Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-03-02
CHAPTER XI.-{Contnued.)

The cry rose I'm the silence of the
night, and went like a knife to Ne
viile's heart. He tugged and tore at
the cords which bound him II a
madman. And at his futile efforts there
| rose a mocking lagh. At a little dis
lance was Layarick on horseback.
One of the rufians struck Neville
across the forehead and his head fell
forward. An awful cry rose from Syl-
Was pale lips.
NC, no,' she shrIeked. Don't
don't kill him. l will go. / will go
quietly, Sir" a-
You'd better" snarled Lavarick
"Now, boys, search him.. The stufs
on him somewhere. Look sharp"
A couple of men tore Seyille's shirt
open and cutting the strings of the
bag which held his gold, held it up
with . chucklc.
"Iiere. you are. guy'nor!'
Right" said LaYarlck. Now bring
the girl here. Keep quiet, young lady,
y I1---'
and he pointed his revolver at the
unconscious Neville. Sylvia stretched
out he. hand TO Lavarick imploringly
Eve. No. / Wilt will will go
where you like. Only-only-don'f
hurt him, OH, Jack, Jack! Let me
oh. let me take him with me. iop
won't leave him there toto die"
And her voice rose to a shrek. and
she managed to throw herself on her
knees beside the horse. Lavarlck
looked down q: her distorted a with
n fiendish malice. .,
Enough of this t%omfolery," he said,
savagely. Hand her up here.'
The man who still held her lifted
her in his arms and flung her across
"a rvaricih's saddle. She did not resist;
Lavarick's revolver was still pointed
at Neville.
Now he said, lust quiet that in
fcrnal young scamp for good, and come
on. Be alive"
Hes quiet enough"
Come on, them" said Lavarick.
I'VE have got the money and the girl
Ali but the two men near Neville
had already mounted, and of these two
n sprang on to his horse. The other
was about to follow, when suddenly,
with q superhuman efort-that effort
which despair and madness alone can
make-NeviIle broke the badly made
rope which bound him. He flung him
self forward ON his revolver which lay
at his feet. The two men told of to
guard and search him had been too
engrossed by the plumber to notice the
weapon
He clutched the revolver, and
stepped back to wait attack Of the re-
naming guard, and before the ruffian
could utter a cry Of warning Neville's
bullet sped, and he leaped in the air.
Neville staggered over the body. and
saw Layarick, with Sylvia on the sad
die In front of him. He had pulled up
at the sound Of the shot. He struck
his horse and swung 1t round toward
Neville. Then he stopped: the moon
light gIittered on the barrel Of Neville's !
revolver, aimed directly at him.
"Shoot, Jack, shoot!" rose from Syl-
Was white lips.
He fred instantly. but his fear had
spoiled his aim. The bullet whlzzed
past Lavarick's head. With a laugh
or triumph and exultation Lavarick
turned and fired. The bullet struck
Neville in the leg. He did not fall, but
staggered against a tree, and there, I'M
able to move, stood holding out his
hand with a look on his face, with a
cry on his lips Of concentrated agony
which no words can describe.
Then in that moment, as he saw her
borne away from him, he learned how
dear she was to him.
.Sylvia! Sylvan ram through the
woods, and her answering cry came
back, Jack! JackI"
Then he fell forward on his face,