The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-02-25

Gicime for murder would he hanging
over his head, if not hanging him in the
course of fortnight. True. there WIGS
| no sheriff within 70 miles, and long be-
| fore the civil authorities could be
brought into play the murderers of
| Brady would be scattered all over the
| face of the earth. All the same. under
| the strict Interpretation OF the civil
| law. Lieut.. Merriam knew that he and
his people had no more business trying
| to arrest these renegades than they had
TO vote at a territor election. In
point of fact. like many another officer
and man. soldier of Uncle Sam on the
broad frontier, he was aware of the fact
| that even horse thief had more civil
right than the trooper. His expedition,
therefore, in the eye of the law was
| nothing more nor less than lawless
dash, winding up in a possible free
fight. and all against the peace and dig
nifty of the people of New Mexico, Per-
haps Buxton knew this, too, but the or
Gers he gave were peremptory, and Mer-
Ram never stopped to reply, reason why,
or expostulate. But now when the
i renegades began to shoot the reasoning
why had TO be done. His men were hot
for battle-so was he-but the nation
expects of its officers that. no matter
what the temptation, proyocaton or en-
ASPIRATION, they keep cool heads and
tempers, only shoot when the law per-
mts. but then shoot to kill. No claim
of self-defense could be allowed. They
were the pursuing and therefore the
attackingparty,an and, though these Mex.
leans were followed red-handed, hot
footed, there could be no question what
a civil jury would say if any of their
dingy hides were puuctured by the balls
of brutal soldiery.
| Zp-bang!-a second shot. Ding-
egg wrrrrr-bang. another, and Corp
oral Butts Gucked his head and swore
and Trooper Mullen's charger squea!ed
and lunged and kicked viciously with the
seam of a bullet scathing his flank and
blowing the launch. They were clos
ing on the rutiians fast, then, and the
temptation was overpowering. Il cant
ride my men in 20 be shot down like
dogs" growled Randy. "In 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, mem" he cried,
meaning to draw rein. slacken speed a
: bit, and get all his party together be-
fore closing for action. The Mexicans
. were plainly winded. Their half-starved
brutes had carried them under bloody
squirting as far as they could and were
now barely staggering along. What
, their riders dreaded was summary
: stringing up to the railway telegraph
poles if captured. Better die fighting,
said the leader. and fight it was.
$ They were close to the entrance of a
little ravne that set in among The bar
9 rem slopes from the open ground to the
e east. All the way from the Santa Clara
$ the ascent had been gradual but dis
e tinctly marked. and just as the fore
most rider spurred around the shoulder
: of the hillside his painting broncho
e stumbled, went down, rolled helplessly
: over and lay there dead to kicks, curses
q or blows. Three of the gang dashed on.
}, ward, leaving their countryman to his
Il fate. but two of them, better nerved
refined up, a,ighted, and, throwing
. themselves fiat upon the ground, opened
n again rapid and telling fire from their
: Winchesters. Mira! ell Teniente," was
: the word, linked with savage Spanish
$ curse that Kissed from the black lips OF
the nearest, and in an instant Merriam
n became the target for the sharp fire OF
=, - three magazine rifles, famous for theil
IS accuracy at no greater distance than
10 the AGO yards that now separated them
d Almost before he could realize il Randy
felt sharp sting just at the outer edge
Of his bride arm, and knew that the
blood gushed from the wound. Their
i all of a sudden his poor troop horse
e plunged heavily forward, and, groanine
= and struggling, went down in a heap
e bearing his rider help,essly with him
q Two minutes more, as some OF TIT
e men dismounted and with rapid ant
e effective fire scattered the MeXicans t.
e shelter within the ravine, Corporal Butt
u and trooper succeeded in pulling Mer
q ram free from the madly lashins, strug
re Cling. stricken brute, and then it was
found that their pallid, speeches. lead
r err had received some serious injury
g All the breath was knocked out of hi
% body and the bride arm was broker
he midway between the wrist and elbow
E. That ended the chase. Four or fiv
y men, it is true, took advantage OF tn
ID fact that the lieutenant was knocked
y out to dash ahead and have persona
lie affair with the greasers, and later il
he the day. when, after long, long ride
Il Trooper Mullen reached a friendl
Ell Ianchman on the Santa Clara and hat
Sc him send out his spring wagon for tn
lie wounded officer, these enthusiasts cam
lie drifting back. there was reason for bt
I'd lief that their ammunition had no
t. been entirely spent in vain. But it wa
re WORKOUT. used-up detachment, es
,e corting a two-wheeled, improvised am
so bulance. that recrossed the Santa Clar
I'd late that afternoon and was met Their
by the assistant surgeon.
re :" hope you saw Mrs. Merriam befor
6. you started" was Randy's faint greet