Evening star., 1896-09-19

pitch dark out doors and darker still under
the shed. but after cropping around for
awhile they found a sleeping man. A
vigorous shake failed to arouse him. and
they groped and discovered a second. third
and fourth. Every man had partaken
of the drugged whisky. and every man had
been drugged to insensbility. The Cap
tain was cursing and the clerk cropping
for other bodies when they were Joined
by Kit.
Don't delay herer" she exclaimed. Dad
dy meant to do for 'em and has done 1t.
The gang may come now at any minute.
and they won't let your two lives stand
In the way of that safe. Bring In all the
carbines and cartridges you can lay hands
onr'
They felt about and got hold of four
carbines and four or five belts full of car
tridges. and with one of the weapons In
her hand. the girl led them back to the
house. Her first move was to bar the
rear door and secure the heavy blinds.
Then the front was made fast. and she
brought another light into the barroom
You see the loopholes cut by the doors
and windows? There's others in the back
room. Daddy shouldn't have gone into
to go back on daddy. but I'm tired Of his
life. Get ready for a hot fight. for daddy
must have a desperate gang behind him."
During the next hour the rain came
other sounds were heard. The three on
watch inside blew out one of the cam
dies and shaded the other and conversed
in whispers. By and by the rain ceased,
tapping was heard at the back door. The
trio tip-toed into the room. and with her
mouth to one Of the locpholes, Kit called
out:
rs that you. daddy?"
"Yes, open the door, he replied.
What have you done with the soldiers7"
Tiled em up. Open the door"
"Whos out there with your
mo matter-Open up.
IT can't do 1t, daddy. You fixed to drug
| the captain and his clerk. but made new
got carbines, and mean to make a fight
| for it. I don't want to fight you. daddy,
but must help 'em out. Please give 1t up
| and go away"
| their work which had delayed the escort
their plan to oblige the paymaster to stop
| at the ranch-their expectation of making
an easy capture: The d,e,sSd soldiers had been
was secured against them and there were
three people inside to handle weapons.
There was moment Of silence after Kits
shouted through the door:
Inside. thar! We hev no time to fool
away, and we ar bound to hev that safe.
VIII a, you open sn,,'as the door loo to VS."
Then we'll open 1t fur ourselves. and
you kin take the consequences!'
The captain took one door-his clerk and
| tne SlIl tue otNeT, anu tney QaQ not long
to walt. Both doors were attacked stimuli
taneously with battering rams, while 9TH
ers Of the gang outside opened fire on the
three carbines. fired into the darkness al
a venture, and the logs wore dropped and
the assailants took cover, leaving two
wounded to crawl after them and one who
| would never move hand nor foot erain
Five minutes later four or five rifles opened
fire on the doors, which were not bullet.
proof. though almost stopping the bullets
There's q weak spot in the wan ,,,es ove,
there and daddy knows It. Some Of then
will be digging through while the others
arc shooting"
The candle, which had beAn shaded, wa,
now extinguished. and the captain and Ki
moved to the spot she had indicated
Knives were already at work. and when tn,
dirt was heard falling inside the Girl whis
/ U0r0d To the oaDtain.