The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-02-21

|
lily. "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. if yol must have a light, you
must 81; nd stretching. her firm
| fiesheu young Its far over her head.
"You can't forget you we're born in
civilization, can you, daddy? I am
If you'd let me, and I always turn
your night-shirt right side out before
,, hanging it 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 to bed
in the dark" She was rummaging
around shelf in search of matches.
"Now, I have forgotten long since that
wasn't born on the plains. It
wouldn't hurt me if I had misplaced
my nightdress. I've done it," with a gay
little laugh. He must be cheered up
at all costs, this buffeted and disap-
pointed but fine-minded, high-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 1ared out.
"Shut the door quick, dad,' she said,
lighting the lamp on the table. 1.-THE
skeeters'H 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 and many mis-
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, a sudden sharp re-
port rang out and the sacred peace of
God, written in the serenity Of still
summer nights, was desecrated. Hiss
ing and ominous, the bullet sang past
W1lliston'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 dear!" cried Williston, in
low tones. Quick as flash 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 find it 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 i?
One man, maybe, creeping up like
some foul beast of prey to strike in
the dark Was he still lurking near,
abiding another opportunity?
1t took but a 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 will you do, father?" she
asked, holding her rifle lovingly and
thanking God in a 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
mans skill as we'll.
lake 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 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 to
distinguish the outlines of the cattle
sheds, still, empty, black. Nothing
moved out there.
II think they're frightened off," said
Mary at last, breathing more freely.
"They were probably just one. or
they'd not have left. He knew he
missed You, or he would not have fired
again. Do you think it was lesser"
i Jesse would not have missed" he
said, grimly. .--:s.> ID. .
At that moment a new sound broke
the stiffness, the whinny OF a horse.
Reinforcements had approached with
in the shadow Of the cattle-sheds,
Something moved out there at last.
'Daddy!" called Mary, in a choked
whisper. Come here they are down
at the sheds & 81. ,1
Williston stepped to the back win.
dow quickly. 81. 1. .#
Change Places he said briefly.
Daddy =
5 s.Y es ~ ~ VI. .
Keep up your nerve, she breathed
between great heart-pumps
Surely! Do you the same, little
49,