The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-08-21

s;Go Tier soul is ntieu Nl'u PiA"o w
him, She is Is pale as she ml@hs DC
lvIrr in her shToud, hut there is no sign
~ Iairtncss about her now. She does
y ut even ask him to make terms with
the miserable mislreants beneath.
stand little to this side; you will
r. more out of :heir range" is all she
saws. drawing him, as she speaks, INTO
the desired position:
"Keep well behind me, )" he says, anx-
iously; but II you can with safety,
to.nt out to me the man who fred that
s. OF. My own wrecked eyes are OF
small use to me In this uncertain light.
1T was tho tall one by tho post.
There. lie on your guard.
AS she says this, another bullet flies
past him, tearing a small oft OF cloth
from the shoulder OF his coat.
"Why will you expose YOURSELF" cries
Eleanor. vehemently. Stand back.
He fires, and one Of the men staggers
and falls. A thin, dark stream Of blood
is creeping along the ground.
1T is horrible" says Eleanor. She
stageers little, and lays her hand up
on Erannard's arm. It is but for mo.
mpnt Then she RECEIVERS herself, and,
standing upright, stares with determi.
nation upon the group beneath-she has
even moved little forward. Her light
gown coming thus prominently into
notice, lit by the rays OF the glorious
moon, is distinctly visible, and brings
into bold relief the dark form OF Bran
nard standing step or so in front OF
her.
Two or three of the men are stoop-
Ing over the PROSTATE body and are
drawing it to the rear. The surgeon
Is so intent upon the wounded man,
and finds such difficulty in bringing
his deficient sight to lear upon him
that he grows forgetful Of conse-
ouences and steps into the full glare Of
the moonlight Eleanor, who is awe
struck by the presence Of death, stands
by his side, smittcn by tho solemnity
Of the moment into incautiousness. A
spark Of light, however, catching her
side view, she in;oluntari!y turns her
head in its direction. A little riotous
moonbeam glinting off the steel barrel
Of pistol has caused this spark. The
weapon itself is raised, and the muzzlo
| Is pointed at the very heart OF the
young man. The ruffian is pausing. as
though to make sure Of his mark. There
Is no time for warning Of any sort. In
q second she has raised the revolver in
her own hand and fired. A second ex'
plosion follows hard on hers, and then
q cry OF agony. The bandit, throw g
one arm upward (the other is hanging
broken by his side, staggers backward
and sinks into The embrace Ct mon
who hurries toward him. Presently
there is movement among them, and
then, almost before one can grasp the
fact, they have all gone from the grave
sweep, have melted away once more
into the shadows Of the trees.
You saved my life them" cried Bran
nard. turning to her excitedlz. Jus
as he fired saw my danger, not before
It was too late then to move. But YOU
bullet saved me. owe my very exist
ence to you, my brave darling. See
His bullet must have passed right be-
tween US, under your arm"
But where have they gomez" ex
claimed she, anxiously Have the,
abandoned their evil work? Have w
proved ourselves too strong for them?
She has stopped forward. Her face
as the moonlight falls upon 1t, looks
! CHASTITY. He gaaes ct her keenly
Then something that soils her gown at
tracts his attention. The sleeve has beef
rudely torn away from her white arm
and on the hanging fragments OF cash
mere and trickling down the fair, sol
flesh is blood.
You are wounded" he cries in
dreadful voice. And for me; to sav
mo. Have they killed you? Speak t
me-"
Wounded" repeats the girl, vaguely
Then she sways little, and with lit
tie confiding gesture toward him, full c
pathos, falls unconscious uron hi
breast. He lays her gently on be
and tenderly dresses the wound, whic
is severe one only in his loving eyes
She RECEIVERS her courage speedily
Daylight comes in the hour spent j
bringing the girl quito back to hersol
Then they walk down to the minin
camp to give an alarm. 1t is almo:
deserted.
The boys have gone to lynch som
thieves" says an cid man.
Brannard and Eleanor procure se<
ond horse, and together ride to Blac
Sums cave. There they find horrib]
sight. The seven bandits who returne
from the assault on Camp Tampa al
hanged to the trees. The miners, hay
. ing learned their character, have ezt
cuted lynch law upon them. Col. Lo
Icy, after momeNtary difficulty
overcoming the prejudices of the miner
against himself, has conducted the
into the cave. Black Sam was awake
As they entered the rocky chambar, tt
robber drew a revolver and fred sh
at the Colonel. Luckily, his rocumbe1
5 position made his aim uncertain. II
+, invaders sprang upon him, but beEo
they could prevent it he turned his r
. volver against his own breast, shooti1
himself through tie heart.
This has barely been done wht
J Brannard and Eleanor arrive. The box
{, and sacks OF treasure are loaded {
. horses and transported to Camp Tar
pa, where peace is that day made b
tween the miners. the deserving soldie