The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-01-21

well, III 1T was only 20 cents, Mr.
Ned Harvey, all I've got to say is devil
wan Of them would they get SO long
as could load shot or pull trigger.
Go you, if you will. Take the leddies
by all means if you think it safer, but
before I'd trust the wan sister ever
had-God rest her soul-to tho prom
Use of any such blackguard party as
this, I'd bury my knife III her throat. !"
An awful stiffness followed Feeny's
words. For an instant there was no
sound but quick beating hearts, the
mutterings and complainings Of poor
Mullan. staggering about III search of
his carbine, the quickened breath and
low moaning of poor old Pluinmer.
Then again came the loud hail from
without:
"Once more, Ned Harvey, will You
come out and be saved or stay there
and roast? Surrender now and you re
all right; but, by the God of heaven,
If you refuse it $ the last chance for YOU
or those you were fool enough to bring
here. Think for your sisters, man.
There's no hope for one of You if you
delay another minute.
And then it was woman's voice,
tremulous but clear.
Ned, wasn't it to save us that Major
Plummer sent his men2 Wasn't it for
our sake he gave up all his escort?"
1T was, Fan, yes-at least he thought
So"
And now you would desert him,
would you? Leave him to be murdered
by these robbers. tho worst gang we
ever had or heard Of? l say You shall
not. | for one will not go into their
hands. Ruth cannot go without me.
Stay and fight it out, Ned, or you re
not your fathers SON
Fan! Fan! you're trump! God
bless your brave heart" cried Harvey.
1T seemed cowardly to go, yet the re-
sponsibility was more than | could
bear
May the saints in heaven smile on
your purity face for all eternity!' NUT
tered Fceny in a rapture of delight.
The young Teddy is right Mr. Har-
vey, though it WASH for me to say it.
Shure you can't trust those scoundrcls.
They'd stab yc III the back, sir, and rob
you of your pretty sisters and drag them
away before your dying eyes. That
man Pasqual is devil, sir, nothing
less. Shuro We'll fight till rescue comes,
for come it will tell you the boys
are squirting toward us, I'LL to split
from every side now, and Wen whale
these scoundrels yet
Then from without came the final
hail.
What answer, Harvey: Now or
never.
go to hi, you son of an ape and
worse than Il grcascr.' yelled Fecny.
IF You had Il dhrop of Irish blood III
yer veins. yed never ask the uucs-
ton. Now. if you think you can take
this money. here's your chance. No
Harvey ever went back on his friends "
Even brain muddlcd Mullan felt IA
maudlin impulse to cheer mt Fceny's
enthusiastic answer. Even poor old
Plummcr gave II half stiiicd cry Pos
sibly he dreamed tiiat rescue was at
hand. but there WAS little time for re-
joicing. Sprin@ilg back w..cilco no
came. the unseen c,niss:ry I1si heard
shouting some order TO his fellows. The
next instant the rifles began their cracs-
ing on both sides, and the bullets, with
furious siiat, drove deep into tho adobe
or whiZzcd through the gunvsichs
into the barley. The unseen foe ,.as
once more investing them on every side
and not shot could he wasted IL ~
turn.
Once more the furious crac,.! I'D
roar OF the flames Were beard clos IL
hand, and then the smoke grey: t!!ic',,r
the neat increased. and poor & 5 ....-
vey. his cyc1 sin.S'tin". Ii, L. .v:,c....l.
at his post ARA prayed PRAYED Tor .e
coming of rescue. Tor the return OF ne
loved father. al the :;ali;,ut troop at hii;
back and tlon, even as though in ,l.-
swcr to his prayer, there came Il sudden
lull in the fight.
Something 'scnming. shout a c'ac-
ny cXcitedly "Thoy see or hear some
body sure. Look. Mir. Harvey. amt
that twoof their Fellows .cudding away
westward out thore:
Surely enough. In thr glare OF the
burning sheds the bcsicgcd caught a
glimpse of two of the gang bending low
in their saddles 100 yards away and
scudding like hounds over toward the
open plain.
Is it rescue? Arc onr people com
ing was the query that rose to every
lip. God grant it!'
Heavens. how hearts were boating!
How ears were straining underneath
that now bla%ing roof! Louder. icrcer
roared thc flames. Furious Deyainc the
Swapping of sun baked branch and twig
Sitting aud thick the smoke.
Quick. Come here for breath OF
air, called Harvey III his sisters. Its
safe for Il moment at least. And il
stantly they joined him ut the doorway.
still clinging close to the floor.
LiStcut HNnfSi Ihn th11nln,. 1.f ccnl