The Adair County news., 1922-05-09

The outlines of the log house could be
pi-siniy discerned, the storm suddenly
eeaxing. The door stood open, smoke
Rruse from the chimney, but no one
WIS visible outside. The dull glow of
aH expiring fire appeared on the
ErVTusEd IN front, but no guard was
sEEKfted about it. Evidently the fel-
hZs had retired to shelter. The ma
toc fgrasped all this in a glance, but
wsE4E interested him most was the
saEB3 Of steady firing some distance
away
They have either all gone inside"
he whispered to Pancha, crouching
beside him, ''Out of the storm, or else
they are over there where the fight
ing Is. Yon hear those rifles?"
%Tas, senior"
You don't suppose some other outfit
IEad get In here ahead of us, do you?"
ne asked anxiOusly.
40, senor," earnestly grasping his
Grfz- ~Eet is not that. 1 know; they
6eAE F3p the caGyOn. Listen, eet is over
there che sound. They try to capture
SenGr Shelby; if we go quick we save
fhex7 we wait, maybe all be dead.
Nov we get all in the rocks, so none
get away"
''F see" He looked at her keenly;
then stepped back to where the men
weHR clustered. Captain, scatter
these lads out about that house there;
nGSe quickly, and see that no one gets
away Stiles, run back and have the
squadron move forward. Bring up
yoEx horses"
The Ben dashed forward in a half
circle, the major, with Pancha at his
sho1h1er advancing close behind them.
his objective the open door. No soon
sr had they broken cover when the
aIarm sounded; muf1ed voice yelled
excihedly; a rifle or two cracked; a
SoEfEer cunning rapidly, plunged for
ward On his face, and lay still. Then
EhEse and red surged crowding
thrsdgR the door, surprised, trapped.
rzzF TO escape. Only one among
them dared the venture in face of
tfpGSe teveled carbines. A tall, gaunt
and Ane arm in a sling, his uninjured
hand gripping a revolver, leaped from
fhs front step IN a reckless endeavor
10 get out Of sight around the corner
Of Ghe cabin. The major flung up his
arEl and fred. the fellow whirling
af1sSF< IN his stride and stumbling as he
Sell ae got upon one knee again, and
The - IS" sp4t twice viciOusly before
q trooper sent a bullet crashing into
his GRAIN. Hays felt the zipp of lead
PAST his face buf stood erect, unhurt.
BeIsiad aim Pancha uttered a startled
sHG and sank slowly onto the snow.
Es sprang back and caught her. hold
fDg her head up on his knee, his eyes
staring down into her white, upturned
face. She breathed once-that was
AIY- never spoke, never moved. except
fa- the slight tremOr of her slender
form IN Sfis arms. The majer laid her
ss5sHGiy down. his own face drawn and
white with sudden passion, and strobe
across to where the slain outlaw lay
fn a huddled heap. An instant he
ksekea down at the brutal face, obliv-
SUas to ali else.
I'D youT he muttered in use
less rage. Il wish I'd killed you:"
Then be turned suddenly, the splrIt
OF the soldier in the ascendancy.
'O4E&Og your men, Captain Giles"
he commanded, his voice hard and
stern. "Swing them into line. Leave
a squad here under a sergeant Live
Iy, boys; that is one of our old lads
fighting those devils over yonder.
me, If care If you never take a pris-
Oner. Good give me my horse. All
ready? Bugler, sound the charge"
They swept forward on a walk.
Chen trot spreading out onto long,
double line, as they swung into the
more open valley, riding knee to knee,
Ghe men bending forward in their stir
mps, with left hand grasping the
reins, the right gripping the short car
htneK. 4 hundred yards and they were
at the ga1iop, a blue torrent, at the
fAeeis pef their leader; tearing through
kReeds and underbrush, squirting reck-
SeSSly Into and over the creek, dashing
np the other bank to the very foot of
the bluff beyond. 1t was then the ma
SOr saw the uselessness Of 1t. He
svhirIed with uplifted saber.
Eight on foot Horse-hoIders to the
trear. Come on, !" he shouted, his
SoIce pealing above even the thud Of