Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-01-23

Wnht Will you 90, Iatner! sne
asked. holding her rife lovingly and
thanking God In q 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 q
mans skill as well.
! Take the back window, girl" he
answered briefly. 'I'll take the front.
Stand 70 the side. Get used to the
starlight and shoot every shadow you
see, especially II 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 fred
again. Do you think It was lesser"
Jesse would not have missed" he
said. grimly.
At that moment q new sound broke
the stiffness. the whinny Of q horse.
Reinforcements had approached with
in the shadow Of the cattle-sheds
Something moved out there at last
! "Daddy!" called Mary. in q choked
whisper. Come here-they are down
; at the sheds"
Williston stepped to the back win
dow quickly.
Change places" he said briefly.
Daddy"
"Yes?"
Keep up your nerve" she breathed
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 no
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 q desperate man;
there would be no clemency 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 II 1t
moves" were the fighting orders. and
his was the third shot Of that night.
Hell! I've got 1t in the leg!" cried
rough voice full Of intense anger
and pain, and there were sounds of q
precipitate retreat.
Out under protection Of the long
row Of low.built sheds other orders
were being tersely given and silently
received.
Nov, men, I'll shoot the FIRST man
Of you who blubbers when he's hit.
Dye hear? There have been breaks
enough in this affair already. / don't
intend for that petticoat man and bis
pulin' petticoat kid in there to get any
satisfaction out o. this at all. Hear
met"
There was no response. None was
needed.
Some shots found harmless lodg-
ment in the outer walls Of the shaniy.
They were the result Of an unsvailing
attempt to pick the window whence
williston's shot had come. Mary
could not keep back . little wumanish
gasp of nervous dread.
Grip your nerve. Mary" said her
father. That's notwithstanding
from down there. Just lie low and
they can do nothing. Only watch.
child, WatchI They must not creep
up on us. Oh. for . moonl"
She did grip her nerve. and her
hand ceased its trembling. In the
darkness her eyes were big and
solemn. Sometime. tomorrow. The 10
action would come. but Tonight
Yes. father. keep % yow own
nerve she said n . h1ars IIltit voice
that made ths man catch n. tEeoih.
Ania tha hsllI nlnnIe. lI.s1.a