The Pulaskian., 1921-03-31

other girl, but l care not then for them at all. hate an I see only the one l hate. Santa Marie! Why was eet SOP"
 You shot the wrong man?"
 "Si, senor. Senor Macklln, he step forward quick just when I fire; he drop an 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.
 eYes,' Shelby said: q 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, senor? I pray the vir- gin that I may save heem. Then I remember this passage from the rayine. How know eet? Juan and I, we live in the cabin month; twas then I found eet. I was underneath when you fought senor; then, when you were both outside I got heem-"
 'Macklin, you mean? He was alive?"
 "Yes, senor. alive. Maybe he live, maybe he die; know not. I do what can. Eet took long time; even I carried heem alone"
 But how did you get across that cave-in of earth?"
 "Eet was not there; eet come lat CT" she explained. q would go back, senor, when they fired the cabin. but the earth had caved and I could not get through"
 ''To help us?"
 "Si. senor; to help you and me. What could I do alone? That is why tell you; why talk Eet is not for you. nor for me. I would save heem an only can eet be done if I have help. I do all can--Madre de Dios, yes. But how get heem out, senor7"
 "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 Senor Macklin. 'Tis to get her that Slagin go to the cabin; he fail, and then Senor Laud try another way. He not know when he come that Senor Macklin get back. No one know"
 Shelby srnothered an oath; the whole foul plot suddenly revealed to him in all it's hdeousness. This then was what these fiends had been plan hing; it was plot within plot; criini- nal against criminal. He was blind not to have perceived the truth be- fore; now it stood before him in all it's sheer nakedness. Macklin's drunk en boast had brought forth its full brood; Ha&ley, too brainless and cowardly to lead, had told all he knew to Indian Joe-embelished it, no doubt and 1t was just the sort of thing the latter was eager to get his hands seemingly a safe game, with a good stake. Shelby reached out and drew Olga closer to him in the dark ness.
 T 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 ?''
 ''No, senor; I think maybe he verra 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 mans pulse, which showed weak but rapid
 "Where was the wound?"
 Tn the right chest, senor."
 And you have dressed and band aged it?"
 'Yes, senor; the best I could. tore up my underskirt"
 fDo you know If he bled mueh?"
 Not since found heem-no; eet was very little. You think maybe he live. senor?"
 T 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 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 bal he might have fair chance. I can say no more than that"
 "A doctor! Where would there be a doctor?"
 T know of none this sice of Ger lasche; an army surgeon is at the