Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-21

ing OF the little party that sprang to arms
and shouted fierce challenge at the fork
of the roads "Hylands-you all know
me-" was the answering shout. Some
Things wrong at Major Marvin's. Don't
stop me. Conn along"
Know him? Of course they did! Come?
Of course they would Half a dozen Gag
er blue-shirted Lads were Streaming after
him when, a minute later, he sprang
rom saddle and burst into the majors
gate. Already lights were twinkling in
a n~eishboring house. Something must
nave occurred to cause alarm. A corporal
with two men came running up the street
si the lieutenant disappea-: X through the
gateway and drove in after him. Through
Iile dim court they rushed just in time
% see half a dozen shadOwy forms go
bounding through the shrubbery to-
ward the river. Halt! Halt" We're
the orders. Bang! Bang! the reply.
Up the stone steps to the second floor,
three at a bound. leaoed Hylands.
Away to the bank flew pursuers and pur-
sued. A thin cloud of sulphur smoke
hung about the lark salon as Hyiands
reached the top. Nell. Nell! Where are
YOU? What's wrong?" he cried, then
stumbled over some PROSTATE form,
but caught himself on the massive table.
-Four feminine voices went uc in little
sots or Shriekis of relief and joy. IT'S
Mr.. Hylands!" It's the guard" oh.
God be thanked" But Jack heard only
one. There was a quick ~scsutter of shots
at the river, a sound of Yelling and run
ming. But Hylands had ears for moth
ing without the walls. He sprang TO
where he knew the door to be. A dim
night light revealed it. opening, a slender
form in some long, clinging
sinking as if for support against tine
easement, and in an inH.ant his strong
arms had olasoed ard folded it to his
bounding heart. Unreststing, aye. glad
~, gratefully the face he loved sank
upon his shoulder and her soft lips close
to his were murmuring, "You?-oh,
thank God!"
And there she might have stayed for
another minute but for the coming forth
of other women with lights and excla-
nations and huge excitement. and then
the UP rush of the guard, bouncing upon
the PROSTATE, bleeding body of a Tagal
officer, shot through the lungs. In breath
less snatehes the story was told-how
Nell, knowing that the failure of Hy-
lands to come meant warning of DANCE"
at the front, had lain awake long after
LIZ "a CtlIoI IiC'S oiC
finally left her room mad gone to the rear
gallery to look Ser the starlit stream,
and was suddenly aware of a swarm of
dark figures scrambling stealthily over
the low vail at the riverside-Tagals she
knew at a glance. They had 1loated
over from the opposite hank on a raft
or in bancas, hoping. doubtless, to cap
ture her father. Breathless she rushed
through her mothers room at the east
and aroused her, then to her own for her
revolver. Before a lantern could be
swung or rocket fired the Tagal leader
was stealing UP the steps, nJllOWed by
four of his sWarthy men, while Others
kept guard below. The dim Eight in
Nell's room was their first objective
point. but her one shot laid the captain
low and sent his followers scurrying
back to safety. Then, taking counsel to-
gether and knowing no help To he close
at hand, for the barracks We're at the
west end half a. mile away, and feeling
sure OF their %reterat, hey gradually mus
tered courage to again try the upper
story, and at least to find their officer.
They We're there, striving to lift him,
when there came the rush of Hyland's
pony and the guard. Then down they
went in panic away to their raft, only to
be shot down and dragged back 10y those
raging volunteers.
And her came Hurst and eventual
ly the major himself. Indeed, l believe
the gunGooat, too, dropped dow stream
thfther to see what was the trouble. and
sent her surgeon ashore to attend the
wounded Filipino. you are all very well
GOMEZ said Miss Nell, as the officers lat
err We're withdrawing to return to their
posts, 'but-Mr. Hylands was-way
ahead of anybody else"
And so saying she looked up into
Jacks face with a light in her eyes that
told he was way ahead" in yet another
way-way ahead of all competitors! Any
man, with half an eye, could see them in
her face. They might mean-did mean
danger where Hurst was concerned, but
bliss unutterable to Jack Hylands.