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"Go back," commanded Byrne; "this is my funeral"

"Not on your life," replied Eddie Shorter "Those greasers don't take no white man off'n El Orobo, while I'h they were co, and as they came their carbines popped and the bullets whizzed about the heads of the two Americans Grayson, too, had taken a hand upon the side of the Villistas Fro rapidly in the direction of the fight, attracted by the first shots

Billy and Eddie stood their ground, a few paces apart Two more of Villa's men went down Grayson ran for cover Then Billy Byrne dropped the last of the Mexicans just as theupon the scene There were both A them All were armed and weapons were ready in their hands

They paused a short distance froer saved Billy from instant death, for Eddie ell liked by both his Mexican and American felloorkers

"What's the fuss?" asked an American

Eddie told thehter had been spirited away and that the ranch foreer of the Aerous pitch

"Where is he?" soathered in a little cluster now about Billy Byrne and Shorter

"I saw hi," said Eddie

"Coet a rope" The men spoke in low, ordinary tones--they appeared unexcited Deterroup One of them ran back toward the bunkhouse for his rope The others walked slowly in the direction of the rear of the office building Grayson was not there The search proceeded The Aroup by themselves a little in rear of the others--it was not their trouble If the gringos wanted to lynch another gringo, well and good--that was the gringos' business They would keep out of it, and they did

Down past the bunkhouse and the cookhouse to the stables the searchers made their way Grayson could not be found In the stables one of the men made a discovery--the foreman's saddle had vanished Out in the corrals they went One of the one Eddie Shorter presently pointed out across the pasture and the river to the skyline of the low bluffs beyond The others looked A horse his ainst thesky pink with the new sun