" "Indlnn Joe Laud, senor." "I've heard of the brute. Judging from the way you looked then, he Is no friend of yours." "No, senor; I hute hcem; he keel my brother; now he try to keel this man I tell you 'bout lie nn' two more Americanos." ' "Two more! Tills Is becoming In teresting, Sergrnnt. Let's have the straight story, senorlta. You want us to help these people Is thnt It?" "SI senor; It is nothing to me whnt you do. I enre for them not nt nil; they not my people nny more. There nre many Indians a lot; they hide there." "But, who nre these Americanos? They belong to the gang?" "No, senor. One wns a woman, senor; young, pretty woman; she cap tured and brought there. Ket wn her husband that try to save her. He follow nn' git In some way, like the Mother of God help. Hees mime wus Shelby." "Shelby?" broke In the sergeant, for getful of the officer's presence In his surprise. "What Shelby? Wus his other nnme Tom?" "SI. senor," nnd she turned her eyes on him. "You know this Tom Shel by?" "Do I! of course I do. You re member him, Mnjor Hays. He was with us once In 'C Troop; then Inter dctnlled with the scouts. He's up In this country, I know. I run Into hlra down nt Ponca when I came through there. Why, thnt wns hln wedding dny, nnd I saw the bride." "You say those renegade devils have got them both there In the Hole?" broke In the major, "prisoners?" "They got nwny now; they hide in a cave." she explained. "And you will show us the wny In?" "Senor, the doctor he will enre for this mnn If I do?" "I pledge you my word he will." "And you keel Indian Joe Laud, senor?" "We'll surely do our best." "Then I show you yes; who that man there?" Shaunessy wheeled nbout to face the fellow she pointed at gripping him with one hand, nnd dragging him forth from among the circle of soldiers. This Is the bird they gave us for a guide," he said shortly. "You know him?" ' "lie," she gave vent to a bitter laugh. "That fellow Dull Knife; bud Indian, horse thief. Why they give you heem?" "H 1 knows. What'll I do with tho cuss, major?" "Have a couple of men hold hlra under guard. We seem to bu on the right track now; senorlta, where Is this Wolves' hole?" "Over there, not fnr; across the mesa. You come, I show you. Thnt be better first, senor Just you nn' some others, so you can tell what to do. Maybe eet be better we go afoot, so we be not seen." "On foot I You don't mean we ure so near the place?" "SI, senor; I show you." A little handful followed her lead between the sand ridges out upon the open plain the mnjor, n lieutenant, the sergeant, and three men. She led them ulong n slight depression, suffi ciently to partially screen them from observation. The steady fall of snow had ceased, although there were oc casional Hurries, driving, sharply Into their faces. Overhead the clouds hung low nnd gruy. Hays swore under his breath, half convinced he wns be ing made n fool of. Twice he started to speak, but held his tongue. The girl never turned her head, but moved straight forward. She came to a slight ridge, and stopped suddenly, pointing. " Tls thero, senor," she said simply, "Wolves' hole." The astounded officer stood motion less, his mouth open, his eyes star ing at the sight so unexpectedly re vealed. For un Instant he could not believe whut he saw. Almost under his feet the precipice fell awny Into that tremendous gorge, the mantle of snow emphasizing Its depth, but bring ing out the black rocks In stern con trast. "Good God!" he exclaimed, "what a gulf I And not u sign to make you drenm of Its existence. I'd huve Bworo ten feet buck this plalu wns u deud level for thirty miles. But how in heaven's nume do we ever get down there?" "There Is something going on, sir, up yonder In that cunon," spoke up the lieutenant eagerly. "Listen. Those are rifles popping, und I can see white puffs of smoke through tho gluss. There's a tight going on down there." "D d If you ain't right, Boyd; they are certainly popping uwoy ruther lively. Cornered Shelby likely, and, ns I remember the lad, he'll stay with them as long as he has a cartridge left By Jingo I we've got to get down, and clear this nest out Where's the trail, senorlta?" "Over yonder to tho left, senor. Yon take your glass, so. Now straight along the bank, where that cedar tree tops the edge. It stands all alone. You see what I mean?" (TO BE CONTINUED.) In Position. From a story "I am half Inclined to kiss you," he said, as he bent over her. f Boston Transcript. Tht "war of the union" begtift short lX alter tbt marriage cercmoa (aids. Buy It Either Way Tablets or Liquid m Bfea PE-RU-NA A Groat Modfctno Mrs. M.J. Rllrr. It. . No. 1, Dot IM, Cal vert, Texas, wrlteii -1 bare od Pe-ra-ns and know It U food for coliU, rot'uh tod catarrh. It enred say rturrb and I do not take cold whan I im I'e-ru-n. It la a great medietas." 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