The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-08-26

was Instantly knocked aside BY the
grizzled old miner standing next him
"None o that, Ben" he growled.
warningly. Il don't pay to
shoot holes in. Uncle lam"
Brant smiled. He vas lot there
Just then to tight, hut to secure delay
until his own men could arrive. and
to turn aside the fierce mob spirit II
such a result was found possible.
81 really would enjoy accommodate
ing you, Cotton" he said, cooI1y, feel
ing much more at ease, but I W
tight personal battles with such fell
lows as you. And now, you other
men, it is about time you woke up to
the facts of this matter. A couple of
hundred of you chasing after two
men, one an officer of the law doing
his sworn duty, and the other inno-
cent of any crime. I should imagine
you would feel proud of your job"
Innocent? He'll"
That is what I said. You fellows
have gone OF half-cocked-a mob gem
orally does. Both Miss Spencer and
Mr.. Wynkoop state positively that
they saw the rea murderer of Red
Slavin, and it was not Bob Hampton"
The men were impressed by his evi-
dent earnestness, his unquestioned
courage Several voices spoke almost
Mt once.
Us that right?"
"Oh, say, 1 saw the fellow with his
hand on the knife"
After we git the chap, Wen give
them people a chance to tell what
they know"
Brant's keenly attentive ears heard
the far-off chug of numerous horses
feet.
At rather think you will" he said,
confidently, his voice ringing out with
sudden authority.
He stepped back, lifted a silver
whistle to his lips. and sounded one
sharp, clear note. There was a grow
ing thunder of hoofs, a quick, manly
cheer, a crashing through the under
brush. and a squad of eager troopers,
baJf-dressed but with faces glowing
in anticipation of trouble, came gal
lopiog up the slope, swinging out into
line as they advanced, their carbinMs
cleaning in the sunlight. Il was
prettily. sharply performed, and their
officers IA frightened.
Very nicely done, Watson" he
said to the expectant sergeant. DE
ploy your men to left and right, and
clear out those shoSters. Make q
good job of it, but no firing unless
you AVE to-"
The troopers went at 1t as If they
enjoyed the task, forcing their FESTIVE
horses through the thickets, and
roughly handling more than one who
ventured to question their authority.
Yet the work vas yer in less time
than it takes to tell, the discounted
regulators driven pell-mell down the
hill and back into the town, the eager
cavalrymen hating only at the COM
mand of the bugle. Brant, confident
of his first sergeant in such emergen-
cy. merely paused long enough to
watch the men deploy, and hen press
ed straight up the hill, alone and on
loot. That danger to the besieged
was yet imminent was very evident.
The black spiral Of moke had be-
come an enveloping cloud, spreading
rapidly in both directions from its
original starting-poiht. He arrived
finally where the ground was charred
black and covered with wood ashes,
still hot under DOT and smoking, but
he pressed upward, sheltering his
eyes Will HOpl1llSu dIlu, anu SSShlAS
passage where the scarcity of under
brush rendered the zone of fire less
impossible. He could see scarcely
three yards in advance, but to the
rear the narrow lane of retreat re-
manned open. Standing there, as
though in the mouth of a furnace, the
red flames scorching his face, Brant
followed his hands for a call.
-4
over the Internal cracking and oar
ing like the note of a trumpet.
"Ayi What is it?" The returning
voice was plainly o Hampton's yet
it came from directly in front, and
not far away
who are you? Is that you. Mar
I shal?"
"Thet's the ticket" answered the
voice, grufhy, IAN just as full o. fight
es ever"
Brant lifted his jacket to protect
his ace from the scorching heat.
There was certainly no time to lose
in any exchange of compliments.
Tn Brant, lieutenant Seventh cav
airy" he cried, choking with the thick
ening smoke. My troop has scatter
I'd those fellows who were hunting
you. III protect you and your prison
er, but you'll nave to get out of there
at once. Can you locate me and make
a dash for it? Wrap your Dat around
your heads, and leave your guns be-
hind"
An instant he waited for the an
swer, fairly writhing in the intense
heat, then Mason shouted, "Hamp-
tons been shot, and I'm winged a lit
tie; 1 can't carry him"
Brant ripped on his jacket, wrapped
1t about his face, jammed a handker-
chief into his mouth and with a praye
in his heart, leaped forward into the
seemingly narrow fringe of fire in his
front Head down, he ran blindly.
stumbling forward as he struck the
ore-dump, and beating out with his
hands the sparks that scorched his
clothing. The smoke appeared to roll
higher from the ground here, and the
coughing soldier crept up beneath 1t,
breathing the hot air, n feeling as
though his entire body were afre.
| Mason, his countenance black and un-
recognizable. his shirt soaked with