Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1896-10-03

ing his weapon to his sister as a means
of defense in Just such emergencies as
this.
What you gwine to do, Daveg' the
girl persisted. coming closer and laying
her hand on his arm. Dave shook sever
al cartridges into the cylinder of the
winchester and waited in silence, APP
parentiy not aware that Sue had touch
ed him. Only q few more moments to
wait and then the last act in the com
monplace little tragedy. A loud pound
ing at the rickety cabin door and a de-
risive, imperative voice demanded;
eli, in there, open up, or We'll
make splinters of yer ole door. The
threat was garnished by several strong
expletives and accompanied with more
vicious pounding.
Then for answer went the spiteful
snap of the winchester, followed by q
surprised howl Of pain, mor voluble
profanity and footsteps inrapid retreat.
Dave went to the window, and
though a knothole in the shutter review
ed the situation of the enemy. Then
though the aperture the rifle again spoke
with decisive, leaden emphasis, and
when the smoke cleared away the man
inside beheld one of the besiegers lying
prone across the freshly hoed potato
rows, while another limped painfully
in the rear Of the retreating trio.
In the short silence that followed the
last shot the arid topography of Honey
path seemed to fash before Dawes
vision, each popularity standing out
strong and clear. The fine, white sand,
covered everywhere with fat leaved
prickly pear and cactus that bloomed
perpetually in big butter colored flow
ers; the bright, blazing sky, the heat
that rose up and hung heavily over man
and beast, the many insects that sat out
in the furnacelike sun, rafting shrilly
with very joy. Then the dense shade of
the murky Swallowed swamp and the
big scaly back scorpions and dainty null
ticolored lizards hat played an eternal
game of hide and seek among the rot
ting rails Of the old snake fence.
The trio had disappeared into the
swamp, and Dave calmly reflled his
rife, waiting as though lost in thought.
Presently from the rear of b cabin
came the harsh command:
"You cowardly bushwhacker in there,
come out an fight like a mani If ye
don't, We'll burn ye an yer shanty an
the gal with ye."
There was no openingin the rear of
the cabin, the logs were thick and the
chinks were well stopped with clay, SO
that Dave could not return a leaden an
swer to this brutal challenge. He fin
gered the rifle n~ervously and looked at
Sue.
-tOh, Dave, don't open the door, - she
pleaded, meeting the earnest look bent
ON her face from beneath the brim of
Dawes frouzy SLOUGH bat. II ain't afeer-
ed toe burn"
His lips blanched, his knees were
wobbly with fear, but he had not for
gotten the one boast of his poor, pinch
ed life. uttered so long ago. toe pur-
tee yo' honah an happiness | 'ud throw
away my wuthless life" He uttered
the words again monotonously, finger
ing the rife that was held Imply III
his shaking hands.
Poor Suei There was no answering
laughter in her soul now for those gro
tesquely sententious words which broke
a last prayer.
In that moment Dave. who had al
ways been a coward, who had all his
life long borne meekly the scorn and
o%pprobrium attached to the character,
he whom heretofore nothing could
arouse to a sense Of his degradation,
calmly arose to the very pinnacle of her
oism.
I'm coming out" he called and
shooting back the bolt he stood on the
cabin step before them.
Fall back and give him a show; he's
coming out, boysl" She chung to him,
pleading: "Dave, don'tl There's four to
one. Don't gol' But he pushed her
| gently backward into the room.
-sBolt the door behind me!'' he said
and passed out.
Sue stood motionless in the center of
the room waiting for il to begin. Dave
pulled the trigger of his gun and turned
the orner and instantly four weapons
barked with one voice.
Sue heard something heavy fall
against the side Of the cabin; then in
stantly the sharp, clear utterance of a
winchester answered the carbines again
and still again. One carbine only an
swercd then all was still; only the fret
full warbling of a wren i'll the nearby
Cherokee rose hedge breaking the tense
silence of the drowsy afternoon hush.
Anxiety c%onquering terror, Sue drew
back the bolt, throwing the door wide
open. A broad stream OF yellow light
and a rush of heat met her, passing over
a figure ON its knees that always trem-
bled at the sight of deep water. Dave
was gasping his last breath. Bleeding
and shattered, he crept to her feet, aft
er the manner of a faithful dog. tt die.
In the grave gray eyes that We're raised
to hers there was the light of the exal-
tation of a passing spirit, triumphant
over the shadow of death which alreaLy
darkened them. His lips moved i'll the
c~ontortion of a smile that broke into an
articulate murmur
II done said that toe ps1rtec' 20
honah and happiness | wo.ld th'ow
49, - H. I.A -