Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-01-23
CHAPTER TX.
The Attack on the Lazy 8.


The Attack on the Lazy 3.
II was late. The August nicht wal
cool and sweet after q weary day Of
intense heat. The door was thrown
wide open. II was good to feel the
night air creeping into the sitting
room. There was NO light within; and
without, nothing but the brilliant stars
In the quiet, brooding sky. Williston
was sitting just within the doorway
Mary, her hands clasped idly around
her knees, sat on the doorstep
thoughtfully staring out into the still
darkness. There was q stir.
Bedtime. little girl" said Willis
ton.
"Just minute more, daddy. Must
we have q light? Think how the
mosquitoes will swarm. Let's 60 to
bed In the dark"
I'VE will shut the door. and next
summer, little girl. you shall have
your screens. l promise that, always
providing. of course. Jesse Black
leaves us alone"
Had It not been SO dark, Mary could
have seen the wistful smile on the
thin scholarly face. But though she
could not see It. she knew 1t was
there. There had been fairer hopes
and more generous promises In the
past-iew years. They had all gone
the dreary way Of impotent striving.
of bitter disappointment. There was
little need of light for Mary to read
her fathers thoughts.
"Sure, daddy" she answered, cheer
NY. "And I'll see that you don't for
get. As for Jesse Black. he wouldn't
dare with the Three Bars on his trail.
Well, II you must have q light, you
must rising and stretching her firm
fieshed young arms far over her head.
you can't forget you were born In
civilization. can you. daddy? i am
sure could be your man in the dark.
II you'd let me, and ] always turn
your night-shirt right side out before
hanging 1t ON your bedpost. and your
sheet and spread are turned down.
and water right at hand. You funny,
funny little father, who can't 60 to bed
in the dark" She was rummaging
around shelf In search Of matches.
'Now, have forgotten long since that
1 wasn't born on the plains. It
wouldn't hurt me II I had misplaced
my nightdress. I've done It," with gay
little laugh. He must be cheered up
az all costs, this bufteted 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 Jared out.
"Shut the door quick. dad" she said,
lighting the lamp on the table. The
skeetersll eat us alive"
williston stepped to the door. Just
a moment he stood there in the door
way, the light streaming out into the
night, tall. thoughtful, NO weakiing In
spite OF many failures and many mis-
3 takes. A fair mark he made, outlined
AGAINST the brightly lighted room. It
was quiet. Not even coyote shrilled.
And while he stood there looking up
at the calm stars. . sudden sharp re-
mort rang out and the sacred peace Of
Cod, written In the serenity Of still
summer nights, was desecrated. Hiss
ing and ominous. the bullet sang past
WilIiston'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 dearl" cried Williston, in
low tones. Quick ~ . Hash the door
was CLAIMED shut and bolted Just a.
second shot fen foul Of It.
-Oh. my father cried Mary, crop
ing Der way TO his side.
.Hush, my dearl They missed me
clean. Don't lose your nerve. Mary.
They won't find Il 20 easy after ALL"
There had been no third shot A
profound s..cnse sclloWed the second
report. There was no sound Of horse
or mGl. Whence. then. the shotsi
One man, maybe. creeping up Ike
some foul beast Of prey 70 strike IN
the dark. Was be still lurking near.
abiding another opportunity
Il took but = moment for WiIli1ton
to have the rifles cooked and ready
Mary took her oHn from HIN win .
hand that trembled eyer . lI|1tAly.