Pesita, surprised by the interruption, turned toward the
intruder before he had given the command to fire. A smile lit
his features when he saw who it was.
"Ah!" he exclaimed, "my dear Captain Byrne. Just in time
to see a traitor and a spy pay the penalty for his crimes."
"Nothin' doin'," growled 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 the window before he made his presence known--just long
enough for Pesita to speak the single word that would have
sent eleven bullets speeding into the body of the man who
loved Barbara and whom Billy believed the girl 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 command at the
firing squad. "Lay 'em down or I'll bore Pesita. Tell 'em to
lay 'em down, Pesita. I gotta 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 disarm
the bandit chief.
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