The Somerset reporter., 1896-07-16


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
surprised howl of pain, more voluble
profanity and footsteps in rapid retreat
Dave went to the window. and
though knothole in the shutter review
ed the situation of the enemy. Then
though the aperture the rife again spoke
with decisive, leaden emphasis, and
when the smoke cleared away the man
inside bcheld one of the besiegers lying
prone across the freshly hoed potato
COWS, while another limped painfully
III the rear of the retreating trio.
In the short silence that followed the
last shot the arid topography of Honey
path seemed to flash before Dawes
vision, each popularity standing out
strong and clear The fine, white sand,
covered everywhere with fat leaved
priekly 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 SEQ pions and dainty null
tlcolorcd lizards that 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
rifle, waiting rs though lost inthought.
Presently from the rear of the cabin
came the harsh commands
lyon 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. y
There was no opening i'll the rear of
the cabin, the logs were thick and the
chinks We're well stopped with clay, so
that Dave could not return leaden an
swer to this brutal challenge. He fin
gered the rifle nervously and looked at
Sue.
"Oh Dave, don open the door, - she
pleaded, meeting the earnest look bent
on her face from beneath the brim of
Dave s frouzy SLOUGH hat, Il ain 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 | nd throw
away my wuthiess life. " He uttered
the words again monOtOnously, finger
ing the rifle that was held Imply III
his shaking hands.
Poor Sue There was no answering
laughter i'll her soul now for those gro
tesquely sententious words which broke
i'll husky monotone on her hearing like
last prayer.
In that moment Dave. who had al
ways been coward, who had all his
life long borne meekly the scorn and
opprobrium attached to the character
he whom heretofore nothing could
arouse to SENSE of hi ,.adation,
calmly arose to the velJ 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 show he's
coming out, boysl' She chung to him,
nleodinp Dave dou,tl Tbere,s fonr to
one Don't col" Rut he unshad her
gently bocxward info tho roam
"Bolt the door behind mni,, no said
mud nos.nd ont
Snc stood motionloss in the conto,, of
the room waiting for it to begin Dave
nnl1nd the triuoeI of his ,r,n and tnrn.d
the corner and Instantly fonr xveanous
banked with one#y ojen
Snc heard sanatbiur he,vv fall
AGAINST tbe side of fine rabin. tbon in.
SANITY fine sbarn. c1oar uttoranea of -
winchester answered tine carbjnes agoin
and sim a,ain one ,,,.bi,a onl, an.
severed. tbon all was sill. only tbs frot-
fnl worbIina of a ,vrru i'm the nnarhv
Cherokee rose hedge breaking fine tense
silence of the droVs.v afternoon b5,sb
ANXIETY co1lanerino terror Sno dra1,
hack fine holt ihra,vi,, tho doa,. ,,.,d.
omen. A broad stream of velIaw Iiebt
and "A rush Of heat met her. passing over
a fipurc ON its knees that ALWAYS from.
llpd at fine siebt of doom wafer D,va.
was posuinu b1s last breath RInnding
and sbattn,nd L. ere,t to her f.ot aft
or the manner If faithful doo to die
In the crave prav eve, that were raised