Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-09-05
CHAPTER XXXV.
The Cabin Taken.


ness, yet conscious of the stern duty
still confronting him, Keith Joined the
others. giving them. in whisper, a
hurried account of Hopes release
from the cabin. and of what she had
| to report
IT'S old Juan Sanchez in the front
! room. boys" he added soberly, land
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
tered. that cuss will never be got
no other way"
They went at it 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 a steel barrel
pressing against his forehead, and to
hear a stern voice say ominously
Not move. Johnny; yes, that's a
gun; now get up quietly, and step out
here" Resistance was useless. and
| the five. rendered weaponless. were
herded back toward the corral. They
all belonged to Hawley's outfit: one.
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
4 -. La II
I 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 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 stout
wooden bar. Bristoe forced II from
the sockets. not without some slight
noise. and Keith. crouching down at
one side. lifted the latch
Keep down low, boys" he eau
toned, where he can't hit you"
With one quick push he flung the
door wide open, and a red flash lit the
room. There were two sharp reports.
the bullets crashing into the wall be
hind them. the sudden blaze of fame
revealing the front door open. and
with 1t tho black outline OF "a man
| figure. Two of the men fired in in
slant response. leaping recklessly for
ward. but were as quickly left behind
In the darkness, the outer door
slammed in their faces. Outside
there was a snarl OF rage, another
shot. 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 the
stream. knee deep in water He made
a dozen yards. Keeling as though
drunk and fell forward face down
across a spit OF sand. Keith stared
out at the black. motionless shape,
and arose to his feet BriStoe had
turned over the dead body at the
foot of the steps. and was peering
down into the upturned face
ITS 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 sandpit." and Keith pointed:
then lifted his voice to make il carry
across the stream. Come on over.
Doctor. YOU and Neb We've got the
gang. E-,"e that lody out there
a'"oe ,f.I vor"
ed ont to
| nelp. and the three together laid the
| dead Mexican outlaw on the bank, be-
side the Indian he had shot down ID
hts effort to escape Keith stood for
II moment bending low to look curl
ously into the dead face -Wrinkled,
SCARED, still featuring cruelty, the
thin lips drawn back in a snarl. What
scenes of horror these eyes had gazed
upon during fifty years OF crime;
what suffering OF men, women, chIl
! dren; what deeds of rapine; what eX-
amples of merciless hate Juan
Sanchez!-the very sound of the name
made the blood run cold Dead or
alive!" Well. they had him at last
dead; and the plainsman shuddered,
as he turned away
Taking Fairbain with him and has.
lily reviewing late occurrences to him.
Keith crossed over to the corral, real
ling that their Work-his wOrk-was
not wholly done until Hswley had
been located. With this quest in mind
he strobe straight 10 the black beard
ID giant who had guarded Hope from
! Sheridan.
What is your name?" he asked
! -karply
The man looked up scowling.
"iiatchett." he answered gruhiy.
Well, liatchett. | am going to ask
goa a question or two. and advise yOl
20 reply just about as straight a. Vol