The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1916-06-08

honor or a nationr He choked sud
denly.
Mrs. Fancher's black eyes danced as
she exchanged glance with Linney.
Then you won't come into town and
help us?" asked the army man quietly
That's another story" retorted
Luke. III be there with as many Of
the boys as | can spare. Well ride
over some time between now and day
break"
They shook hands. and Humphrey
mounted his big rawboned sorrel and
accompanied the pair.
Luke watched them out of sight
When Mrs. Fancher turned and waved
her hand he swung his hat in response
but the smile was gone from his eyes,
and there was bitter look about his
mouth. Even a gun toter" may in
dulge in a few heart pangs when the
woman he loves rides away with an
other man. And Linney was a good
fellow in every respect, more suit
able husband than either Luke Fraser
or George Humphrey. for the two lat
ter were rivals for the pretty widows
hand.
The stars were fading In the earliest
dawn when Luke and five of his men
rode into Sandy Bluff. The little town
twinkled with lights, and horsemen
appeared suddenly from unexpected
places and challenged the approach of
the men from Fraser's ranch.
The day passed in silent preparations
against the expected attack of Pedro
and his marauding band. In the begin
ming the half breed had confined his ac-
tivities to cattle rustling; but. embold-
ened by his successes. he had planned
a raid on the thriving little colony at
Sandy Bluff
Luke found time to run into Mary
a few words with the object of his
alteration, but the little widow appear
ed sad and spiritless and even SILVER
ed when Luke referred to the coming
encounter.
There will be-killing. | suppose.
Luke" she quavered as he was leay-
ing.
Sure thing" he returned briskly.
You better get some of the women
folks together and fix a temporary
hospital here-eh?
She promised to go TO work at once,
and Luke left her and went to the
postoffice for his letters. In the still
air of the midsummer day the flag
hung Imply against its pole.
Luke lifted his hat in salute and en-
tered the untidy general store, where
Humphrey was flying around busily.
Going to tote a gun tonight, Hum
phreyp asked Luke.
You know my sentiments" retorted
the postmaster grimlY.
"If Pedro or his men harm you
you'll slap somebody's wrist. eh?'' grin
ned the rancher.
Humphrey scowled and said nothing.
Luke bought some tobacco and car
guard the mouth of Cactus bend.
waterless bed of a long forgotten
creek. up which Pedro and his band
could steal unobserved, hidden by the
mesquite bushes on either side.
Night came on. and Luke with his
companions crouched under the stars
and thought of many things. He
thought of his hopeless love for Mary
Fancher-of his hearty dislike for
George Humphrey-Of the flag for
whose honor he was ready to spill
mis- life blood There had always been
fighting blood in the Fraser family
Frasers had shed blood in every war
of the Union from the battle of Bunker
aill-every emergency had found a
Fraser ready TO battle for his country.
Luke Fraser himself had been one of
a company of rough riders who had
charged up San Juan hill.
But Pedro was crafty foeman. He
did not approach Sandy Bluff by any
expected route, but came creeping
around under the adobe outer walls of
the Branch hotel at the edge of the
town where one of his spies admitted
them through a gate. 1t was not until
distant shots announced their presence
in the town that Luke and his COM
panions realized that Pedro had out
WltJeu tueLu.
In an instant they were running
swiftly through the dark streets to-
ward the center of the town. In front
of the poStoffice Pedro's men had
massed themselves and were firing
at the building, where a
strong guard from the barracks bad
been placed.
But it was Humphreys activity that
astounded the ranchman as he now
and then glimpsed the postmaster's
huge form through the splitting fire.
One of the raiders had climbed 10 the !
porch roof and had torn the flag from !
its pole. Suddenly Humphrey appeared |
1t an upper windOw-there was a
crash of glass as he burst into view. |
In another moment the raider hurtled |
through the air and struck the ground |
and lay still. There was yell of rage |
from below. and a shower of bullets !
,pattered around Humphrey.
The postmaster appeared to have lost |
MS reason Like maniac he swung |
he flag about his head and detied them. |