Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-11-29

"'rhcn the uul cove's cane"
Ton had seized Miss Sullivan By the
arm.
Il don't STIR she declared. Not one
step"
Then worse will come Of it."
But my father!'
ats idle threats-they don't mean
word Of It,"
"Ah. miss. come on" urged Peggy In
an agony for Tom
'She shall!' he muttered, with the
nozzle Of one pistol against the lady's
neck. And so between them they got
her to the back Of the house aud thence
across the open space to the stables.
AS they ran Tom turned his head and
Just saw one end Of a chain Of ruddy
convict faces. all horribly intent upon
some unseen spectacle before the pail
sade.
The stable proper faced the open
gate through which the bushrangers
had ridden. Their saddled horses stood
two In a stall. and Tom was backing
out couple when he discovered Peggy
meddling with third. lie told her
three would not be wanted.
"An' what about your
II stay with my mates"
"Wid thin murtherin' vilrns?"
''Im one myself"
Already" she cried. TON. Tom
1t was his turn to hold up n warning
hand.
Miss Sullivan stood listening Mt the
door. but not to them.
Tom listened too
For some instants all was still.
Then q thwack. thwack, thwack, was
greeted with yell Of savage Joy, and
Miss Sullivan was gone from the door,
'Let her go" cried Tom. seizing Peg
gy's wrist. II did my best for her.
You. at all events. shall be saved"
mot without you. Tom"
Nonsense. Peggy! I must see this
through"
AN 50 must I. then"
With these words. she set her back
to the open door. But there stood
Tom. looking past ana beyond her. as
though he had not heard one Of them
Presently soft laugh came from his
lips.
"All right. Peggy. You are safer
than thought. Look behind you"
The girl obeyeI. and there. trotting
two abreast through the open gate,
were score Of troopers, with tho
glare from the still blazing hut red
dening their w.iSkcred faces, jeweling
their spurs and gliding from hilt to
point the waving sword Of the lad who
rode Mt their head
Peggy stood agl,ast. with an amaze
ment that left 10 room for thought. Il
was only when the cavalcade had
swept close by and SO out of sight at
gallop that she heard Tom speaking to
mounted one Of the horses and was On.
treating her to stand aside and let him
out.
And then she realized how the situa-
ton had reversed itself and how he
was now the one to fly and gallop for
his life. Without word, she sprang
out OF his way. lie clattered under
the Intel and was gone She came out
to see him gallop through the open
gate. He had already vanished, but
not that way. He had dashed to the
assistance Of his rascally mates.
But dozen shots had been fired
already and blue wreaths were curling
In the glare like clouds Mt sunset
Wall-eye lay stretched upon his face
Slipper and the aboriginal were fight
Ing desperately back to back, but both
We're wounded and their moments
numbered. Troopers surrounded them:
others were already enlcavoriny to re.
store order among the cunvicts, while
one. sergeant. was being dragged
and bumped auout with one foot twist
cd In his stirrup and his dead face
smothered with blood
Tom looked about for Hockey Simp-
son ana found him on the verge of
shaking OIL four TROOPERS and the en-
sign. One saddle he had cmptied with
his pistol. As Tom came near he hook
Ell the ensign out of his. but was with
III IN ace of being dragged to the
ground III doing 50. The ensiQn's
Stock gave way and saved him. Ere
he could recover himself trooper took
deliberate aim ut the little man. Tom
saw him. however. and fired point
blank at the Outstretched arm. It fell
and the next Iom knew was that he
aud Hookey We're galIoping neck and
neck for The -----------