Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1908-03-26
what he knew for rights sake. And

hOd' Inc BlIl! ne CTleu dlOuu'
What did you say, boss?" asked
Jim, pounding alongside.
"Nothing!" said Langford, CURLY.
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's
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 a 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 Il plucky fight! If they can only
hold Quit"
At that moment tiny tongue Of
flame leaped up away to the front
of them, cleaning in the darkness like
a 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
worst had happened. Would they be
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 a man
would be the outlaws reasoning. He
believed she would die like 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 1t meant and their hardy hearts
thrilled to the excitement of 1t, and
the danger. They swept from the main
trail into the DINNER one leading to
Willistons, 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, SIMS.
ter figure patroling the burning home.
stead, but hugging closely the outer
SKIRT of darkness, waiting for the
doomed door to open.
"Boys!" began Langford. But he
never gave the intended command to
charge at once with wild shouting and
shooting to- brighten 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. Tha,
was all; hardly enough to hang a
man.
Langford raised his rifle quickly
His nerves were perfectly steady. His
sight was never truer. His bullet
went straight to the rifle arm of the
outlaw; with ringing shout he raj
lied his comrades, spurred his pony
forward, and the little party charged
the astounded raiders with a fury o
shots that made each rustler stanC
we'll to kis own support, leaving thu
: Williston's, for the time being, FIRE,
from their attention.
The desperadoes were on the run
They cared to take no risk of identI
J tication. 1t was not easy to determin
how many there were. There SCENE
a half-Gozen or more, but probabl
( four or five at the most would tel
+ their number.
, The flames We're sinking. Will!
a ton had disappeared. The boys sea
e tered in wild pursuit. Wheeling hi
= horse, Langford was in time to Sc
: a big, muscular fellow swing a girls
p form to the saddle in front of hin
Il Quick as a flash he spurred forward
D. lifted his heavy Colts revolver hig
@ over his head and brought it down O
& the fellows skull with a force tina
@ knocked him senseless without tim
e for sigh or moan. AS his arms fe
lax and he toppled in his saddl
II Langford caught the girl and swur
s. her free Of ENHANCEMENT.
IS Ito BE Continued)
q Interesting Use of Gas.