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

J are not surprised. A1Steni GOCt
What a plucky tight! l. hey can only
hold outi"
/ At that moment a tiny tongue OF
fame leaped up away TO the front
! OF them. cleaning in the. darkness Ike
beacon. light. Now there We're two
they grew. spread, lcaped heaven
ward in mad revel. Lansford's heart
sank Ike lead. lie groaned in an es-
ceeding bitterness OF spirit The
/ worst had happened. Would they be-
in timer These claim shaaties bun
\ like paper. And the girl, He doubled
not that she had sust aimed her shave
! OF the good nsht- she had fought
! ike man. she must de like a man
would be the outlaws reasoning. he
/ believed she would die like a man
If that meant braveiy-but somelhins
! clutched at his heart-strings with the
/ thought Her biz. solemn eyes came
back to MIN now rs they had looked
/ when she had lifted thom 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 inn
l petus gloriously. They knew now
what II meant and their hardy hearts
/ thrilled to the excitement Of It. and
the danger. They swept from the main
| trail into the DINNER one leading 10
/ WiillstOn's, without diminution or
/ speed. Presently. the boss drew rein
with 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 a black sinis-
ter figure patrOlling the burning home
stead. but hugging closely the outer
skirt Of darkness. waiting for the
doomed door 10 open.
"Boysl" began Langford. But he
never gave the intended command TO.
charge at once with wild shouting and
shooting 20 brighten away the maraud-
ers and give warning to the besieged
that rescue was at hand. For az that
moment the door opened and Willis
ton and his daughter stepped out in
full view Of raider and rescuer. Would
/ there be parley2 a man, slouching in
his saddle, rode up into the circle OF
lurid light Was IL Jesse Plackg There
was something hauntingly familiar
about the droop of the shoulders. That
was all; hardly enough to hang a
man.
Langford raised his rife quickly.
His nerves were perfectly STEADY. His
sight was never truer. His bullet
went straight 70 the rifle arm OF the
outlaw: with a ringing shout he raj
lied his comrades. spurred his pony
forward, and the little party charged
the astounded raiders with "A fury OF
shots that made each rustler stand
well TO his own support. leaving the,
Williston's. for the time being. free
from their attention.
The desperadoos were on the run.
They cared 20 take no risk OF idon,i
fication. IL was not easy 20 determine
how many there were. There seemed
halfdozen or more but probably
four or 1--WE at the most would ten
their number.
The flames were sinking. willis
ton had disappeared. The boys scat
tered in wild pursuit Wheeling his
horse. Langford was in time 10 sec
big, muscular fellow swing girllsh
form TO the saddle In front OF him
Quick as a fash he spurred forward.
lifted his heavy Colts revolver hieh
over his head and brought it down on
the fellows skull with a force that
Knocked him sonsciess without time
for sigh or moan. AS his arms fell
lax and he toppied in his saddle
Langford caught the girl aad swung
her free Of ENHANCEMENT.
Poor little girl" ne breatehed over.
her as her white face dropped with
unconscious pathos against HIS big
shoulder Poor little rirl-Tm sorry.
II didn't mean to-honcst-Tm sor-
ry." he chafod her hands gently.
And don't know where your father
is, either Are you hurt anywhere. or
have you only tainted? God knows
don't wonder. IL was hellish. WHY
child child. your arm, IL is brokenl
Oh. little girl, l didn't mean to-hon-
est-honest I'm sorry"
Jim rode up painting. eyes blood
shot
I'VE can't find him, boss. They've
carried him Off. dead or alive"
rs it so, Jim2 Are you sure? How
far did you follow"
I'VE must have followed the wrono,
lead II any one was ridin' double n
wasn't the ones We were after. that's
one thing sure. The blamed boss
thieves pulled clean away from us.
Our bosses were plumb winded any,
way. And--therC's a deader out there
boss" lowering his voice; Il found
him as l came back"
That explains why no one was rid
ing double" said Langford, thought
fully.
"How's the gal. boss2"
i don't know. Jim. don't know
what to do now"
Ills eyes were fun OF trouble.
Amt no use cryin' ever split milk
and that's fac. Bout as sensible as
a tryin' TO pick Il up after 1t is split.
We won't find Wnliston this here
night that's one thing sure. So Wen
Just tote the little gal home TO the
Three Bars with us"
The hove