The Holbrook news., 1921-07-22

 You lie down, and be still. Here, take a drink of this''
 The fellow did as he was ordered, his hands shaking so that Shelby had to hold the bottle to his lips. Even as he drank greedily, his eyes never de serted the others face; until the girl, creeping silently up behind, came also into his range of vision. Her presence seemed to give him sense of reality.
 Say, this is too much for me-" he said huskily, but lying back quiet, "the two of yer here. Just what's happened enyhow? It was Pancha, wasn't 1t, who hauled me out O that cabin. Well, where's Pancha? an what the h-l Is this place I'm in?"
 Let me tell him, Tom," broke iE Ol- ga, pressing forward, and lifting his head into her lap. "He will believe me, and he is afraid of you yet. You can hear what say, Mir. Macklin?"
 He nodded, gasping, his eyes on her face.
 "Then listen closely. It will only take a moment to explain. You were shot"
 "Yes, yes," he stuttered, 1T know !; she did it."
 "Oh, you saw, then, who fired. It was all a mistake, and she was so sorry. The bullet was meant for h. dian Joe Laud, but you stepped in the way"
 "Pancha tried to kill LaudT"
 "Yes; 1t was all on account of me. You-you carried me off because you believed I had the right to some mon ey, didn't you?"
 His eyes frightened, but still with the dull glow of fever in them.
 Sure; you got it comin', too. But what's that got to do with Joe Laud? He wasn't noway hooked up on this game.'
 "Oh, yes, he was. I'll explain all that. You told something to a man named Matt Hanley once."
 Mel maybe I did, when we was drunk tergether over at Gerlasche. I'd just found out bout 1t then. But he never remembered -Hanley didn't"
 "Yes, he did, and he kept watch on you ever since; he and a fellow, Sla- gin. They were somewhere up the val ley the night you brought me in here, and they knew what was up. They followed meaning to get you put out of the way somehow, so they could get hold of me themselves. 1 guess they didn't have brains enough to make 1t. l don't know exactly what happened, but after Slagin got killed"
 "H-l was that what that guy came to the cabin for?"
 "We suppose so; at least that was what caused Hanley to tell the story to Indian Joe Laud, and get him to take a hand. They tried to get the Mexican, Pancha's brother to help them, but something brought on quarrel, and Laud killed him. An h. dian boy told Pancha, and she went crazy over you both. That was what brought her to the cabin"
 "An' that oP devil come there to get me, did hep
 "Yes, but first he tried to learn all he could; things Hanley didn't know, so he could make the job worth while Then Pancha tried to shoot him, and got you"
 He struggled to speak.
 "Say, lift me up a little more That's it; something seems to fill up in my throat. You sure she didn't hear noth- in I said there-'bout leavin' her, an marvin you"
 q know she didn't"
 Lord, I'm sure glad O that I sorter thought that was what she plugged me for; that would be the Mex of 1t; they're h-l on that sort O thing I like her, she's a good scout. Why ain't she here? Where is she now?"
 "She has gone for a doctor; went down into the Hole to get horse to ride"
 "Where is she goin'?'
 "Gerlasche; there's an army sur geon there"
 "Yes, know" wearily, "an' where you got me?"
 ''In a small cave part way up the bluff"
 Sure, Eagles cave. Pancha took me up yere onct, an showed it to me. An you two lugged me all that ways?" "Yes'
 He struggled to 1Orce Dack the OD- struction in his throat.
 "Well, what did you do that fcr?" he asked almost savagely. That's what I don't get through my nut. ain't done nuthin' to make either one of yer decent ter me. thought Shelby here was deader'n a doornail, an I reckon you know what I was aimin' ter do with you. There ain't no use beatin' about the bush. So now, what'd yer do 1t for?"
 Shelby's hand reached out and touched that of his wife.
 "Well, Kid, I'll tell you" he said frankly, i've did it for Pancha.''
 Afacklin grinned grimly. exposing his teeth.
 q reckoned that was bout the truth" he said recklessly. But I'll tell yer one thing-Pancha's never goin' ter get back before I slide out I go. what's comin' to me, an there ain't no doc ever goin' ter hold me back from goin'-thats straight, or man."
 'Tm not so sure, Kid"
 'rWell, I am. Lord, a man gen. orally knows when he's got his dose, -ooI,or ap' if afD't pOin' ter do no-