The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-01-14
SIN that cell room in vlllemonte's

he cut them bars at the window. an
wiggied through"
"And he hasn't been caught?1
SAINT e hide ner hair o. him.
Some guy helped him outside-there
was prints Of two kinds Of boots plain
enough under the window but after
that they might just as well have
gone up in the air."
1.-TWO o. 'em. The other couldn't
have been HanIey, or Slagfn, could
it,"
How the hi do I know? I v
caught sight o. nnthin' but the print
OF that boot. I secuted up the creek;
then that first bunch o. Indians come
trailin' in, an I had no time to think
about anything since, only gettin' my
cattle out o. here"
"But you'll go with us now?'
"For a ways, anyhow; / reckon
there amt nothin' else to do; them
soldiers is bound to get here"
And the sooner we're of the better.
You ready7"
He wheeled and confronted the
shrinking, frightened girl, who made
no reply.
well, by God! you better be. Get
the horses, Joe; I'll fetch her along.
all right"
Shelby Strengthened up. In spite Of
the odds, he must act now, or never.
Yet, before he could take a step for
ward, a single shot rang out sharply.
He saw Macklin fling up his arms,
and reel backward, his body striking
the half-open door, before 1t crashed
to the floor, and lay motionless.
The impact of Macklin's body had
flung the door wide open. leaving Shell
by fully exposed to view. For an in
slant, however. the startled and be-
wildered Laud failed to note his re-
veaiment against the darkness of that
interior. He had leaped back instant
ly to the protection of the wall, and.
gun In hand, crouched there with
eyes fixed on the broken window op-
posite. Shelby was swift to take ad-
vantage Of his surprise. Wherever
the shot had come from, whoever had
fired it, his concealment was no longer
possible. There must be no hesitancy,
10 delay. He stepped across the mo-
tionless body, with weapon flung grim
ly forward.
Hands up, Joe! Put them up first
before you turn around. Stop that !
Don't try any tricks on me. Now
stand there-Olga."
"Yes."
Take that gun out of his hand !;
there is another in his belt; get that
also. That's right; now come over
here; you understand firearms"
Eyes, of course wonderingIy, "I
know how to shoot"
II imagined so; Calkins would have
taught you. Keep this fellow covered,
and let him have it If he makes any
effort to break away. Watch him
closely, while 1 rip up that blanket,
and tie him up"
He left her with the gun steadily
pointed at Laud's head. the fellow
eursing, with hands up. his angry
eyes following every movement. He
was desperate, maddened by sudden
h~eipleSsness, with the sneaking feroci-
ty OF a wolf, yet vas temporarily held
motionless by the deadly peril. Shell
by stripped the ragged blanket from
off the dead bodies under the bench,
and began hastily TO rip it apart.
The black, hloated face Of Slagin
| stared upward, and Indian Joe saw it
for the first time. a sudden spasm of
terror causing him to burst forth:
My God! That's Hank Slagin I"
"Sure it is; he got his. an youth get
yours If you drop those hands. you
cur. Turn around now, and stop"
Laud obeyed. his face ugly aud
threatening, and Shelby took a step
closer, the strip of blanket i'm his
hands, his revolver thrust back into
his belt. What Indian Joe saw will
never be known; perhaps a slight
wavering in the eyes of the girl, per
haps an instant lowering of her gun.
But il was enough. All his hate and
treachery drove him to q desperate
chance. With the maddened leap of
q wild beast, he sprang upon Shelby,
gripped him iercely by the throat,
and the two went headlong to the
floor. Olga fired, but without aim,
missing them both, and dare not pull
the trigger again, so tightly were the
men grappled, as they rolled back aud
forth in frenzied effort TO obtain mas
terry. Shelby. taken completely by
surprise, was at a disadvantage, his
throat crushed by sinewy hands. his
| loosened revolver flung half across the
room. He could only struggle 70
break the hold of his antagonist, roll
ing over and over. and forcing the fel-
lows head back with every ounce of
strength he could bring into play.
They were not ~unevenly matched the
two-Shelby the younger, and perhaps
i A. nr-.,nors h,,r 4 arYI n SEfllaa fuhk.