Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-03-19


lily. And III see that you don't for
get. AS for Jesse Black, he wouldn't
dare with the Three Bars on his trail.
Well, IL you must have light. you
must" rising and stretching her firm
fleshed young arms far over her head.
You can't forget you were born in
civilization. can you, daddy? | am
sure | could be your man in the dark,
IL you'd let me, and I always turn
your nightshirt 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 cant go to bed
IN the dark" She was rummaging
around a shelf In search OF matches.
Now. have forgotten long since that
| wasn't born on the plains. 1t
wouldn't hurt me II I had misplaced
my nightdress. I've done it." with gay
little laugh. He must be cheered up
at all costs, this buffeted and dsap-
pointed but fine minded. high-strung
and lovable father of hers. And l
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 Jared out
shut the door quick, dad" she said,
lighting the lamp on the table. The
skeeters'll cat lis alive"
Williston stepped to the door. Just
a 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. 1t
was quiet. Not even a coyote shrilled.
And while he stood there looking up
at the calm stars, sudden sharp re-
port rang ont and the sacred peace of
God. written 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 ini..inent dan
ger"
Good, my dear" cried Williston, in
low tones. Quick as fash the door
was slammed shut and bolted just as
second shot fell foul Of it.
ooh, 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?
One man, maybe. creeping up like
some foul beast Ct 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
hand that tremblod ever so slightly.
What will you do. father" she
asked, holding her rifle lovingly and
thanking God in a swift, uniformed
thought for every rattesnake 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.
Take the back window. girl he
answered briefly 9TH take the front.
Stand to the side. Get used to the
starlight and shoot every shadow you
see, especially If it moves Keen track
Of your shots, don't waste an effort
and don't let anything creep up on
you. They mustn't get near enough
10 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.to!ling. Their eyes be-,
came accustomed to the darkness. and
by the dim starlight they "ere able to
distinguish the outlines of the cattle
sheds, still, empty black. Nothing
moved out there.
Il think they're frightened off" said
Mary at last, breathing more freely.
They We're 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 Jesse?"
Jesse would not have missed" he
said, grimly.
At that moment a new sound broke
the stiffness. the whinny of a horse.
Heinforcements had approached with
in the shadow Of the cattle-sheds
Something moved out there at last
Daddy" called Mary, in choked
whisper Come here-they are dowr
at the sheds"
Williston stepped to the back win
dow quickly.
Change Places he said briefly.
Daddy"
"Yes?"
Keep up your nerve" she breathet
between great heart-pumps.
Surely! Do you the same, little
comrade, and shoot to kill"
There was a savage note in his last
words. For himself, it did not matter
so much, but Mary-he pinned nc
false faith in any thought of possible
chivalrous intent on the part of the
raiders to exempt his daughter from
the grim fate that awaited him. He
| had to deal with a deSDcrato man