Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-02-10

sOg
"YOu shot the wrong manT"
"Si, senior. Senior MackIin, he step
forward quick just when 1 fire; he
drop an l run"
Shelby felt Olga grip him and heard
her voice at his ear.
"She never heard what Macklin said;
don't let her know"
He crushed the question already on
his lips back into his throat.
dyes" Shelby said: 81 see how 1t
happened, now. And what did you do
then. Pancha?"
She was not sobbing, but her quick
breathing gave the impression in the
darkness.
"What I do. senior? I pray the Vir-
gin that / may save heem. Then
remember this passage from the ravine.
How know eet? Juan and l, we live
in the cabin a month; twas then I
found eet. I was underneath when
you fought, senior; then, when you
were both outside got heem-"
"Macklin, you mean? He was
allve?"
eyes, senior, alive. Maybe he live,
maybe he die; know not. 1 do what
1 can. Eet took long time; even l
carried heem alone"
"But how did you get across that
cave-in of earth?"
"Eet was not there; eet come lat
err" she explained. Il would go back,
senor when they fired the cabin, but
the earth had caved and I could not
get through"
ITO help us?"
Isl, senior; to help you and me.
What could l do alone? That is why
I tell you; why talk. Eet Is not
for YOU, nor for me. l would save
heem an only can eet be done if /
have help. l do all I can-Madre de
Dios, yes. But how l get heem out,
senOr?"
"But why not call the others?"
Shelby asked suddenly in suspicion.
"What danger is Macklin in?"
"You know not?" in surprise. "The
Indian boy tell me-he an Hanley.
They plan eet all out. Twas because
Juan would not be one of them they
keel heem. They would hold her for
ransom; they say man comes soon
here who would pay much; so they try
to put out of the way Senior Macklin.
'Tis to get her that Slagin go to the
cabin; he fall and then Senior Laud
try another way. He not know when
he come that Senior Macklin get back
No one know"
Shelby smothered an oath; the
whole foul plot suddenly revealed to
him in all its hideousness. This then
was what these f1ends had been plan
ming; it was plot within plot; crimi-
nal against criminal. He was blind
not to have perceived the truth be-
fore: now it stood before him in all
its sheer nakedness. Macklin's drunk
en- boast had brought forth its full
brood; Hanley, too brainless and
cowardly to lead, had told all he knew
to Indian Joe-embellished 1t, no doubt
and 1t was just the sort of thing
the latter was eager to get his hands
into-seemingly safe game, with
good stake. Shelby reached out and
drew Olga closer e. him in the dark
ness.
II understand, now" he said terse-
ly. "We've got to fight this out to-
gether. All right, I'm ready, What
is it you want me to do? Can Mack
lin walk?"
mo, senior; think maybe he vera
bad off; he not speak now for long
time. Maybe you tell what we do for
heem."
I'm afraid not, Pancha. I've doc
tored some wounds, but I'm no expert.
Where Is he? Oh, here"
He bent down in the dark and
touched the motionless figure. His fin
gers sought the map's pulse, which
showed weak but rapid.
"Where was the wound?"
"In the right chest, senior"
"And you have dressed and band
aged it?"
yes, senior; the best I could.
tore up my undersk.'t."
do you know If he bled much?"
mot since 1 found heem-no; eet
was very little. You think maybe he
live, senior"
II am unable to answer that, Pan
cha" he replied soberly, rising to his
feet. "The man is evidently hard hit,
weak from loss of blood and In a
coma now from fever. This Is no
place for him. If we could get him
out into the open, bandage his wound
properly and get doctor for the bali
he might have fair chance. l can
say no more than that"
"A doctor! Where would there be
a doctor"
II know of none this side of Ger
lasche; an army surgeon is at the
camp there; no doubt he would come"
"Gerlasche And-and he could save
heem, senor?"
'He might; can promise nothing;
but that would be the only hope"
But you will help me? You pledge
that"
81 will do whatever can" Shelby
said earnestly. II hardly know how