RED CLOUD, NEBRASKA, CHIEF u COMRADES PERIL aS CHAPTER XI Continued. 11 "Yes," she ndmlttcd, "that was about nil.' "So, now he's dcnd ; he don't cut no Ico 'anymore." "But arc you sure he's dcnd?" "Sure?" sncerlngly. "I don't know how I could he no surer. I turned (ho cuss over nn' ho wns cold then. You don't need worry nono nhout that. Walt a tnlnuto till I see wjio the guy wns what tried to break In here." Shelby could henr Mncklln cross the room, nnd Jerk the blanket from off tho bodies. The fellow gnvo utterance to nu oath of nstonlslmipnt at the Bight revealed. "My flodl Did you ever see any thing like Hint? Locked together like two stags. II II Sam wns Rhot, but he pot the whlto guy even nftcr he was dead. D n me, If It nln't Hank Rlaglnl Now, whnt dobs thnt mean? I reckon Hanley sent the gnloot In here. Thnt conies from splllln' things when yer drunk. Sny, you an I hnve KOt to get out of bore. I'll tell you about It ns quick as I can. It's plain enough Hnnloy's got his eyes on you, an' will double-cross me If he onco gits a chance." "What Is It you mean? I do not un derstand." " "Naturally yer don't, secln' I nln't told yer nothln'. But now that I know yer nln't pining nwny over thnt feller Shelby, I reckon the sensible thing fcr me to do Is ter talk straight. Therc'H goln' ter be h 1 to poy In this valley before long, and the sooner wo get out o' here the better. I run ncross n soldier 'bout half wny ter Oerlnsche, an' he give mo n pointer that made me wheel tUiout. nn ride back." "Tho Indian outbrenk?" "Sure; the troops got In, nn' round ed most of the Sioux up. They had n flght nt Wounded Knee, over yonder, an licked h I out of the reds. Some of 'em got nwny though, nn' come trnllln' west mostly young ones, I reckon nn' now they're sendln' env airy out ter ride 'cm down. That's' "what ho wns nftor, a bunch to come scout In In through here." "Here? Wolves' bole?" "Mor'n likely; ho didn't say nothln' 'bout thnt. But they're mighty liable ter call. I'm fer glttln' out, while the goln's good. That's whnt I come back for to get you, and skip." "To to get me?" "Of course. I'll tell yer about It now, nn' you'll go nil right. I reckon you .nover thought I run off with you 'cnuso I loved you?" "No you you loved me?" "That's tho wny of It. 1 snw you long before thnt funeral down to Pon en; but this guy Shelby horned In 'fore I was ready to net. You didn't enre nothln' for him. So I says to my self, then, I'll have her; I'll take her whether she wants me or not. Long ns she don't -love him, I'll make her love me see? Course I didn't aim to do no killing; that was just nn acci dent like, nn' I didn't do It nohow. It was Snui here who got gay, and benncd Shelby." "But whnt would you do with me, If If he had been alive?" "There nln't no use tllscussln' that, fer he ain't alive. It's what I want ter do now that counts. Maybe I had a plan then, an' maybe I didn't. But now I got It all planned up proper. I'm n goln' ter marry you. An that goe3 whether yor're wlllln' or not. I nln't even nskln' you." Tho expression of her fneo must have brought the fellow a realization that perhaps he was going altogether too fast, for ho broke In with an ex planation. "See hero now, don't get huffy. I nln't no Western rough-neck for you to bo ashamed of. I belong down Knst In ol' Virginia, an' wo got money to burn. Thnt's straight goods. My real nnme ain't Mncklln nt nil ; It's Church Ill. I mean business an' Just as soon na Indian Joe gets down here with somo horses, we're n goln' ter start." "For where?" her voice trembling In spite of every effort nt self-control. To aerluscho first; there's a preacher there, an' then on to God's country Just as fast ns tho train will take us. That's my program, an' let mo tell you, I'll bo d n glad ter git awny from Injuns, Mexs, ni tho rest o this rotten outfit. No, you wait; that will bo Indian Joe comln' now." Tho door between tho two rooms had closed pnrtlully, yielding doubt less to boiuo faint draught of air, so that Shelby ventured to survey tho scene through the narrow crack near tho hinges. Mntters were becoming so complicated lie was nt his wits end. Ho had delayed too long, nnd, per hapa, It had been a mistake to ndvlao the girl to thus appear friendly to this brute. Now, Instead of being con fruited by the Kla alone, he must also face Laud, If ho would prevent her being carried away tho second time. The situation bad become desperate. Ua could tea tha girl standi IRANDALIJ Wjl pressed close to tho wall, the light from the broken window on her face, her eyes anxiously watchful of the movements of Mncklln, who bnd turned nnd was fronting the outer door, one hand resting In rendlncss on tho butt of his "45." Then that opening was shadowed, and the bulky figure of the squaw-man suddenly appeared. Ills first utterance was full of Ill-humor. "Well, I got your message, and nm here," he 6atd roughly. "What the h I Is up, Mucklln?" "Everything Is, from nil I henr," was the short reply. "Your Indians nro licked nlrcndy, ain't they?" "Yes; I expected that; I told them how It would be." "To be sure you did, but you never thought every runaway buck would mako for this Hole. But they hnve; and you know what that means, I reckon. They will bo smoked out sooner or Inter. Do you wnnt to stay, and bo Bmokcd out with 'cm? I'm for getting out of here now tonight, Joe. I don't Intend being caught In this net; an' you nro n d d fool If you don't feel In the snmo wny. There Is n chance now to mako It, but tomor row may bo too lata How about your cattle?" "I Bent them Into the Bad Lands." Mncklln laughed. "Thnt proves whnt you think nbout It. All right then; we'll rldo out to gether. Got three horses out there?" "Yes, nnd n pnek; thnt's whnt tho Indian told mo to bring. Tho woman going nlong?" "Sure she Is. H 1, we've fixed things nil up. We're goln' to got mnr rled over nt Gcrlnsche. I'm almln' ter take you nlong for best mnn." Laud evidenced his surprlso nnd In credulity with n grunt, nnd a swift glance at the silent girl, shrinking bnck against the wall. "What about Panchnr he asked dryly. "That llttlo Devil I Pooh I when she hears nbout It, I'll bo cast of tho Mis souri. She's nit right for a Mex, but this time I mean business, Joe. Don't you forget It, I'm plnyln' for big stakes, an' there don't no Pnncha stund In my way. What's 'the matter with you?" "Well, I ain't so suro you're goln' ter git off so scot free," returned Laud slowly. "There's a fellow been In here huntln' you; nn I reckon ho must be here yet Ienstwnys I don't know how the cuss could have got out." "A man huntln' mc7 You're dream In'." "No I nln't. The fellow Joined my outfit up on the mesa yesterday sorter big fellow with light hair, nn' n smooth face. Ho put up quite n spiel, and claimed his nnme wns Churchill. 1 didn't mor'n hnlf bellevo him, but not knowln' whnt wns up, I let tho euss drift In along with us. I aimed to see you as soon ns we got In; but -What tho H I Is Up, Macklln7" h 1, you had skipped, while Hanley, who might have knowed something, was up at the cove. I sent Juan after him, for by that time I was sure the guy waH some d n spy. Tho hoss ho was rldln' bnd the snmo brand of them cuttle 1 drove In." "Tho same brand? Whnt brand?" "The Tlijeo Sturs; they como from Shelby's ranch up on tho Cottonwood." "H 1 1 A big fellow, you said with light hnlr, and smooth face?" "That's him; grayish eyes, an' rides like a cavalryman. I never saw the galoot before, but I wan't goln' to take no chances, so I got his gun, and locked him up." "Wbertr In that cell room In Vllletnonte's cabin." "And he's there yetr "No, ho nln't; that's tho trouble. Somehow he got hold of a knlfo; must have It hid on him, I reckon. Knyhow ho cut them bars at tho window, nn' wiggled through." "And ho hnsn't been caught?" "Ain't seen hide ner hnlr o' him. Somo guy helped him outside there was prints of two kinds of boots plain enough under tho window; but after that they might Just as well hnve gono up In tho air." "Two o' 'cm. Tho other couldn't have been Hnuley, or Slngln, could It?" "now the h I do I know? I never caught eight o' nothln' but tho print of that boot I scouted up tho creek ; then thnt first bunch o' Indians come trnllln' In, an' I had no time to think about anything since, only get tin' my cattle out o' here." "But you'll go with us now?" Tor a ways, anyhow; I reckon there nln't nothln' cl.-o to do; them soldiers Is bound to get here." "And the sooner we're off tho better. You rendy?" - lie wheeled nnd confronted the shrinking, frightened girl, who made no reply. "Well, by God I you better be. Get the horses, Joe; I'll fetch her along, all right" Shelby straightened up. In spite of tho odds, he must net now, or never. Yet, before he could take a step for ward, a Mngle shot rang out sharply. Ho saw Mucklln fling up his nrms, aid reel backward, his body striking tho half-open door, before It "crashed to the door, and lay motionless. Tho Impact of Mncklln'a body had flung the door wide open, leaving Shel by fully exposed to view. For nn In stant, however, tho startled nnd be wildered Laud failed to note his re vcalmcnt ngalnst the darkness of that Interior. Ho had leaped back Instant ly to tho protection of the wall, nnd, gun In hand, crouched there with eyes flxed on tho broken window op posite. Shelby was swift to take nd vantage of his surprise. Wherever the shot had come from, whoever had fired It, his concealment was no longer possible. There must be no hesitancy, no delay. Ho stepped across the mo tionless body, with weapon flung grim ly forward. "Hands up, Joo! Put them up first before you turn around. Stop that I Don't try any tricks on me. Now stand there Olga." "Yes." "Take thnt gun out of his hand; there Is nnothcr In his belt; get that also. That's right; now come over hero; you understand firearms." "Yes, of course" wonderlngly, "I" know how to shoot" "I Imagined. so; Calkins would have taught you. Keep this fellow covered, nnd let him have It If he makes any effort to break away. Watch him closely, while I rip up that blanket,' nnd tlo him up." He left her with the gun steadily pointed nt Laud's head, the fellow cursing, with hands up, his angry eyes following every movement. He was desperate, maddened by sudden helplessness, with tho sneaking feroci ty of n wolf, yet was temporarily held motionless by the deadly peril. Shel by stripped tho ragged blanket from off tho dead bodies under the bench, nnd began hastily to rip It npnrt. The black, bloated fnco of Slogin stared upward, nnd Indian Joe saw it for tho first time, n sudden spasm of terror causing him to burst forth : "My God I Thnt's Ilnnk Slngln l" "Sure It Is; ho got his, an' you'll get yours If you drop those hands, you cur. Turn around now, nnd stop." Lnud obeyed, his face ugly nnd threatening, nnd Shelby took n step closer, tho strip of blanket In bis bauds, bis revolver thrust back Into his belt. What Indian Joo saw will never be known; perhaps n slight wavering In the eyes of tho girl, per haps an Instant lowering of her gun. But It wns enough. All his hate mid treachery drovo him to n desperate chance. With the mnddened leap of n wild beast, be sprang upon Shelby, gripped him fiercely by the throat, imd the two went headlong to tho floor. Olga tired, but without nlm. missing them both, nnd dare not pull tho trigger again, so tightly were tho men grappled, as they rolled back and forth In frenzied effort to obtain mas tery. Shelby, taken completely by surprise, was at a disadvantage, his thro.it crushed by sinewy bands, his loosened revolver flung half ncross tho room. He could only struggle to break the hold of his antagonist, roll ing over and over, and forcing the fel low's bend back with every ounce of strength ho, could bring Into piny. They were not unevenly mntehed, the two Shelby tho younger, and perhaps the stronger; but Laud n skilled fight er, hnrd ns nails, and rendy to resort to any trick. Moreover, ho know what he had sot out to accomplish, nnd bent every effort to prevent tho fright ened girl from getting a Bhot nt him. He hung on, his strnlnlng hands, like n vise, twisting tighter and tighter Shelby's shirt bund, careless of any In jury to himself so that ho kept tho body of tho latter In protection tie tween him nnd Olga's revolver. Yet, with every move, every straining whirl of their bodies, ho gained nn Inch nearer tho open door. Ho fought llko nn nnlmal, sinking his teeth Into Shelby's flesh, nnd driving his knees Into his bo'dy. It wns silent, bitter fighting, overy muscle strained to the utmost, nnd tho squaw roan won. They knocked over tho bench, nnd crashed out through tho partially open door, rolling down the single step Into the weeds. Laud landed on top, bis fin gers still clutched on Shelby's throat, I iba latter bait unconscious, Crated, maddened ns he wns, tho one desire to escape overcame his eagerness to kill, nnd Indian Joe, cursing, struck onco nt the upturned face, lenpi'd to his feet nnd plunged Into the shcltet of the weeds. Shelby, gasping pain fully for breath, scarcely yet fully realizing what hud occurred, lay mo tionless but for the quivering of his limbs. Indeed, he hnd scarcely forced openx his eyes when Olga was beside him. "You you are alive? Ho did not' kill you?" He endeavored to smile, lifting him self upon one elbow. "No, no; I nm nil right" he gasped. "Tho, fellow got my throat, and I couldn't break his hold. The treach erous hound got me that time. I wns ' G) His Finger Still Clutched on Shelby's Throat a fool, nnd off my guard; It Is no fault of yours; I should have taken no chances with the dog. Where did he go?" "Down there, through tho weeds to tho creek; he hnd n horse down be low." "And rode nwny?" "I think so; I nm not sure. I cared for nothing then but you; I thought perhaps ho had killed you." Shelby struggled to his feet, his strength returning, nlthough he scarcely could swallow, nnd every word ho uttered pnlned him. "That devil will bo bnck; the Hole Is full of Indians. Our only chnncc Is to get nwny before he enn gnther n bunch of his kind together." "Get nwny? Where?" "Up tho bluff; the plnco In which I hid Inst night But wnlt; my revol ver is Inside the cnbln." He started bnck, and Olga followed closely. Standing upon tho step, nnd looking down tho valley, his head now nbovo the level of the surrounding weeds, Shelby's teeth clinched tightly to kep back an oath, nnd his eyes darkened. "There's no time left," he said grim ly, pointing, "Lnud has got his gang nlrendy; we're sure up against it now." Even ns she stood hestde him, straining her neck to set, the en denco of n wild whoop enmo echoing to them from the distance; Lnud nnd tho Indians were coming ncross tho flat, riding straight for the cabin, and lashing their ponies ns they came. "Are aro they after us?" she sobbed, grasping his arm, "nre nro you sure?" "No doubt of It ; that's Laud a lead In' 'cm. Them Injuns will do what ever he snytf. Come In quick ; we got to fight It out here, I reckon there nln't much chance, but I'm likely to get some o' thnt outfit. Hurry, Olgn; there ain't no time to lose." Ho crashed the door shut, nnd fiuiig the bnr Into place; then dragged for ward the heavy bench nnd braced It ns best ho could. He hnd to feel along the floor to recover his lost weapon, and before he could straight en up ngaln. tho wild chorus of yells rung out closo at hnnd, mingled with the sound of horses crushing reckless ly through the maze of weeds, nlmost to ho very door. He wns tho fighting mnn now, cool and eager. lie looked straight Into her eyes. "You nro not frightened, little girl?" "Oh, yes I nm; but but I nm not going to break down you you don't need to be afraid for me." "I'm not"; I know the renl thing when 1 see It. You'll stny till h I freezes over. Only see here first do you know who these devils nre out there?" "Sioux Indlnna, ain't they?" "Ay, anil the worst of the tribe; outcasts, bell hounds, nnd tlyj white man with 'em Is no better, Thero nln't goln' to be no mercy In this flght Whatever happens, don't you let 'em take you. Maybe they'll get mo first, but If they do, you keep n shot In your gun. You know what I mean?" The Hues nbout her mouth hard ened; thero wns n semblance of the old sullen look In her eyes. "I know, Tom Shelby," she sold steadily. "Dnd Calkins used to tell me thnt before I ever met you. I ain't goln' to bo made prisoner." Ho gulped In his throat, his lips grim nnd hnrd-set. "Maybe you'd shake hands?" he asked doubtfully. "Seems to me I'd rather like It If you did." "Of course I will," and aha thrust out both hands to him In sudden eager ness. "Why shouldn't I, Tom Shelby? I like you." In the darkness she could scarcely seo his face, but sho felt the grip of his fingers nnd cnught the eager tre mor In his voice. "I sure nm glnd you said that," he ndinlttpit. nn liolnlpss to exnrcss him- I elf as n child. "I sorter wanted you to for for n long while. H 1 1 That's Lnud out there nov'.' He stepped over beside tho door, whipping both revolvers from his belt nnd holding one In each hand. A small, round hole hnd been dug through the ndobo plnstcr between the logs nnd he bent down with his eye to the opening. A tail, rnngy white mnn, with a dirty skin nnd scrnggllng red beard was nearest nt hnnd; nnd beyond him crouched nn Indian nnked to the wnlst, his face blackened and chest disfig ured with gaudy pulnt. There wero others behind these scattered out In fan shape, but he could only make them out Indefinitely. Laud stoodso closo to the door his face could 'hot bo seen, but he held .a rifle In his bands, pounding with the stock on tho wood, as he angrily demnuded admit tance. "Como on out of there, yer big fool," be roared, maddened by the silence. "Wo saw yer go back Inside nn' wn'vo got yer this time. Come on, now; I won't nsk you ngnlnl" "On whnt terms?" ' Shelby asked this more to prolong delay than anything else. The fel lows knew they were there, nnd It was useless to, pretend otherwise. "Terms hU" nnd Indlnn Joo burst out Into a loud laugh. "Hear the cock crow, Hanley. We'll make terms when we get bunds on yer. yer darn snenklng spy. Only I'll say this: ycr'll get It harder If yer hang nn nftcr we do get yer nn', by God I we'll get yer, sooner or later." "We'll take chances, Lnud, and the fun Is not going to be nil on one side." "It won't, hey I So yer goln' ter fight? All right; but there's more o' this outfit comln', nn' yer n blamed Idiot; If wo enn get yer no other wny I reckon we can burn yer out. Come on, now; snve time nnd nnd open up I" "He struck hnrd and angrily with his guustock, but the stout woo'I held. Shelby made no answer, ngaln .lending low nnd peering nut through the nnr row opening. The obstinate silence must hnve maddened the fellow, for he suddenly reversed his weapon and fired. The ball crashed through tho wood, leaving n Jagged hole, nnd Im bedded Itself In the solid log of n back wall. Before tho smoke blew nwny Shelby replied, sighting out through the small aperture, determined to mnke every shot count. The nenr est white mnn flung up his nrm which dripped blood, grabbed it and ran; the crouching Indlnn behind, crum pled up ns though crushed by some sudden weight nnd never moved. Lnud sprang backward, startled by tho swift response from within, the smoke swirling up between his fingers, and Shelby let drive. Whether the speed ing bullet struck or missed he never knew, but the squnw-mnn gave one stnrtlcd leap Into the concealment of the weeds, fell headlong, nnd then went scrambling down to the bank of the stream. It was nil so swiftly nc compllshcd ns to seem like a flashlight picture. When tho smoke cloud rolled nwny not n figure wns to be seen. Shelby stood up, grimly smiling, nnd replnced the cartridges In his weapon. Tho end wns not yet, but he hnd taught them a lesson In caution. For n moment, blinded by gazing out Into the sunlight, he could soe noth ing clearly about him, not even tho flguro of Olga. "Where are you?" ho fltlL'Afl "Here, by the other door. What has happened?" He laughed, put at ease by the quick response of her voice. "Oh, I took pot shot out through a hole lb the wall. I thought wo might ns well start the ball; Joe wns getting no gay. Touched up two of them; rftiw they'll go back and talk It over." "Suro; tho Indians will be for wait Ing till night, an' .thnt nln't fnr off. What nre you doing down there?" There wns n note of stnrtlcd sur prise lu her voice. "Why, this Is Btrnngc! I 1 hndn'.t noticed before; I wns too frightened, perhaps but, come quick; Mncklin's body Is not here I It It Is gone I" (TO IH3 CONTINUED.) She Had a Remedy. The young mother was worried over her youngster. "Sometimes I think there Is something tho matter with his ears," sho said, "for be does not on swer mo when I speak to him; nnd often ho doesn't seem to understand thnt I've given him nny directions. I Wonder If I should tnko him to an ear specialist." Tho mother of four grinned. "I've found Just such deafness among my children," sho said, "but 1 didn't let It worry mo nny." "Whnt did you do for It?" Inquired tho young mother, anxiously. "Why, I Just spanked 'em all around," wns tho reply, "and they heard beautifully fnr several months after that" Springfield Union. "French Leave." .. Tho fnmlllar expression' "to take French lenvo" arose In the enrly part of tho Eighteenth century, through certain guests In tho salons of France, not nwnro of the higher nets of courtesy, leaving without snylng good by to the host or hostess. The prac tlco spread to society In other coun "tries. Therefore, If a man left with out snylng good-by to his host It wns said ho took "French leave." 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