The copper era and Morenci leader., 1912-06-07
CHAPTER xxxv.
The Cabin Taken.

His heart beating with new happt- 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.
 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 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 steel barrel pressing against his forehead, and to hear a stern voice say ominousiy, Not move, Johnny; yes, that's al 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, a black-whiskered surly brute Bristoe remembered having seen in Sheridan There was no time to deal with them then, and 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. We'll. the former could be left alone; his chance of es- cape would be small enough with Fair bain 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, groped their way across to the connecting door. AS Hope had described, this had been securely fastened by stout wooden bar Bristoe forced 1t from the sockets, not without some slight noise, and Keith, crouching down as 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 red flash lit the room There were two sharp reports,
  hind them, the sudden blaze of flame revealing the front door open, and with it the black outline of mans figure. Two of the men fired in 1n- stant 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, 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 the stream, knee deep in water. He made 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 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 wonder on that sand-pit," and Keith pointed; then lifted his voice to make it carry across the stream. Come on over. Doctor, you and Neb. We've got the gang Bring that body out there along with you"
 '.--- v" -rau waded out to