The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-12-25

face of this popularity, perhaps pe-
cause of it, they were bit overbear:
ing, these boys, and held fellowship
with any outside the Three Bars a
thing not to be lightly entered into
| It was a fine thing to work for the
| boss, and out of the content accruing
| therefrom sprang a conservatism like
| that of the proudest aristocrat of the
| land.
Langford took the trail first. Jim
| had said but the one word. Willis
tom 1t was enough. Nothing was
to be heard but the rapid though reg
ular pound of hoof-beats on the level
trail 1t is silent country the COW
country, and its gravity begets gray
| ity
Langford, riding slightly in advance.
| was having a bad time with himself.
| The keenest self-reproach was stab
bling him like physical pain. His
honor-his good honor, that he held so
high and stainless--was his word not
given by it that the Willistons might
count on his sure protection? What
| had he done to merit this proud boast?
Knowing that Jesse Black was once
more at liberty, fully realizing of what
| vast import to the state would be Will
| liston's testimony when the rustlers
should be brought to trial, he had sat
stupidity back and done nothing. And
he had promised. Would Williston
have had the courage without that
| promise? Why were not some of his
| cowboys even now sleeping with an
eye upon that little claim shack where
lived that scholar-man who was not
fit for the rough life of the plains,
maybe. but who had been brave
enough and high-minded enough to lay
his all on the white altar of telling
what he knew for rights sake. And
the girl
God! The girl" he cried aloud
What did you say, boss?" asked
Jim, pounding alongside.
Nothing said Langford, curtly.
He spurred his mare savagely. In
the shock of surprise, and the sting
that his neglected word brought him.
he had forgotten the girl-Williston' S
little girl" with the grave eyes-the
girl who was not 10 but 20 and more
the girl who had waited for him,
whom he had sent on her long way
alone, joyously, as one free OF duty
4 that promised to be irllsome--the girl
who had brought the blood to his face
/ y,l,n, -lnn nod l,o l,nl off
to the spiing-the girl who had closed
her door when mans curious eyes
had roved that way. How could he
forget?
The little cavalcade swept on with
increased speed following the lead
shooting was borne to them distinctly
through the quiet night.
Thank God, boys" cried Langford,
/ digging in his spurs once more. They
are not surprised. Listen. God!
What a pluclsy fight. Ii they can only
hold OUT"
At that moment a tiny tongue OF
flame leaped up away to the front
of them cleaning in the darkness like
a beacon light Now there We're two
they grew, spread, leaped heaven
ward in mad revel. Langfords heart
sank like lead. He groaned in an ex
ceeding bitterness of spirit. The
worst had happened. Would they be
in time? These claim shanties burr
like paper. And the girl! He doubted
not that she had sustained her share
of the good fight. She had fought
like a man, she must die like a mar
would be the outlaws reasoning. He
believed she would die like a man
if that meant bravely-but something
clutched at his heart-strings with the
thought. Her big, solemn eyes came
back to him now as they had LOOKED
when she had lifted them to hin
gravely as he sat his horse and SHIT
had said she had waited for him Wa
she waiting now?
The boys rallied to the new i'm
petus gloriously. They knew nov
what it meant and their hardy heart
thrilled to the excitement OF it, AM
the danger. They swept from the mail
trail into the DINNER one leading t
Williston's, without dininution o
speed. Presently, the boss drew rel
with suddenness that would hav
played havoc with the equilibrium Q
less seasoned horsemen than cowboys
They followed with the precision an
accord of trained cavalrymen. NOV
and then could be seen black, SIMS
ter figure patrolling the burning home
stead, but hugging closely the QUITE
skirt of darkness, waiting for tn
doomed door to open.
Boys" began Langford But h
never gave the intended command t
charge at once with wild shouting an
shooting to brighten away the maraut
). ers and give warning TO the besiege
that rescue was at hand. For at tina
;, moment the door opened and Willis
;. ton and his daughter stepped out i
O full view of raider and rescuer Woul
there be barley? A man SlOuching