Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-29


cover the while. Shrinking low =,
her window. her eyes glued on the stin
black mass out yonder Mary wonder
ed If it We're dead. She prayed pas
sionateiy that Il might be. and yet
it is a dreadful thing TO Kill. Once
more the wild firing ceased. Mary re-
sponded once or twice jsst so Keep the
deadly chill from returning-if that
were possible.
Under cover of the desperadoes'
fire, at cDtuse angles with the first
attempt, a second blot BEGAN it's tor
tuous twisting. It accomplished a
space. stopped; pulled itself its length.
stopped. waited, watchful eyes on the
window whence came Mary's scatter
Ell firing stil Into the clump OF trees.
They had drawn her close regard at
last Would it hold out9 Forward
again, crawling Eat on the ground,
ever advancing. slowly. very slowly,
but also very surely. creeping. creep
ing. creeping. now stopping. now
creeping, stopping. creeping.
All at once the gun play began
again. sharp. quick. from the spring.
from the sheds. The blot lay perfect
~ still for a moment-waiting. watch
ing. The plucky little rifle was silent
But 50 It had been before. Quarter
length. half. whole length. cautiously
with frequent stops. eyes so steely. so
intent-coHd It be possible that this
gun was really silcnced-out OF the
race? IL would not do TO trust too
much. The blot waited. scarcely
breathed. crcpt forward again.
A sudden orieht light flashed up
through Che darkness under the unprc-
tected wall to Mays left. Almost
simultaneously q Kindred light sprang
into being from the region OF the cat
tie-sheds. The men down there had
been Vaiting for his signal Il
meant that for some reason the second
effort 60 creep up unobservod 20 fire
the house had been successful The
fare grew and spread IL became a
glare
When the whole cabin seemed to be
In flames save the d0or-the dry. rude
boarding had caught and burned like
papcr-when the heat had become Un-
bearable. Wiliston held out his hand
she put her hand her left hand en-
his; nor did Wiiiston notice that it
was her left nor how Imply her right
arm huns TO her SIDE In the glare.
her face shono colorlcss. but her dark
eyes were stars. Her head was held
hish. with nrm' step. Wiuiston ad.
vanced 90 the door Deliberately he
unbarred &c.. as deliberately threw 10
open and stepped over the threshold
They were covered on the instant by
four rifles.
Drop your gunsi" called the chief.
roughly. Thea the despcradoes moved
up.
Il take Il that I am the one
wanted" said WnIston.
His voice was calm and scholarly
once more. In the uselessness OF
further struggle. &c had lost the sharp
incisiveness that had been the call 20
action. II one alast die it IS good 10
die after brave fight one is never
a coward then. Wnustons face wore
an almost exalted look.
My daughter IS free 90 go?" he
asked. his first words having met
with no response. Better. much bet
ter. for the make OF a man like Willis
ton 10 die In the dignity OF silence,
but for Mary's sake he parleyed
Il guess mott" responded the leader.
CURLY. II pulin idiot hadn't missed
the broad side OF you-as pretty a
mark this side heaven as man could
want-thcn we might talk about the
girl. She's showed up too damned
much like man now 90 let her loose"
His big, shuming form lounged in
his saddle. He raised his rifle with
every appearance OF lazy Indifference.
They were 90 be shot down where
they stood. now, right on the TIRES
hold OF their burning homestead. VII
lston bowed his head to the newt
able for a moment; then raised Il
proudly TO meet the inevitable.
A rife shot rang out startlingly
clear. AT the very moment the lead
er's hawk eye had swept the sight, his
rifle arm had twltched uncertainty,
then fallen nerveless TO his side, while
his bullet playing a faltering and
discordant second 10 the first true
shot. tore up the ground ia front OF
him and swerved harmlessly 20 one
side. Instantly the widest confusion
reigned-shouts. curses, the plunging
OF horses mingled with the sharp
scrack OF firearms. The shooting was
wild. The surprise was too com
plete for the outlaws TO recover at
once. They had heard no sound OF APP
preaching hoof-beats. The roaring
flames licking up the dry timber and
rendering the surrounding darkness
the blacker for the contrast had been
OF saving grace to the besiegers after
all.
In moment the desperadoes raj
He'd. They closed in and imposed a
cursing, malignant wall between the
rescuers and the blazing door Of the
shanty and what stood and lay before
IL. Mary had sunk down at her fathers
feet and had no cognizance OF the
fierce though brief conflict that en-
sued
Presently she was dragged roughly
to her feet A big muscular arm had
heavy graSD OF her