The Pulaskian., 1921-04-07

| l gave volume to his voice.
 Good Godn he shrieked. "Am dead? Is this hell?"
 ''No, Kid" and Shelby held him firm ly. his tone full of sympathy, every thing is all right. Lie still and don't worry"
 "But who the h--i are you7 Amt you Tom Shelby?" he laughed wildly. I Lord, no; he's dead p
 ''That Is where you are wrong, my boy. I'm Shelby all right, but long ways from being dead"
 You, Shelby? Didn't he get youp
 Well. yes, he got me, but not quite strong enough. I failed to stay got. You lie down, and be still. Here, take 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 l into his range of vision. Her presence seemed to give him sense of reality.
 Say, this is too much fer me-" he said huskily, but lying back quiet, "the two of yer here. Just what's happened enyhow? It was Pancha, wasn't it, who hauled me out O that cabin. Well. where's Pancha? an what the h-l is 1 this place I'm in?"
 Let me tell him, Tom," broke in 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 l face.
 "Then listen closely. It will only take a moment to explain. You were shot"
 "Yes, yes.' he stuttered, q know; she did it."
 "Oh, you saw, then, who fired. It was all mistake, and she was so sorry. The bullet was meant for h. dian Joe Laud, but you stepped in the way"
 "Paneha tried to kill LaudT'
 "Yes; it was all on account of me. You-you carried me off because you believed 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 man named Matt Hanley once"
 Me! maybe I did, when we was drunk tergether over at Gerlasche. I'd just found out bout It then. But he never remembered-Han didn't" l "Yes, he did, and he kept watch on you ever since; he and fellow, Sla- l 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. I guess they didn't have brains enough to make it. don't know exactly what happened, but after Slagin got killed"
 HI 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 a 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 or 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"
 T know she didn't"
 Lord, I'm sure glad O that. sorter thought that was what she plugged me for; that would be the Mex of it; they're h---l on that sort O thing. I like her, she's a good scout. Why din't she here? Where is she now?"
 "She has gone for doctor; vent down into the Hole to get horse to ride"
 Where is she goin'?"
 "Gerlasche; there's an army sur geon there"
 Yes. I know" wearily, "an where you got mel.
 Tn small cave part way up the huff"
 Sure, Eagles cave. Pancha took me up we're onct. an showed it to me, An you two lugged me all that wayss' Yes"