The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-12-11

| Sure daddy" she answered, cheer
lily "And III 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 light, you
must" rising and stretching her firm
i feshed young arms far over her head.
You can't forget you were born in
civilization, can you, daddy? 1 am
sure | could be your man in the dark.
| if you'd let me-, and | 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
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 l had misplaced
my nightdress I've done il" 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 |
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 fiared out.
Shut the door quick, dad she said,
lighting the lamp on the table. THE
skeeters'll eat us alive
4 Williston stepped to the door. Just
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. 1t
was quiet. Not even a coyote shrilled.
And while he stood there looking up
at the calm stars. a 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 flash the door
was slammed shut and bolted just as
a second shot fell foul of it,
"Oh, my father" cried Mary, CROP
ing her way to his side
Hush, 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?
4 1t took but a moment for Williston
to have the rifles cooked and ready.
Mary took her own from him with
hand that trembled ever so slightly.
What will you do, father?" she
asked holding her rifle lovingly and
thanking God in a swift uniformed
thought for every rattlesnake or other
noxious creature whose life she had
put out while doing her mans work of
riding the range-wOrk which had Civ
en- her not only a mans courage but
mans skill as WELL
Take the back window, girl" he
answered briefly. "I'll 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 incisiye.
The drifting habit had fallen from him
and he was his own master again
Several heavy minutes dragged
away without movement. without
sound from without. The ticking of
the clock pressed on strained ears like
CHASTITY bell-tolling. Their eyes be.
came accustomed to the darkness, and
by the dim starlight they were able to
distinguish the outlines of the cattle
sheds, still, empty, black. Nothing
moved out there
i think they're frightened off, " said
Mary at last, breathing more freely.
They We're probably just one, or
they'd not have left He knew he
missed You, or he would not have fired
again Do you think it was Jesseo"
Jesse would not have missed" he
said, grimly.
AT that moment new sound broke
the stiffness. the whinny of horse.
Reinforcements had approached with
in the shadow of the catte-sheds
Something moved out there at last
Daddy called Mary in a choked
whisper. Come here-Jhey are down
at the sheds
Willisron stepped to the back win
dow quickly
Change Places he said briefly.