Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-08-23
DAUGHTERS or CHM
By Eta w. PIERCE
CHAPTER XXXVII.
His Last Shot.

ed. The men In Ine rOuSn CodIS ehhN
sombreros sat like so many wooden
figures. Yet they were not sleeping.
The steady light Of their eyes under
their wide hats seemed almost uncan-
ny. Their presence grew strangely op-
pressive to Esther. She sank closer
into her own corner, and with Difficult
ty, resigned herself to the prospect OF
a long and lonely night ride in this
mute, mysterious company.
The mining town was soon left be-
hind. Darkness fell on the foothills
and the great ranges. crowding peak
upon peak, rank behind rank along
the horizon. The smell Of resinous
spruce filed the wind. The numbering
coach passed hillsides, where campers
and prospectors had built evening fires
and were boiling coffee and cooking
rashers Of bacon. Wilder and lonelier
grew the road. After awhile the rain
ceased, the clouds broke and the moon
shone over a distant ridge.
On and on went the stage. The arm
ed men inside began to grow impa-
tient-they were waiting for something
that did not come.
Has the derned coyote given US the
slip?" muttered one, breaking the long
silence, at last.
""Twouldn't be surprisin'," answered
another; but keep cool. There's but
one thing sure about luck, as the Lead
Vile miners say, and that is-its
bound to change!"
Presently the stage entered lonely
piece Of pinewood. Jehu, overhead
was whistling merrily to his horses,
and Esther, in her corner, sat occupied
With conjectures as to what her recep-
Tor at Happy Valley was to be, when,
OF a sudden, there was a loud tramp or
hoofs In the road, the jingle Of stir
rups and brides, a confused murmur.
and then a voice, like a trumpet
"Halt!"it cried.
The stage came to an abrupt stand.
An electric thrill seemed to pass
through the men inside. AS II by mag
is every hand instantly held six
shooter.
BLACK Dave and his road-agents are
upon us, MISS" said he who sat near
est to Esther Keep In the stage and
don't disturb yourself, whatever hap
pens"
Even as he spoke the coach door
flew open, and a face looked into the
vehicle.
Light, gents and ladies!" cried a
voice that was strangely familiar to
Esther's ears.
She saw a figure in a deerskin shirt
and embroidered jacket holding re-
volver with the muzzle pointing into
the coach She saw a face-unmasked
this night-brown. handsome, glowing
with evil fire under a broad sombrero,
and with an amazed cry she recognized
1t:
Father"
He heard her-surely he heard her,
for the muzzle OF the revolver fell, and
ne made an involuntary step back
ward At the same instant grim
voice inside the stage called out:
I'VE thought you wouldn't disap-
point us this time, Dave! We've been
on your trail a right smart while, you
know!"
"Vigilants, by Heaven!" cried Dave,
hoarsely.
The moon was shining straight down
through the tree-tops. In the twink
ling Of an eye every man was out OF
the stage and in the road. There was
a terrific yell from the road-agents-
n q
hand hand struggle for life-a deaf
ening crack Of revolvers. and Esther,
frantic with terror, and quite unmind-
full of personal danger, sprang from
the stage into the midst Of the melee.
Father Father!"
Her distracted voice, piercing sharp
ly through the uproar, must have stab
bed Gilbert Yves bold, bad heart like
a knife. His child there, and calling
him by name! Perhaps her presence
unnerved his hand and weakened his
courage.
BY the light Of the moon this daugh-
ter Of Cain saw her father standing at
bay in the midst Of the vigilants. 1t was
his last fight, and he knew it. His
back was to a tree, his blood-stained
face, for he was already wounded, to
the foe.
Where were his men? Either dead
in the road or prisoners in the hands
of the vigilants.
Alone, unsupported, Gilbert wye
stood there confronting his doom, in
full view Of the unhappy girl who had
travelled so many weary miles to see
him once more.
Don't shoot him!" shouted an omi-
nous voice; take him alive!"
Some one with unerring aim threw
q lariat. 1t had been determined long
before what death the king Of the
road-agents was to die. One fearful
scream broke from Esther, and then,
swift as lightning. a hand from behind
seized her and pressed a handkerchief
to her eyes.
voice Of Victor Shirlaw; come away,
Esther-this sight will kill you!"
He had just swung himself out of
the saddle. He was white and breath
less with a long. hard gallop. and he
had no thought for the desperate
struggle in the road save as it con-
cerned that Mortified girl. She tried
to free herself from him, but he held
her fast.
my father! Oh, it is my father!"
she cried.
Yes" he answered, God help you!
| knew him at Rookwood. Do you un-
derstand my warnings now?"
She was past reply. A curtain OF
darkness dropped mercifully upon her.
She fell forward on Shirlaw's arm
without breath or motion.
It was a half-hour before she awoke
to consciousness again. Then she
found herself lying on hard dirt
floor with Shirlaw's cloak spread un-
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