Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-02-29

Jesse would not have missed" he
said. grimly.
At that moment a new sound broke
the stiffness. the whinny Of a horse
Reinforcements had approached with.
In the shadow OF the cattie-sheds.
Something moved out there at last.
Daddy" called Mary. in a choked
whisper. Come here-they are down
at the sheds"
Williston stepped to the back win
dow quickly.
Change places" he said briefly.
Daddy"
"Yes2"
Keep up your nerve" she breathed
between great heart-pumps.
Surely. Do you the same. little
comrade. and shoot 70 kill"
There was a savage note in his last
words. For himself. 1t did not matter
so much. but Mary-he pinned no
false faith in any thought Of possible
chivalrous intent on the part OF the
raiders 20 exempt his daughter from
the grim fate that awaited him. He
had 70 deal with a desperate man:
there would be no clemoncy in this
desperate mans retaliation.
To his Quickened hearing came the
sound of stealthy creeping. Some
thing moved directly in front Of him.
but some distance away. shoot every
shadow you see. especially ~ IL
moves" were the fighting orders. and
his was the third shot OF that night.
"Heli I've got 70 in the Leg" cried
a rough voice fun OF intense anger
and pain. and there were sounds OF
precipitate retreat.
Out under protection OF the long
row OF low-built sheds other orders
were being tersely given and silently
received.
Now. men. I'll shoot the fret man
Of you who biubbers when he's hit.
Dye hear? There have been breaks
enough in this affair already. ] don't
intend for that pettlcoat man and his
pulin' petucoat kid in there 20 Cet any
satisfaction out O. this at all. Hear
me?"
There was no response. None was
needed.
Some shots found harmless lodg.
ment In the outer walls OF the shanty.
They were the result Of an unavailing
attempt 10 pick the window whence
Williston's shot had come. Mary
could not keep back a little wonapish
gasp OF nervous dread.
Grip your nerve, Mary" said her
father. That's nothing-shooung
from down there Just lie low and
they can do nothing. Only watch.
child. watch, They must not creep
up on us. Oh. for a moont"
She did grip her nerve. and her
hand ceased its trembling. In the
darkness her eyes were big and
solemn Sometime. tomorrow. the re-
action would come. but tonight
Yes father. keep up your own
nerve she said ia a brave little voice
that made the man catch his breath.
Again the heavy minutes dragged
away. AT each Of the two windows
crouched a tense figure, brain alert.
eyes In iron control. IL was a fright
ful strain, this waiting game. Could
one be sure nothing had escaped ones
vigilance? Starlight was deceptive.
and ones eyes must needs shift 20.
keep the mastery over their little
horizon. Il might well be that some
one OF those ghostly and hidden sen.
tinels patrolling the lonely homestead
had wormed himself past staring eye
balls. crawling. crawling, crawling; it
might well be that at any moment a
sudden light fiaring up from some
corner would tell the tale OF the end.
Now and then could be heard the
soft thud OF hOof as some one rode
TO execute an order Occasionally.
something moved out by the sheds.
Such movement, II discernible from
the house. was sure to be followed on
the instant by a quick. sharp remon-
STRANGE from Williston's rife. How
long could II last? Would his nerve
wear away with the night? Could he
keep his will dominant? II so he
must drag his mind resolutely away
from that >erve-raclzing, still. and IN
seen creeping, creeping, creeping.
nearer and nearer. How the stiffness
weighed upon him. and still his mind
dwelt upon that sinuous. hat-bellied
creeping, crawling, worming! God. II
was awful! He fought II desperately.
He knew he was lost IL he could not
stop thinking about It. The sweat
came out in big beads on his forehead.
on his body; he prickled with the heat
OF the effort. Then it left him-the
awful horror-left him curiously cold.
but steady Of nerve and with a will OF
iron and eyes. cats eyes, for their
seeing in the dark. Now that he was
calm once more. he let himself weigh
the chances Of succor. They were
pitifully remote. The Lazy S was
situated in lonely stretch OF prairie
land far from any direct trail. True.
1t lay between Kemah, the county
seat, and the Three Bars ranch. but
1t was a good half mile from the
straight routs. Even so, IT was a late
hour for any one TO be passing BY II
was not Travelled trail except for the
boys of the Three Bars, and they
were known to be great home-stayers
and little given 10 spreeing. As for
the rustlers, II rustlers they we're.
they had no fear OF interruption by
the officers of the law. who held their