Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-03-20

They evidenced a resistance on the
part Of the trainmcn.
Danton glanced anXiOusly toward tho
train, and then at little thicket where
their horses were tcthered, as if imQa-
ticnt to get away.
The sounds of firing increased in the
ncighborhooI of the train.
Then mans figure came flying to-
ward the spot. Danton advanced to
meet it.
"Desrard?' he called.
Eyes"
"Our men"
"Thc tra:nmcn have resisted, and We
! arc beaten badly. There is 10 time to
lose; to the horses"
"And t5e girl?"
ave must get her away at once"
"Dcspard You here"
UnawarcS the girl had come upon
them They could see her shrink in
amazemont and alarm, as she viewed
the evil face of the leader Of the band.
Ho uttered a cry Of dissatisla ton and
annoyance at the inci!cnt.
"Ycs," he said; at is l."
"YOu are the friend who sent yonlor
man to me-" demanded IHoz Tracey
eyes. You are MT safe Lcro You
must 90 with me"
"Ncvcr.'
Incz drew back with indignant facc
and flashing eyes. Dcspard abandoned
| all gentlcncss Of manner. as he realized
the peril of delay. He sprang forward
and clutched her wrist in an iron GRASP
"Glrl," he hisscl, "thcrc need be No
deception between you and me-"
Coward. release my hand. l will
call for help | wi to return 20 the
train"
Bring the horses, quick" 90 rmanlcd
DcSpard to DantOn.
Incz Tracey struggled yainly in the
powerful grasp Of the outlaw
"YOu are in my power at last" ho
lisScd. Il told ycu we shoIld mCcj
again when you last rc.cct.d me with
scorn. TO secure you, lnez Tracey, We
wrecked yondcr train"
"AssasSin! Vii an"
"YOu VIII como with me whether you
choose or not Quick, Dantoa." he
shouted excited y to his companion, as
;ho firing was repeated in the vicinity OF
,hc train.
"YOu coward, take that"
As Incz Tracey uttCreI loud cry for
help a form sprlng from tho thckct
Dyke DoSpard released his gra p Of
he girl and turned 10 meet a Ecw TO,
1t was Darrc, Grey
| He had managed t. retain his hO'd on
he tie to which he had fallen on the
rest @, and the train hal passed over
nm, leaving him unharmcd.
ITnc+,,f,,fr +ov.ortis bN nf fnp
accident, he happened to come to the
very SPOT where inez Tracey Wa5 Strug'
Cling in the grasp Of I'y.e narrcl
The outlaw words lcyca cI Lis com
pl'city in the crime Of -wrccking,
and the fact that he'll laSs girl was in
his power awakened all the chiyalry Of
Darrell Grcl's generous nature.
1t was he vino, acting on quick i'm
pulse, had stepped forward, and with a
single blow Of his fist sent DcSTard reel
ing to the ground.
Incy, horr.Gcd and lcwi!dcrcd at all
the fast-occurring episodes Of the night,
had sought sa' 'cty in immc Late light.
She bal started to hurry back to the
train when sho saw that desperate en-
counter between the WrcckcrS and the
trainmen was in progress, and dartcd oil
IN an opposite direction.
Danton observed Lcr flight lie spranS
from the thicket where the her cs were
TO intercept her.
Tarrcl Grey did not wait TO meet the
baTcd Dcspard but as he discovered
the girls dill NINA, dashed after her.
lie caught DaEtOn by the throat and
flung him to tn ground.
Inez rerO yni1c him as protector.
"QucN." she said, wildly; "lct us fly"
"Whv Should we fly? Do not BE-
a,armcd these mcn shall not in,urc
you"
"You do not know" cried Inez, OK
citcdly: "thcSc men have associates.
See! They will pursue us. DO not put
yourself in peril for my sake"
lie needed her frantic pleadngs and
allowed her to lead him beyond the
thickct Two shots fired by Daspard
caused him to ha ten his fight for the
imEcriicd girls sake.
lie started as he heard quick, shrill
whistle Undoubtedly it was signal
from Dcspard to his band
They crossed the thickat and gained
the Orcn plain lcyOnd.
Darrell Grey was a rapid thinker and
acted quite as rapidly. There was no
safety guaranteed at the depot, for the
bandits might 60 thithcr.
They could not regain the train with
out meeting the outlaws.
Dyke Dcspard seemed determined to
secure the girl at all hazards. Only in
immediate and rapid flight was thoro
safety
Ganc.ng back, Darrell saw DcSpard
and DantOl securing horses to pursue
them. The girl had kept close TO his
side, and kept urging him 10 hasten his
eight.
Darrel paused as he saw, plainly re-
veal in the moonlight, the two horse
which belonged to Ra ger Ralph. HeS-
pard's lSan Vance hal cut them loose,
and neither had saddle or bride. From
the neck OF one of them, however, a
long lariat trailcd on the grO1nL Darrel
stole cautiously forward. The horses
mcttlcd stccis aAd casl startled, Gprang
away. Darrell Grey seized the trailing
larat in time to prevent one Of the
horses from cScaring.
lie brought the animal 10 its launches,
and then, reaching for its name, sprang
upon its back.
"Follow me- Keep close to me-" he
shouted cxcitcdly to the girl.
Darrell Grey was an expert horsomaA.
AS the S;ccd beneath him dashed for
ward he unooscd the lar;at.
Quickly forming loop he urged for
ward the horse until it nearly overlook
the free stecd. Then he flung the asSo
with uncrrng accuracy. 1t lcil over he
hoad of the flying horse. Both came ia
halt and stood trembling in every
limb, owning tacitly, mutcly, the su'
R7FEz amaeH of q mas