The Irish standard., 1907-12-28
CHAPTER TX.

COOl anu sweet dlIcT d weary Jay VI
intense heat. The door was thrown
wide open. 1t was good to feel the
night air creeping into the sitting
room. There was no light within; and
without, nothing but the brilliant stars
in the quiet, brooding sky. Williston
was sitting just within the doorway.
Mary, her hands clasped idly around
her knees, sat on the doorstep,
thoughtfully staring out into the still
darkness. There was stir.
Bedtime, little GIRL" said Willis.
Gust minute more, daddy. Must
we have light? Think how the
mosquitoes will swarm. Let's go to
bed in the dark"
1--WE will shut the door, and next
summer, little girl, you shall have
your screens. l promise that, always
providing, of course, Jesse Black
leaves us alone"
Had it not been SO dark, Mary could
have seen the wistful smile on the
thin scholarly face. But though she
could not see 1t, she knew it was
there. There had been fairer hopes
and more generous promises in the
past few years. They had all gone
the dreary way of impolent striving,
of bitter disappointment. There was
little need of light for Mary to read
her fathers thoughts.
Sure, daddy" she answered, cheer
lily. And I'll see that you don't for
get AS for Jesse Black, he wouldn't
dare with the Three Bars on his trail.
Well, If you must have a light, you
must" rising and stretching her Arm
fieshed young arms far over her head.
you can't forget you were born in
civilization. can you, daddy? / am
sure could be your man in the dark,
If you'd let me, and l always turn
your night-shirt right side out before
hanging it on your bedpost, and your
sheet and spread are turned down,
and water right at hand. You funny,
funny little father, who can't go to bed
in the dark" She was rummaging
around a shelf in search of matches.
"Now, have forgotten long since that
wasn't born on the plains. 1t
wouldn't hurt me If had misplaced
my nightdress. I've done it, with gay
little laugh. He must be cheered up
at all costs, this buffeted and disap-
pointed but fine-minded, high-strung
and lovable father of hers. "And 1
haven't taken my hair down nights
since-oh, since months ago. till-oh.
well-so you see it's easy enough for
me to go to bed in the dark"
Her hand touched the match box
at last. A light flared out. :
"Shut the door quick, dad" she said,
lighting the lamp on the table. "The
skeeters'll eat us alive"
Williston stepped to the door. Just
a moment he stood there in the door,
way, the light streaming out into the
night, tall, thoughtful, no weakling in
spite of many failures and many mis-.
takes. A fair mark he made. outlined
against the brightly lighted room. It
was quiet. Not even a coyote shrilled.
And while he stood there looking up
at the calm stars, sudden sharp re-
port rang out and the sacred peace of
God. written in the serenity Of still
summer nights, was desecrated. Hiss.
ing and ominous, the bullet sang past
Williston's head, perilously near, and
lodged In the opposite wall. At that
moment the light was blown out. A
great presence of mind had come to
Mary in the time of imminent dan.
ger"
Good, my dear!" cried Williston, in
low tones. Quick as a fash the door
/ was slammed shut and bolted just as
second shot fell foul Of it.
ooh, my father!" cried Mary, CROP
ing her way to his side.
flush, my dear! They missed me
clean. Don't lose your nerve, Mary.
They won't find it so easy after all.''
There had been no third shot. A
profound silence followed the second
report. There was no sound Of horse
or man. Whence, then, the shots?
One man. maybe, creeping up like
some foul beast of prey to strike in
| the dark. Was he still lurking near,
abiding another opportunity?
1t took but moment for Williston
to have the rifles cooked and ready.
May took her own from him with
hand that trembled ever so slightly.
What will you do, father?" she
asked. holding her rife lovingly and
thanking God in a swift, uniformed
thought for every rattlesnake or other
; noaious creature whose life she had
put out while doing her mans work of
riding the range-work which had Civ.
en- her not only mans courage, but a
maps skill as we'll.
Take the back window, girl" he
answered briefly. "I'Il take the front.
Stand to the side. Get used to the
starlight and shoot every shadow you
see. especially If it moves. Keep track
of your shots, don't waste an effort
and don't let anything creep up on
you. They mustn't get near enough
to fire the house."
His voice was sharp and incisive.
The drifting habit had fallen from him
and he was his own master again.