The Concordia sentinel. (Vidalia, Concordia Parish, La.) 1882-current, 1921-02-19
CHAPTER xIV--continued.

shoot"
"AU right" he grinned cheerfully,
"'come along, then only you keep down
out of the way, and let me do the
Eniping. There! now you lost me
shot! Did you see that buck dodge
between those two rocks? He'll try
that trick again presently"
Olga came back, creeping out eau
tiOusly and finding place slightly
behind where he lay. She held ID
one weapon, laying the other on the
rocks, together with belt filled Win
cartridges.
Shelby barely swept his eyes toward
her, his whole attention concentrated
. on what was occurring below. Some
thing was taking place down there
but exactly what could not Immediate
" be determined. He had perceived
men moving beyond range, lodging
alOEg from rock to rock, mere gllmpses
of dark figures, yet plainly enough
Indians. Once he was almost sure ne
distinguished a white man, through
rift I'm a gully, but the fieeting vie"
aheIess he had no doubt but what
there were white men present. The
method of attack was too bold, ana
determined, for savages alone; 1t was
net the Sioux idea of war. Besides
the one man who would have real
object in this assault would be Laud.
BEYOND all question it was he who
was behind the effort, urged on by
Dersoual hatred, as well as a desire
10 gain possession of Olga. Shelby
wondered what the fellow might know.
Could he be aware of the escape of
MackIin? and that Pancha had ridden
forth in search for help2 If he did
that might account for his desperate
eagerness to overcome what resistance
they could offer before she returned.
Yet probably not. for II he did know
the coward in him would cause him to
seek flight before he could be cornered
I'm this place. 1t was far more likely
that he believed himself opposed mere
~ by Shelby and the girl. armed with
a revolver or two, and having a linn
tied supply of ammunition. He saw
little peril In the adventure. and fig
ured that a quick. sharp rush. his war
.IOrs IeapiDg from covert TO covert,
would win an easy victory. He would
keep up a steady rife fire from be-
hind the rocks, forcing the defenders
to keep under cover, and then sudden
~ send charging party to end the
affair.
Shelby smiled grimly at the mental
picture. never turning his head MS he
spoke to the silent girl beside him.
Flows Macklln?"
dead, think. Tom. He didn't
seem to breathe even family"
The poor devil; It win be mighty
hard on Pancha though. You got your
gHnT'
YES"
''An loaded, reckon; II not you
better iii II up. There is goin' to be
HI to pay presently. When l say
NJ. you let drive. Keep down out o.
sight till then, but when you begin to
pum7 make her act like a gatling."
''But can't those riflemen see you
Ghere?"
''Nell, It doesn't look much like they
ran. the way they are pepperin' that
rock. Nice little tune the bucks are
playIn'. That's what makes me think
something's mp; they aim to keep us
down out o. sight, so we won't glimpse
what's comm "Tain't Indian nature
20 waste lead that way. Laud's back
there somewhere playin' this gGme. l
think ? got sight of the sneakin' cuss
- minute ago. but he was out of
range"
-YOu believe they intend to try and
get MP here?"
That's my present notion; they
don'rs look for much trouble either.
IL Is M to us TO give that outfit the
surprise of their lives
She reached out her hand and found
his. rs II rested on the belt of cart
ridges.
~TOm!r
EYES," he answered without remov-
ang his gaze from the trail below.
Don't worry about me-" she said
earnestly. you know what mean !:
dent think about me when they do
come. I'M take care OF myself, all
right
He east a quick glance into her
face.
Sure, know you win. You are
trump. good pardner. I thought
ahot for long while. You won't
forget what told you"
-rH not forget"
There WIS moment of silence and
thea she spoke again. a sharp little
catch IN her voice which she could
not restrain.
-T0mr
Yes"
FL don't know what is going tC
happen. I'll am not afraid. but
ent 81 seems TO me IL would like
20 have yon kiss me once more frs
--you only have once, you know"
ehelby turned his body about. leav
eng his cooked revolver lying on thu
xfone, and caught both her hands
eagerly
Lord. I'm. glad to hear you sa,
shat little girl he exclaimed. hii
ewes agIow. Il reckon I've been sorteI
hngf afraid o. you. But ain't goln
10 be any more; you sure mean 1t
don't your
rz.- .xee loolxed honestly. earnest