Gunnison news-champion., 1908-01-31

We have a light 1ktnk hoU the
mosquitoes ~ill swarm Let's go to
bed In the dark
We xin shut the dooE. and next
summer. little girl. YOU shall have
your screens. ! promise that. always
providing Of course. Jesse BLACK
leaves US alone"
Had II net been so DARK. Mary could
have seen the ~istfui smiie ON the
thin scholarly face. But though she
coaid not see IL. she kneN It was
there. There had been fairer hopes
and more generous promises In the
past few years. They had all gone
the dreary way of imDOaeat striving.
of bitter disappointment There Vas
little need Of light fer Mary to read
her fathers thoughts
sure. daddy" she answered. cheer
ily And IN SEE that You doH't for
get As for Jesse Black. he wouldn't
dare with the Three Bars On his trail.
Well. If You must have light. YOU
must" rising aud stretching her firm
fiesbed young arms far over her head.
You cant forge. you were born in
E YOU. tdNbN
sure | could be your man in the dark.
IL you'd let me. and ! always turn
your night-shirt right side cut 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 cant go to bed
in the dark" She was rummaging
holt To- aVxak ..fr hos
Now. I have forgotten long since that
l wasn't born ON the plains. II
wouldn't hurt me If ! had misplaced
my nightdress I've done it" with gay
little laugh, He must be cheered up
at all costs. this buffeted and disap-
pointed but fine-minded. strung
and lovable father of hers. And I
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 fiared 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
. moment he stood there in the door
way. the light streaming out into the
night, tall, thoughtful. no weakling In
spite Of many failures anA many mis-
takes. A fair mark he moAe, OstliheA
against the brightly lighted r0Oa. II
was quiet. Not even . coyote shrilled.
And while he stood there looking up
N ~ Inn of ma shA
port rang out and the sacred peace Of
God, writtes IN the serenity Of still
summer nights, was desecrated. Hiss
ing and OminOus, the bullet sang past
Williston'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 Aear," cried williston, in
low tones. Quick ~ . Hash the door
was slammed shut and bolted Just as
. second shot fell foul Of It.
''Oh, my father" cried Mary, crop
ing her way to his side.
Hush. my dear! They missed me
clean. Don't lose your nerve, Mary.
They won't hnd 1t 30 easy after ALL"
There had been no third shot A
profound silence followed the second
report. There was no sound Of horse
or man. Whence. then. the shots
One man. maybe, creeping up like
come foul beast Of prey to strike in
the dark. Was he still lurking near.
abiding another opportunity!
1t took but q moment for willistoa
to have the rifles cooked and ready
Mary took her own from him with a
hand that trembled ever 30 slightly.
What will you do, father" she
asked. holding her rife lovingly and
thanking God in a swift, uniformed
thought for every rattlesnake or other
noNious creature whose life she had
put out while doing her mans work of
riding the range-work which had Civ
en- her not only a mans courage, but a
mans skill as well.
Take the back window, girl" he
answered briefly. I'll take the front.
Stand to the side. Get used to the
starlight and shoot every shadow you
see. especially if it moves Keep track
OF your shots. don't waste An effort
and don't let anything creep up on
you. They mustn't get near enough
to fire the house.
His voice was sharp and incisive.
The drifting habit had fallen from him
and he was his own master again.
Several heavy minutes draxeed
away without movement. without
sound from without The tickinx of
the clock pressed on strained ears like
ghastly bell-tolling. Their eyes be.
came accustomed to the darkness, and
by the din starlight tAey were able to
distinguish the outlines Of the cattle
sheds. still. empty. black. Nothing
moved out there
Il tAtnk they're frieAteaeA o. saj<
Mary u last. breathing more freely
They were probably just one. a
! tAeyA MT havA n~ls