The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-23

The Cabin Taken.

The Cabin Taken.
Hhs heart beating with new happt
nosA yet conscious Of the stern duty
Ut1ll confronting him. Keith Joined the
ukhsrs. giving them. In q whisper. Z
2nrr1sd account Of Hopes release
from the cabin. and of what abe bad
- report
Its old Juan Sanchez In the front
Spora. boys" he added soberly. and
there n ten thousand dollars reward
cut for him. dead or alive"
Joe OF the Bar X" drew In his
breath sharply.
It'll sure be dead then" he NUT
tsred. that cuss will never b got
no other way"
They went st II In the grim silent
manner Of tho West wasting little
time. feeling no mercy. One by one
ne unconscious sleepers were aroused.
each waxing TO fnd @ steel barrel
pressing against his forehead. and 70
hsar . stern voice say ominously.
mot Q move. Johnny; yes. that's q
sun; now get up quietly. and step out
tAs ave. rendered weaponless. were
hsrded back toward the corral Thsy
al belonged 70 Hawley's outfit; one. Q
blaok-whiskersd surly brute Bristos
ssmsmbsrsd having seen In Sheridan
chsre was no time 70 deal with them
tAsn. and q Bar x" man was placed
"a guard. with orders to shoot at the
s11ghtest suspicious movement
The Indian. thsn. would b guarding
the front of the house. and Sanches
s1espins inside. Wen, the former
could bs left alone; his chance Of es-
oApe would b small enough with Fair.
hahn and Nsb on the opposite bank.
Old Sanches was the villain they
vAntsd--dead or alive. With this In
view. and anxious 70 mako o quick
;1D6 q r. the three entered the back
SOcm. and. revoavers In hand, groped
eASlr vay across TO the connecting
Acor. "A Hope had described. this
had bean securely fastened by q stout
wooden bar. Bristoe forced Il from
&As sockets. not without some slight
a<ass. and Esith. crouching down At
Dus side. lifted the latch.
Keep down low. boys" be eau.
e1cnsd. where he can't hit you"
With one quick push he nung the
Aoor Wide open. and Q red fash Lit the
SOON There wcre two sharp reports.
NE bullets crashing into the wall be-
Mind them. the sudden blaze of name
rsvealing the front door open, and
Nth II the black outline of q mans
aeure. Two Of the men fred In in.
slant response. leaping recklessly for
ward. but were a. quickly left behind
IN the darkness. the outer door
slammed In their faces. Outside
there was q snarl Of rage. another
0not. o fierce curse In Spanish then
Keith nung the door wide open, and
1saped down the step. As he did SO
- aid 90 he struck q body and fell
1Drward- his revolver knocked from
11s hand Rising 70 his knees. the
a1m light Of the stars revealed q man
already half across the stream. Sud-
eeniy two sparks Of nre lesped forth
trom the blackness of the opposite
bank: the man fiung up his hand. stag
0sred than went stumbling up the
stream. knee deep In water. He made
. dozen yards. reeling as though
drunk. and fell forward. facs down
across q spit OF sand Keith stared
out at the black. mouonless shape,
esh along the ground for his lost gun.
and arose 20 his feet Bristoe had
turued over the dead body at the
foot OF the steps. and was peering
Aown inso the uptu-ned face.
Its the Indian" ne said xrimly.
Sanchez must a nistook him fer
cne Of Us. and shot the poor devil"
And Sanchez himself Is out yonder
On that sand-pit" and Keith pointed:
tnsn liftsd bis voice 70 make II carry
across the stream Come on over,
Doctor. you and Neb We've got the
gang. Bring that body out there
along with you
The Bar X" man waded out To
hsip. and tho three together laid the
eead Mexican outlaw on the bank, be-
s1de the Indian he had shot dc~n In
HE effort to escape. Keith stood for
q moment bending low to look curl
ousiy into the dead face--wrinkied.
scarred. stin teaturtng crualty. the
0An lips drawn back In a smart. What
scenes OF horror those eyes had gazed
upon during ffty years Of crime:
What suffering Of men. women. chill.
xUh haS "a
emples OF merciless hate. Juan
eanchesi-the very sound OF the name
made the blood run cold. Dead or
Ahvei" Well. they had him at last
e>ad; and the plainsman shuddsred.
- he turned avay.
Taxing Fniroain with him snd has
se0y rsvievfng late occurrences To him,
ks1fh crcsscd over 10 Tho corrNi real
1E1ng thai thsfr work-his work--was
- Uhoflx d<r<n ,.ptfl Tya1vt-- a.