Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-08
CHAPTER xxxv.
Tho Cabin taken.

OI0CiS, giving Iueu, III u WulspSl, .
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, 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 steel barrel
pressing against his forehead, and to
hear a stern voice say ominously.
Mot move. Johnny; yes. that's q
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 Bar X man was placed
on guard, with orders to shoot at the
slightest suspicious movement
The Indian, then. would b guarding
the front Of the house, and Sanche1
sleeping inside. Well, the former
could be left alone: his chance Of e.
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 mako quick
Job Of 1t, 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 1t 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 flame
revealing the front door open, and
with 1t the black outline of a mans
figure. Two of the men fred 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 snarl of rage. another
shot. fierce curse in Spanish; then
Keith flung the door wide open, and
sIeaped down the step. AS he did so
he did so he struck 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. Keeling as though
drunk, and fell forward, face down
across 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.
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 Par X" man waded out to
help. and the three together laid the
dead Mexican outlaw on the bank, be
side the Indian he had shot down in
his effort to escape. Keith stood fol-
q moment bending low to look curl
,ously into the dead face-wrinkled
scared, still featuring cruelty, the
thin lips drawn back in q snarl. What
scenes of horror those eyes had gazed
upon during fifty years of crime
what suffering of men, women. Chill
.dren; what deeds of rapine; what ex
amples of merciless hate. JuaI
Sanchez!-the very sound of the name
made the blood run cold Dead OF
alive!" Well, they had him at last
dead; and the plainsman shuddered
as he turned away
Taking Fairbain with him and has
t1ly reviewing late occurrences to him
Keith crossed over to the corral, real
izing that their work-his work-was
mot wholly done until Hawiey hat
been located With this quest in mine
he strobe straight to the blackboard
Led giant who had guarded Hope from