The Raymer enterprise., 1921-06-30

out beth hands b him h s1dden sassRs
nesA why shouldn't 1 Tom Shslbyf
! like yos..
In the darkneo she could scarcely
- his face. but she felt the Uip Of
bis fingers and caught the eager rs-
mar In his voice.
Il sure am glad you said that b
admitted. ~ helpless to express him
self n a child. Il sorter wanted you
to for-for q long while. FL! 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 be
bent down with his eye to the opening.
A tall. 1nsy white man. with . dirty
skin and scragEling red beard was
nearest at hand: and beyond him
crouched an Indian naked to the waist,
his face blackened and chest disfig-
ured with gaudy paint. There were
others behind these scattered ont In
fan shape. but he could only make
them out Indefinitely. Laud stood 50
close to the door his face could not
be seen. but he held q rife In his
hands, pounding with the stock on the
wood. as he angrily demanded admit
tance.
Come on ont Of there. yer big fool"
he roared. maddened BY the silence.
I'VE saw yer 90 back Inside an we've
got yer this time Come on, now; I
won't ask you again!"
-On what termsi"
Shelby asked this more to prolong
delay than anything else. The fel-
lows knew they were there. and II was
useless to pretend otherwise.
"Terms-h-il" and Indian Joe
burst out into a loud laugh. Hear
the cock crow. Hanley. Wen make
terms when We sc, hands on yer. yer
darn sneaking spy. Only I'll say this:
yer'il get It harder II yer hang on after
We do get yer-an'. BY God we'll get
yer. sooner or later"
"weTl take chances. Laud. and the
fun Is not going TO be all on one side"
1T won't. hey! So yer goin' ter
nghtt All right: but there's more
O. this outfit comm. an yer 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 peering 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 im-
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 ii and ran;
the crouching Indian behind. crum-
Piled MP as though crushed by some
sudden weight and never moved. Laud
sprang backward. startled BY the
swift response from within. the smoke
swiriing up between his fingers. and
Shelby let drive. Whether the speed
ing bullet struck or missed he never
knew. but the squaw-man gave one
startled leap into the concealment Of
the weeds fen headlons. and then
went scrambling down to the bank OF
the stream. II was all so swiftly ac-
complished as to seem like a flashlight
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.
Tie end was no; yet. but he had
taught then q lesson In caution.
For = moment. blinded by gazing out
Into the sunlight. be could see moth
ins Clearly about him. not even the
figure Of Olga where are your he
asked
Here. by the other door. What has
hsppenedT
He lsushed. put n ease BY the quick
response Of her voEce.
-oh, l took 20, shot out through
q ho'e In the wslh I thought we
might ss wei starr the ball: Joe was
getting 80 gay. Touched Up two Of
them; row they'll 90 back and talk
II over"
Sure: the Indians will be for wait.
Ing TIL night. an that amt far of.
WIS, are yor doing down therer
There was . cote of startled sur.
prise In her vusee-
why. this is strsnse, FL hadn't
nosiced before: vas too friEhsened.
pefnape-hus coue quick: Nacklins
body Is not here, ls-ss ts gone.-
rru BE coNTINCEDJ