Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-29
CHAPTER X
The Attack On the ~

night ar creeping into the sitting
room. There was no light within; and
without. nothing but the brilliant stars
IN the quiet. brooding sky. Wniston
was sitting just within the doorway.
Mary, her hands ciasped idly around
her knees, sat on the doorstep.
thoughtfuIly staring out into the stn
darkness. There was a stir.
Bedtime, little girl" said Willis
ton.
Just a minute more. daddy. Must
We have a light? Think how the
mosquitoes VIII swarm. Let's go to
bed in the dark"
we will shut the door. and next
summer. little girl. you shall have
your screens. ! 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 it was
there. There had been fairer hopes
and more generous promises in the
past few years. They had an gone
the dreary way OF impotent striving.
OF bitter disappointment There was
little need Of light fer Mary TO read
her fathers thoughts.
Sure daddy" she answered. cheer
fly. And TN 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 a lght. you
must rising and stretching her firm
feshed young arms FAR over her head.
you can't forge, you were born in
civilization. can you. daddy2 en-
sure ] could be your man in the dark.
II you'd let me. and I always turn
your nightshirt right side out before
hanging Il on your bedpost, and your
sheet and spread are turned down.
and water right at hand You funny.
funny little father. who can't go 20 bed
in the dark" She was rummaging
around a shelf IN search Of matches.
Row. have forgotten long since that
1 wasn't born on the plains. IL
wouldn't hurt me II I had misplaced
my nightdress. I've done it," with gay
little laugh. lie must be cheared up
at all costs. this buneted and dlsap-
pointed but fne-minded. hich-strun-
and lovable father OF hers. And
haven't taken my hair down nights
since-oh. since months ago. tll-oh.
well-so you see it's easy enough for
me to so 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
skeeters'll eat as alive"
Williston stepped TO the door. Just
a moment he stood there ia the door
way. the light streaming out into the
night, tall, thoughtful. no weakllng in
spite OF many failures and many mis-
takes. A fair mark he made. outlined
against the brightly lighted room. IL
was quiet Not even a coyote shrllled.
And while he stood there looking up
at the calm stars. a sudden sharp re-
port rang out and the sacred peace OF
God, written in the serenity OF stnl
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 deari" cried Willlston. in
low tones. Quick as a fash the door
was slammed shut and bolted Just as
a second shot fell foul OF Il.
"Oh, my fatheri" cried Mary. grop-
ing her way 20 his side.
Hush. my dear They missed me
clean. Don't lose your nerve. Mary
They won't find 1t so 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
some foul beast Of prey to strike in
the dark Was he stin lurking near,
abiding another opportunity?
II took but moment for Williston
TO have the rifles cooked and ready.
Mary took her own from him with a
hand that trembled ever so slightly.
What viii you do. father" she
asked, holding her rife lovingly and
thanking God IN Z. swift. uniformed
thought for every rattlesnake or other
noxious creature whose life she had
put out while doing her mans work Of
riding the range-work which had civ.
en- her not only mans courage. but a
mans skill as we'll.
Take the back window, girl" he
answered briefly. IN take the front
Stand 70 the side. Get used TO the
starlight and shoot every shadow Won
see. especially il it moves. Keen track
OF your shots. don't waste an effort
and don't let anything creep I'D 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 dragged
away without movement. without
sound from without. The ticking Of
the clock pressed on strained ears like
CHASTITY bell-tolling. Their eyes be-
came accustomed to the darkness. and
by the dim starlight they were able 10
distinguish the outlines OF the cattle
sheds, still, empty. black. Nothing
moved out there.