The Glenwood post., 1908-04-04
what he knew for rights sake. And

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'
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
that promised to be irksome-the girl
who had brought the blood to his face
when, ashamed he had galloped off
to the spring-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
of the master. Soon the sound of
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 plucky fight, If they can only
hold out"
At that moment tiny tongue of
flame leaped up away to the front
of them, cleaning in the darkness like
beacon light Now there were two
they grew, spread, leaped heaven
ward in mad revel. Langford's heart
sank like lead. He groaned in an ex-
ceeding bitterness of spirit. The
had har no
in time? These claim shanties burn
like paper. And the girl! He doubted
not that she had sustained her share
of the good fight. She had fought
like man. she must die like man
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 him
gravely as he sat his horse and she
had said she had waited for him. Was
she waiting now?
The boys rallied to the new i'm
petus gloriously. They knew now
what it meant and their hardy hearts
thrilled to the excitement of it, and
the danger. They swept from the main
trail into the DINNER one leading to
Williston's, without diminution of
speed. Presently, the boss drew rein
with a suddenness that would have
played havoc with the equilibrium of
less seasoned horsemen than cowboys.
They followed with the precision and
accord of trained cavalrymen. Now
and then could be seen black, sinis-
ter figure patrolling the burning home
stead. but hugging closely the outer
skirt of darkness, waiting for the
doomed door to open.
'Boys!" began Langford. But ho
never gave the intended command to
charge at once with wild shouting and
shooting to frighten away the maraud-
ers and give warning to the besieged
that rescue was at hand. For at that
moment the door opened and Willis
ton and his daughter stepped out in
full view of raider and rescuer. Would
there be parley? A man, slouching in
his saddle, rode up into the circle of
lurid light. Was it Jesse Black? There
was something hauntingly familiar
about the droop of the shoulders. That
was all; hardly enough to hang
man.
Langford raised his rife quickly
His nerves were perfectly steady. His
sight was never truer. His bullet
went straight to the rifle arm of the
outlaw; with a ringing shout he raj.
lied his comrades. spurred his pony
forward, and the little party charged
the astounded raiders with fury of
shots that made each rustler stand
well to his own support, leaving the
Williston's, for the time being, free
from their attention.
The desperadoes were on the run
They cared to take no risk of identi-
fication. 1t was not easy to determine
how many there were. There seemed
half-dozen or more, but probably
four or five at the most would tell
their number.
The flames were sinking. Willis
ton had disappeared. The boys scat
tered in wild pursuit. Wheeling his
horse, Langford was in time to see
big, muscular fellow swing a girlish
form to the saddle in front of him.
Quick as a flash he spurred forward,
lifted his heavy Colts revolver high
over his head and brought it down on
the fellows skull with force that
knocked him senseless without time
!or sigh or moan. AS his arms fell
lax and he toppled in his saddle,
Langford caught the girl and swung
her free of ENHANCEMENT.
tTo Be Continued)