Polk County news. [volume] (Benton, Tenn.) 191?-1983, 1921-01-27

out both hands % him Iu Suddrn esfser-
ness. Why Shouldn't I, Tom Shelby
I Ike you"
In the darkness she could scarcely
see his face. hut she felt the grip OF
his fingers and caught the eager ire
NOR in his voice.
II sure am glad you said that" ne
admitted. as helpless 10 express MIN
self as a child. Il sorter wanted you
to for-for a 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 nm
crouched an Indian naked to the waist
his face blackened and chest dishg-
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.
I'VE saw yer go back inside an we've
got yer this time. Come Hn. now;
won't ask you again!
ION what terms?"
Shelby asked this more 10 prOlong
delay than anything else. The fell
lows knew they were there, and it was
useless to pretend otherwise.
"Terms-h-Iw and Indian Joe
burst out into a loud laugh. Hear
the cock crow, Hanley. Wen make
terms when we get hands on yer yer
darn sneaking spy. Only I'll say this:
yer'll get it harder if yer hang on after
we do get yer-an', by God well get
yer. sooner or later"
"WeIl take chances, Laud, and the
fun is not going to be all on one side"
at won't, hey! SO yer gOin' ter
fight? All right; but there's more
O. this outfit comm, an yer blamed
idiot; if 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
hI1f tho wood hold
Shelby made no answer, again bending
love 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 i'm
bedded itself in the solid log of a
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
drpped blood, grabbed it and rams
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
swirling 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, fell headlong, and then
went scramblng down to the bank Of
the stream. 1t was all so swiftly ac~
complished as to seem like a flashlight
picture When the smoke cloud rolled
away not a 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 out
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 has
happened?"
He laughed, put at ease by the QUICK
response of her voice.
"Oh, took pot shot out through
hole in the wall. I thought we
might as we'll start the ball; Joe was
getting so gay. Touched up two of
them; now they'll go back and talk
it over"
"Sure; the Indians will be for wait
ing till night, an that ain't far off.
What are you doing down there?"
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; Macklin's
body Is not here! lit is gone"
(TO BE CONTINUED)