The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-06-30

out DOln MINUS 10 niui III suuuci cobcs-
ness. "Why shouldn't l, Tom Shelbyf
/ like you"
In the darkness she could scarcely
see his face. but she felt the grip OF
his fingers and caught the eager tire
NOR In his voice.
81 sure am glad you said that" ne
admitted as helpless to express HIM
self as a child. II sorter wanted you
to for-for long while. Hi That's
Laud out there now"
He stepped over beside the door.
whipping both revolvers from his belt
and holding one In each hand. A small.
round hole had been dug through the
adobe plaster between the logs and he
bent down with his eye to the opening.
A tall, rangy white man, with dirty
skin and scraggling red beard was
nearest at hand; and beyond him
crouched an Indian naked to the waist,
his face blackened and chest disfg.
ured with gaudy paint. There were
others behind these scattered out In
fan shape, but he could only make
them out indefinitely. Laud stood so
close to the door his face could not
be seen, but he held a rifle In his
hands, pounding with the stock on the
wood, as he angrily demanded admit
lance.
Come on out Of there, yer big fool"
he roared, maddened by the silence.
1--WE saw yer go back inside an we've
got yer this time. Come on, now;
won't ask you again.
"On what terms?"
Shelby asked this more to prolong
delay than anything else. The. fell
lows knew they were there. and II vas
useless to pretend otherwise.
"Terms-h-lr and Indian Joe
burst out into loud laugh. ''IIear
the cock crow, Hanley. Well make
terms when we get hands on yer. yer
darn sneaking spy. Only I'll say this !:
yer'll get 1t harder If yer hang on after
we do get yer-an', by God Wen get
yer. sooner or later"
"We'il take chances, Laud, and the
fun Is not going to be all on one side"
"It won't, hey! So yer goin' ter
fight2 All right; but there's more
o. this outfit comm, an yer a blamed
idiot; II we can get yer no other way
I reckon we can burn yer out. Come
on. now save time and and open up !"
He struck hard and angrily with his
gunstock, but the stout wood held.
Shelby made no answer. again bending
low and rceripg out through the mar
row opening. The obstinate silence
must have maddened the fellow, for
he suddenly reversed his weapon and
fired. The ball crashed through the
wood, leaving a Jagged hole. and Inn
bedded itself In the solid log OF q
back wall. Before the smoke blew
away Shelby replied, sighting out
through the small aperture. determined
to make every shot count The near
est white man flung up his arm which
dripped blood, grabbed 1t and ran \;
the crouching Indian behind, crum-
pied up as though crushed by some
sudden weight and never moved. Laud
sprang backward. startled by the
swift response from within. the smoke
swirllng up between his fingers, and
Shelby let drive. Whether the speed
ing bullet struck or missed he never
knew, but the squaw-man gave oae
startled leap into the concealment Of
the weeds, fell headlong, and then
went scrambling down to the bank
the stream. II was all so swiftly acs
complished as to seem like a flashllght
picture. When the smoke cloud rolled
away not figure was to be seen.
Shelby stood up, grimly smiling, and
replaced the cartridges In his weapon.
The end was not yet, but he had
taught them a lesson In caution.
For moment, blinded by gazing ont
into the sunlight, he could see moth.
ing clearly about him, not even the
figure of" Olga. "Where are your" he
asked.
"Here, by the other door. What ha'
happened?"
He laughed, put at ease by the quick
response of her voice.
"Oh, took pot shot out through
a hole In the wall. thought we
might as well start the ball; Joe was
getting so gay. Touched up two Of
them; now they'll so back and talk
IL over"
"Sure; the Indians will be for wait.
ing till night, an that amt far OF
What are you doing down therew
There was a note of startled sur.
prise In her voice.
"Why, this Is strange! II hadn't
noticed before; was too frightened,
perhaps-but, come quick; Macklina
body Is not here! TIT is gonew
(TO BE CONTINUED.)