The St. Johns herald., 1921-07-21

W udlcfSI udppcuS' uOn JOu ACI S1 take you. Maybe they'll get me first, but if they do, you keep a shot in your gun. You know what l meanT
 The lines about her mouth hard ened; there was semblance of ths old sullen look in her eyes.
 'T know, Tom Shelby" she said steadily. "Dad Calkins used to tell me that before I ever met you. I ain't goin' to be made prisoner"
 He gulped in his throat, his lips grim and hard-set.
 Maybe you'd shake handsr he asked doubtfully. "Seems to me I'd rather like it if you did"
 "Of course I will" and she thrust out both hands to him in sudden eager ness. "Why shouldn't I, Tom Shelby2 I like you"
 In the darkness she could scarcely see his face, but she felt the grip ot his fingers and caught the eager tre- nor in his voice.
 q sure am glad you said that" he admitted, as helpless to express him. self as a child. q sorter wanted you to for-for long while. H-lI That's Laud out there now"
 He stepped over beside the door. whipping both revolvers from his belt and holding enc 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 him crouched an Indian naked to the waist, his face blackened and chest dlsfg- ured with gaudy paint. There wert 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 tance.
 Come on out of there, yer big fool" he roared, maddened by the silence. we saw yer go back inside an we've got yer this time. Come on, now; I won't ask you againl"
 "On what termsT
 Shelby asked this more to prolong delay than anything else. The fel- lows knew they were there, and 1t was useless to pretend otherwise.
 "Terms-h-lI" and Indian Joe burst out into a loud laugh. Hear the cock crow, Hanley. We'll make terms when we get hands on yer. yer darn sneaking spy. Only I'll say this: yeru get it harder if yer hang on after we do get yer-an', by Godl we'll get yer. sooner or. later"
 "Wen take chances, Laud, and the fun is not going to be all on one side"
 "It won't, heyI So yer goIn' ter fight? All right; but there's more O this outfit comin', 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 gunstOck, but the stout wood held. Shelby made no answer, again bending low and peering out through the nar- 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 im- 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 dripped blood, grabbed it and ran; 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 scrambling down to the bank ot the stream. It was all so swiftly ac- compIished as to seem like 1ashlight picture. When the smoke cloud rolled away not a figure was to De 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 a moment, blinded by gazing out into the sunlight, he could see Ooth- ing clearly about him, not even the figure of Olga. "Where are your he asked.
 Here, by the other door. What has happenedT
 He laughed, put at ease by the quick rosronsa Of her vOice