Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-04-08

temptation was 6verpowering. II can't
ride my men in to b shot down like
dogs" growled Randy. I'm for penny
In for pound. They started IT, any
way" he said 10 himself, then turned In
saddle and waved high his forage cap.
"Close up! Close up, men!" he cried,
meaning TO draw rein, slacken speed o
bit, and get all his party together be-
fore closing for action. The Mexicans
were plainlywinded. Their half-starved
brutes had 4ssried them under bloody
squirting us far as they could and were
now barely staggering along. What
their riders dreaded was summary
stringing up to the railway telegraph
poles II captured. Better die fighting.
said the leader, and light II was.
They were close TO the entrance Of q
little ravine that set In among the bar
rem slopes from the open ground to the
east. All the way from the Santa Clara
the ascent had been gradual but dis
tinctly marked, and just rs the fore-'
most rider spurred around the shoulder
Of the hillside his painting broncho
stumbled, went down, rolled helplessly
over and lay there dead to kicks, curses
or blows. Three Of the gang dashed on
ward, leaving their countryman to his
fate, but two OF them, better nerved,
refined up, alighted, and, throwing
themselves fiat upon the ground, opened
again rapid and telling fire from their
Winchesters. "Mifa! el Teniente," was
the word, linked with savage Spanish
curse that Missed from the blac; lips OF
the nearest, and In an instant Merriam
became the target for the sharp fire OF
three magazine rifles, famous for their
accuracy at no greater distance than
the 400 yards that now separated them.
Almost before he could realize II Randy
felt sharp sting just ut the outer edge
of his bride arm, and knew that the
blood gushed from the wound. Then
all Of sudden his poor troop horse
plunged heavily forward, and, grooming
and struggling, went down in heap,
bearing his rider helplessly with him.
Two minutes more, rs some OF the
men dismounted and with rapid and
effective fire scattered the Mexicans to
shelter within the ravine, Corporal Butts
and trooper succeeded in pulling Mer-
riam free from the madly flashing, strug-
Cling, stricken brute, and then II was
found that their panid, speechless lead
er had received some serious injury.
All the breath was knocked out OF his
body and the bride arm was broken
midway between the wrist and elbow.
That ended the chase. Four or five
men, II Is true, took advantage OF the
fact that the lieutenant was knocked
out to dash ahead and have a personal
affair with the greasers, and later in
the day. when, after long, long ride,
Trooper Mullen reached q friendly
Ipnchman on the Santa Clara and had
him send out his spring wagon for the
wounded officer, these enthusiasts came
drifting back, there was reason for be-
lief that their ammunition had not
been entirely spent in vain. But 1t was
WORKOUT, used-up detachment, es-
corting two-wheeled, improvised am
bulance, that recrossed the Santa Clara
late that afternoon and was met there
by the assistant surgeon.
81 hope you saw Mrs. Merriam before
YOU started" was Randy's faint greet
Ing. "She wasn't much worried, was
she? tried to scrawl line or two,
and we made the messenger swear
was only famed by the fall OF the horse
You saw her-didn't your"
"No-o," hesitated the doctor, u
didn't. Merriam. You see there wasn't