Part 63 (1/2)

Pesita, surprised by the interruption, turned toward the intruder before he had given the command to fire A smile lit his features when he saho it was

”Ah!” he exclaimed, ”my dear Captain Byrne Just in time to see a traitor and a spy pay the penalty for his crirowled Billy Byrne, and then he threw his carbine to his shoulder and took careful aim at Pesita's face

How easy it would have been to have hesitated a moment in thebefore he h for Pesita to speak the single word that would have sent eleven bullets speeding into the body of the irl loved But did such a thought occur to Billy Byrne of Grand Avenue? It did not He forgot every other consideration beyond his loyalty to a friend Bridge and Pesita were looking at him in wide-eyed astonishment

”Lay down your carbines!” Billy shot his co squad

”Lay 'em down or I'll bore Pesita Tell 'eotta bead on your beezer”

Pesita did as he was bid, his yellow face pasty with rage

”Now their cartridge belts!” snapped Billy, and when these had been deposited upon the floor he told Bridge to disar safe?” he asked of Bridge, and receiving an affirmative he called upstairs for the olderreached the foot of the stairs Barbara entered the rooh which Billy had come--a hich opened upon the side veranda

”Noe gotta hike,” announced Billy ”It won't never be safe for none of you here after this, not even if you do think Villa's your friend--which he ain't the friend of no A, and repeated to Billy that which the telephone operator had told hi Pesita and his men ahead of them Billy and the otherswhere the horses of the bandits were tethered They were each armed now from the discarded weapons of the raiders, and well supplied with ammunition The Chinaman and the loyal Mexican also discovered themselves when they learned that the tables had been turned upon Pesita They, too, were armed and all wereweapons upon the balance of the horses the party rode away, driving Pesita's live stock and are, ”that you've rather discouraged pursuit for a while at least,” but pursuit came sooner than they had anticipated

They had reached a point on the river not far fro froreater speed that theyif possible; but it soon beca theed, for they altered their course and increased their speed so that they were soon bearing down upon the fugitives at a rapid gallop

”I guess,” said Billy, ”that we'd better open up on 'em It's a cinch they ain't no friends of ours anywhere in these parts”

”Hadn't we better wait aany o,” replied Billy His eyes were fastened upon the approaching horsenition ”There's Rozales,” he said ”I couldn't h in takin' a shot at 'euy,” and he drew his revolver and took a single shot in the direction of his for Pesitistas reined in Billy returned his revolver to its holster and drew his carbine

”You ride on ahead,” he said to Mr Harding and Barbara ”Bridge and I'll bring up the rear”

Then he stopped his pony and turning took deliberate aim at the knot of horsemen to their left A bandit tuht was on

Fortunately for the Americans Rozales had but a handful of ht in the open

AllAe to the other, and during the afternoon Billy noticed that Rozalesdispatched one of his men back in the direction from which they had come

”After reinforcements,” co with any roving bands of soldiers or bandits, and the explanation was all too sinister to the Ae that Villa was to attack an Aht

”I e could reach the border in time to warn 'em,” said Billy; ”but they ain't no chance If we cross before sunup to we'll be doin' well”