Semi-weekly herald., 1911-08-07
CHAPTER xxxV.
Tho Cabin Taken.


His heart beating with new happi-
ness, yet conscious Of the stern duty
still confronting him, Keith Joined the
others, giving them, in whisper,
hurried account of Hopes release
from the cabin, and of what she had
to report.
Its old Juan Sanchez in the front
room, boys" he added soberly, "and
there is ten thousand dollars reward
out for him, dead or alive"
Joe of the Bar X' drew In his
breath sharply.
It'll sure be dead then" he NUT
no other way"
They went at 1t in the grim silent
manner of the West. wasting little
time, feeling no mercy. One by one
the unconscious sleepers were aroused,
each waking to find steel barrel
pressing against his forehead, and to
hear stern voice say ominously.
Not q move. Johnny; yes. that's a
gun; now get up quietly, and step out
here" Resistance was useless, and
the f1ve, rendered weaponless, were
herded back toward the corral. They
all belonged to Hawley's outfit; one, a
black-whiskered surly brute Bristoe
remembered having seen in Sheridan.
There was no time to deal with them
then, and a Bar X" man was placed
on guard, with orders to shoot at the
slightest suspicious movement.
The Indian. then. would be guarding
the front of the house. and Sanchez
sleeping inside. Well. the former
could be left alone; his chance of es-
cape would be small enough with Fair
balm and Neb on the opposite bank
Old Sanchez was the villain they
wanted-dead or alive. With this in
view, and anxious to make a quick
Job of it, the three entered the back
room, and, revolvers in hand, CROPPED
their way across to the connecting
door. AS Hope had described, this
had been securely fastened by a stout
wooden bar Bristoe forced It from
the sockets, not without some slight
noise, and Keith. crouching down at
one side, lifted the latch.
Keep down low, boys" he cau-
toned, where he can't hit you"
With one quick push he flung the
door wide open, and red Hash lit the
room. There were two sharp reports,
the bullets crashing into the wall be-
hind them. the sudden blaze OF flame
revealing the front door open, and
with 1t the black outline of a mans
figure. Two OF the men fired In in
stant response, leaping recklessly for
ward, but were as quickly left behind
in the darkness, the outer door
slammed IL their faces. Outside
there was a snarl of rage, another
shot, a fierce curse in Spanish; then
Keith flung the door wide open, and
leaped down the step. AS he did SO
he did SO he struck a body and fell
forward, his revolver knocked from
his hand. Rising to his knees. the
dim light of the stars revealed man
already half across the stream. Sud-
denly two sparks of fire leaped forth
from the blackness OF the opposite
bank; the man flung up his hand. stag
gered. then went stumbling up tho
stream, knee deep in water. He made
3 dozen yards. reeling as though
drunk, and fell forward. face down
across a spit of sand. Keith stared
out at the black, motionless shape.
felt along the ground for his lost gun.
and arose to his feet. Bristoe had
turned over the dead body at the
foot OF the steps. and was psering
down into the upturned face.
TITS the Indian" he said grimly.
Sanchez must "a mistook him fer
one of us. and shot the poor devil"
And Sanchez himself is out yonder
on that sand-pit." and Keith pointed;
then lifted his voice to make 1t. 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 wadsd out to