The Holbrook news., 1921-07-01
CHAPTER xI-contInued.


 'But are you sure he's dead?"
 "Sure?" sneeringly. q don't know how I could be no surer. I turned the cuss over an he was cold then. You don't need worry none about that Wait a minute till I see who the guy was what tried to break in here"
 Shelby could hear Macklin cross the room. and jerk the blanket from off the bodies. The fellow gave utterance to an oath of astonishment at the sight revealed.
 My Godl Did you ever see any thing like that2 Locked together like two stags. H-ll Sam was shot, but he got the white guy even after he was dead. D-n me, if it ain't Hank Slaginl Now, what does that mean? reckon Hanley sent the galoot in here. That comes from spillin' things when yer drunk Say, you an have got to get out of here. I'll tell you about it as quick as I can. It's plain enough Hanley's got his eyes on you, an will double-cross me if he once gifts a chance"
 What is it you mean? do not un- carstaud."
 ''Nar1rally yer don't, seein' I ain't told yer nothin. But now that know yer ain't pihlng away over that feller Shelby, reckon the sensible thing fer me to do is ter talk straight. There's goin' ter be h-l to pay in this valley before long, and the sooner we get out O here the better. run across a soldier bout half way ter Gerlasche, an he give me a pointer that made me wheel about. an ride back"
 'aThe Indian outbreak?"
 'Sure; the troops got in, an round ed most of the Sioux up. They had fight at Wounded Knee, over wonder. an licked h-l out of the reds. Some of 'em got away though, an come trailin' west-mostly young ones, reckon-an' now they're sendin' cav airy out ter ride lem down. That's what he was after. bunch to come scoutin' in through here"
 Here? Wolves hole?"
 ''Mor'n likely; he didn't say nothin' bout that. But they're mighty liable ter call. I'm fer gittin' out, while the goin's good. That's what come back for-to get you, and skip"
 "To-to get meT
 "Of course. I'll tell yer about it now, an you'll go all right. reckon you never thought I run off with you cause loved you?"
 "No-you-you loved mel"
 That's the way of it. I saw you long before that funeral down to Pon- ca; but this. guy Shelby horned in r lxv kn ook lDBk care nothin' for him. So says to my self, then, I'll have her; I'll take her whether she wants me or not. Long as she don't love him, I'll make her love me-see? Course I didn't aim to do no killing; that was just an acci- dent like, an didn't do it nohow. It was Sam here who got gay and beaned Shelby"
 ''But what would you do with me. if If he had been alivep
 ''There ain't no use discussin' that, fer he ain't alive. It's what want fer do now that counts. Maybe had a plan then, an maybe I didn't. But now I got it all planned up proper. I'm a goin' ter marry you. An that goes whether yer're willin' or not. ain't even askin' you."
 The expression of her face must have brought the fellow realization that perhaps he was going altogether too fast, for he broke in with an ex- planation.
 "See here now, don't get huffy. ain't no Western rough-neck for you to be ashamed of. belong down East m n1S init n1 fr, burn. That's straight goods. My real name ain't Macklin at all it's Church i'll. mean business an just as soon as Indian Joe gets down here with some horses, we're a goin' ter start"
 For where?" her voice trembling in spite of every effort at self-control.
 gro Gerlasche first; there's preacher there, an then on to Gods country just as fast as the train will take us. That's my program, an let me tell you, I'll be d-n glad ter git away from Injuns, Mexs, an the rest O. this rotten outfit. No, you wait that will be Indian Joe comin' now"
 The door between the two rooms had closed partially, yielding doubt less to some faint draught of air, so
 
 scene through the narrow crack near the hinges. Matters were becoming so complicated he was at his wits end. He had delayed too long, and, per haps, it had been a mistake to advise the girl to thus appear friendly to this brute. Now, instead of being con. fronted by the Kid alone, he must also face Laud, if he would prevent her being carried away the second time. The situation had become desperate.
 He could see the girl standing pressed close to the wall, the light from the broken window on her face, her eyes anxiously watchful of the movements of Macklin, who had turned and was fronting the outer door, one hand resting in readiness on the butt of his "45." Then that opening was shadowed, and the bulky figure of the squaw-man suddenly appeared. His first utterance YVES full of ill-humor
 +Well, got your message, and am here," he said roughly. What the h-I Is up, Macklin?"
 "Everything is, from all hear" was the short reply. Your Indians are licked already. ain't they7"