The Holbrook news., 1921-08-05


 ''Then we've got the villains, if we only move secretly enough. Take a dozen men, and come along with me, captain. Dismount them. Senorita, it will be best for you to show us the way"
 They disappeared into the curtain of falling snow, and cautiously advanced beneath the veil of overflowing water. The outlines of the log house could be plainly discerned, the storm suddenly ceasing. The door stood open, smoke arose from the chimney, but no one was visible outside. The dull glow of an expiring fire appeared on the ground in front, but no guard was squatted about it. Evidently the fel- lows had retired to shelter. The ma jor grasped all this in a glance, but what interested him most was the | sound of steady firing some distance away
 "They have either all gone inside" he whispered to Pancha, crouching beside him, "out of the storm, or else they are over there where the fight ing is. You hear those rif1es?"
 "Yes, senOr"
 You don't suppose some other outfit had got in here ahead of us, do yOu?" he asked anxiously.
 'No, senor," earnestly grasping his arm. ''Eet is not that. I know; they fight up the canyon. Listen, eet is over there the sound. They try to capture SenOr Shelby; if we go quick we save them; we wait, maybe all be dead. Now we get all In the rocks, so none get away"
 q see" He looked at her keenly; then stepped back to where the men were clustered. Captain, scatter these lads out about that house there; move quickly, and see that no one gets away. Stiles, run back and have the squadron move forward. Bring up your horses"
 The znen dashed forward in a half circle, the major, with Pancha at his shoulder advancing close behind them, his objective the open door. No soon- CT had they broken cover when the alarm sounded; mufaed voice yelled excitedly; rifle or two cracked; a soldier running rapidly, plunged for ward on his face, and lay still. Then white and red surged crowding through the door, surprised, trapped, crazy to escape. Only one among them dared the venture in face of those leveled carbines. A tall, gaunt white renegade, with red whiskers, and one arm in sling, his uninjured hand gripping a revolver, leaped from the front step in a reckless endeavor to get out of sight around the corner of the cabin The major flung up his arm and fired, the fellow whirling about in his stride and stumbling as he fell. He got upon one knee again, and the ".45" spat twice viciously before trooper sent a bullet crashing into his brain. Hays felt the zipp of lead past his face, but stood erect, unhurt. Behind him Pancha uttered a startled sob and sank slowly onto the snow He sprang back and caught her, hold ing her head up on his knee. his eyes staring down into her white, upturned face She breathed once-that was all; never spoke, never moved, except 1 for the slight tremor of her slender form in his arms. The major laid her softly down, his own face drawn and white with sudden passion, and strode | across to where the slain outlaw lay in a huddled heap An instant he looked down at the brutal face, obliv- | ious to all else.
 "D-n you" he muttered in use less rage. q wish I'd killed youl'
 Then he turned suddenly, the spirit | of the soldier in the ascendancy.
 "Deploy your men, Captain Giles" he commanded. his voice hard and | stern. Swing them into line. Leave 1 a squad here under a sergeant. Live ly, boys; that is one of our old lads | fighting those devils over wonder. | Now we're going to strike in, and d-n me, if I care if you never take pris Oner. Good! give me my horse. All ready? Bugler, sound the charge!"
 They swept forward on a walk, then a trot, spreading out onto long. double line, as they swung into the more open valley, riding knee to knee. the men bending forward in their stir rups, with left hand grasping the