Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-01

There were ak rangers in all One. Who ar-
peared to be leader. rode in front. while tho
Others followed in n BODY. They flung them
selves Of their horses when thev were opposite
the house. and after a few muttered words from
their captain tethered the animal. 60 . small
tree and walked confidently toward the gate.
Boss Morgan and Abe were crouching down
under the shadow OF the hedge st the very et-
treme end Of the narrow passage. They were
invisible TO the rangers. who evidently reckoned
on meeting little resistance in this isolated
house. Az the first man came forward and half
turned 10 give some orders Go his comrades
both the friends recognized the stern profile
and heavy mustsche OF Black Ferguson the re-
jected suitor Of Miss Carrie Sinclair. Honest
Abe made a mental vow that be at least should
never reach the door alive.
The ruffian stepped up to the gate and pus
his hand upom the latch. He started .
sientorian stand back" came laundering QUE
from among the bushes. In war. ne in love. the
miner was a man OF few words.
There no road this WAY. explained another
voice with an INFINITE sadness and Sentlcness
about Il which was characteristics OF the owner
when the devil was rampant m ms soul The
ranger recognized IL. lie remembered the soft
langnid address which he had listened Co in the
billiard room Of the Buckhrrst Arms and
which had wound mp bv the mud orator putting
his back against the door. drawing a dtrringer
aud asking TO see the sharper who would dare
20 force passage. Its that internal food
burton. he sand. land his Whitehead friend"
Both were well known names in the country
round. But the rangers were reckless and
desperate men. They drew up TO the gate in .
BODY
Clear out Of that" said their leader in q
grim whisper; You can't save he girl Go Oh
with whole skins while YOU have the chance"
The partners laughed
Then. curse You. come on
The gate auEg open and the marty fred =
struggling volley and mace a fierce rush toward
the graveled walk.
The reyolvers cracked merrily in the silence
OF the night from tie bushes a. the other end.
IL was hard 20 aim with precision in the dark
ness. The second man spraus couyulsiVeiv into
the air an fell upon MS face with his arms .N-
tended. writing horribly in the moonlight
The third WAS grazed IN the leg and stopped
The Others stopped out OF symuathv. After
all the girl was no; for them. and their heart
was hardly IN the work. Their captain rushed
madly on. like valiant backyard as he was
but was met by crashing biow from the butt
OF Abe Durton's pistol. delivered with a fierce
energy which sent ann reeing back among hi.
comrades with the blood streaming from M.
shattered jaw. and has CAPACITY for cursing cut
short at the very moment when he needed to
draw upon II most.
Don't so yet, said the voice In the DARK
ness.
However. they had no intention OF going vet
few inmates must elapse. thew knew before
Harvey Siu!cc could be unou them Thera
was still time TO force the door n they could
succeed IN mastering tEe defenders. What Abe
had feared came tn pass. Black Ferguson
knew tue ground as well he did. lie ran
rapidly along the hedge. and the tive crashed
through II where there some appearanc. OF
a gan. The Two friends glanced az each other
Their flank turned. They stood up ike
men who knew their tate and did not fear TO
meet IL.
Their, was a Wild medley II dark figures in
the moonlight. and ringing cneer from we'll
known voices. The hlmorisis Of Harveyls
Slulce had found something even more p-ac-
teal than the JOKE winch they had come to
witness. The partners saw the faces OF friends
beside them-Shamus. Strlggles. Mccoy.
There was desperate rally. a sweeping fierv
rush. a cioud OF sUIuSe. with pistol shots and
fierce oaths ringing out of IL. and when il lif-ed
single dark shadow flying for dear life % the
shelter Of the broken hedge was the only
/ ranger upon his feet within the little garden
But there was no sound of triumph among he
victors; a strange hasn had come over them.
and murmur OF gries-for there living
across the threshold which he had fought
CALAMITY to defend. law poor Abe. the loyal and
simple hearted. breathing heavily with bulles
through his lungs.
He WAS carried inside with al the rough ten
derness of the mines. There were men there, I
think, who would have borne MS hurt to have
had the love OF that white cirliSn figure which
ben. over the blooa-stared bed "a whispered
so softly and SO tenderly IN his ear. her voice
seemed 10 rouse him. He opened his dreamy
blue eyes and looked about MIN. They rested
on her face.
I played out" he murmured: pardon,
4 Carrie, morib---" and with a faint smile he
sank bacl; upon the pillow.
However, Abe failed for once 20 be ne good
as his word. HIS hardy constitution asserted
! Itself. and he shook OF what mishs in a weaker
man have proved deadly wound Whether il
WAS the balmy air Of the woodlands which came
sweeping over thousand miles of forest INTO
! the sicH mans room. whether n was the
little nurse who teaied him gently. certain
II Is that within two months heard that
he had realized his shares IN the Conemara. and
gone from Earyey's Sluice and the little shanty
upon the hill forever.
had the advantage a short time afterward OF
seeing an extract from the letter of q young
lady named Amelia. TO whom We have made 9
casual alluslon in the course OF our narrative
We have already broken the privacy of one
feminine epist.e, SO snail have fewer scruples
IN CHANGING at another. Il was bridemaid,'
she remarks. land Carrie looked charming
tunderiined) in the vel and orange blossoms.
such man he is-twice as big as your Jack,
and ne was so fanny. and blushed AID dropped
| the PRAYER book. And when they asked the
question. you could have heard him Il do"
at the other end ~ George street. His bsst
man was darling CtwIce underlined $50
qIlet and handsome and nice Too gentle 10
take care OF himself among those rough men.
am sure" l think it quite 20 'sible that IN the
iuness of time Miss Amelia managed TO take
upon herself the care o: oar old friend Mr.. Jack
Morgan, commonly knowa the boss.