Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1904-04-20

Duties by Ills ITdckS, anu we lOpeO TO
catch him before he struck a railroad.
'Will you plug him on sight, Sim?'
asked Keno Davis, in mild interest.
81 don't believe there'll be any shak-
ing hands," said Sim grimly, and we
gloried in the coming fight.
Just before sunrise we came upon
them half way up Bald mountain. AS
we rounded a corner of the trail a gray
sOmbrero showed above the tangled |
growth of vines and ferns that chung |
to the top of the rocks. Sim put a
bullet through it neatly. The answer |
laid Keno Davis out under the shade |
Of scrub pine, and we decided to rest |
and do battle scientifically, as Larry |
had a clear eye and a mighty good |
chance to take his pick of a hostile |
force. While the rest of us engaged |
his interest from the trail below the
rock, Sim took four others and started
on detour to reach a point above.
1t was a good fight. There was no
yelling or Apache war dancing, only
q steady, quiet Interchange of compli-
ments that meant business, and a grad
ually closing in around the rock.
We knew Quita must be with him,
but whether she had tainted or been
bound we could not tell, until suddenly
clear, sharp cry rang out, and every
man lowered his gun at the sound.
1t was & cry for help, we believed,
and we sent back a shout that echoed
in long leaps up the deep ravines and
gulches. For an instant the firing
| from the rock ceased, then began
again, faster than ever, but not so
sure. All at once the voice of Sim
shouted from above.
For Gods sake, boys, quit firingv'
1t was hard to obey with victory so
near and the bullets flying wild around
our heads from the hidden hand be-
hind the rock But we stopped, they
did also, and we scrambled from ledge
/ to ledge up over the ragged, splintered
stones until the top was gained, and
we looked down on Larry and his cap
tive.
1t was a strange sight. Back against
the rough, gray rocks stood Quita, her
eyes aflame with reckless courage and
defiance. Larry's two revOlvers were
gripped, still smoking in her hands.
At her feet lay Larry, his white face
upturned to the dawning light and a
dull, crimson stain soaking the right
side of his gray flannel shirt.
| "I'll shoot the first one that dares
to touch him. called Quita. You're
a pack of towards to follow and hold
J us up like this! What's he dOne?
HE stole you"
1t was Sim who answered her.
Quita turned on him like flash.
? HE didn't steal me, Sim. l raI
? away with him because 1 loved him
' and it seemed better to go at the las
5 moment than to marry you and love
: him all the same. 1 thought a cir
f could choose the man she loved anC
i not have a whole camp chase her anC
q shoot him down. You don't play fair
/ boys"
i There was dead silence. Her eye
g were full of tears, and Happy Chanc
4 hid its head in shame. 1t is not pleas
g ant to have a gallant rescue knOcke,
+ in the head by the scorn of woman
will.
4 But Sim stood without shame or al
> ger and stared at the white, yOun
d face at Quita's feet. and at last witt
IS out a word he went down and LITE
r Larry in his arms and made his wa
ir with him to the trail, and Quita 70
/. lowed slowly.
n At Prospera we left the three, an
n Sim never gave up his guard until tn
N wound was healed. and Quita rode il
Ia to camp beside her husband as Mr.
,g Larry Carroll.
20 There were no hard feelings. A
Larry said. no laws had been broke
10 but the law of the heart, and eaC
IT, heart has q law of its own.
10 But when it was all over Sim sol
~ out his mine to him and went baC
he over the mountains to the States. "
he understood and did not blame him.
# is easier to save the life of the ma
in you hate than to stand by and see Il
nh girl you love as his wife.