The Ordway new era., 1908-04-03
,na what N, he knew for rights sake. And

What did you say, boss?" asked
jim. pounding alongside.
Nothing" said Langford, CURLY.
ne spurred his mare sayageIy. In
'he shock OF surprise, and the sting
mat MS neglected word brought him.
ne had forgotten the girl-Williston.s
MUS siri with the grave eyes-the
srl VINO was not 10 but 20 and more
'he girl who had waited for him.
whom he had sent on her long way
aiohe' 1oyously, as one free of a duty
tnat promised to be irksome-the girl
VINO mad brought the blood to his face
"hen' ashamed. he had galloped Off
10 the spring-the girl who had closed
her door when mans curious eyes
hhd roved that way. How could he
Sorget?
The little cavalcade swept on with
increased speed, following the lead
OF the master. Soon the sound of
shooting was borne to them distinctly
through the quiet night.
Thank God. boys." cried Langford.
digging In his spurs once more. They
are not surprised. Listen. God!
What plucky fight! II they can only
hold OUT"
Al that moment tiny tongue of
hame leaped mp away to the front
| OF them, cleaning In the darkness like
IA beacon light. Now there were two
they grew, spread, leaped heaven-
ward in mad revel. Langford's heart
sank like lead. He groaned In an ex.
ceeding bitterness of spirit. The
worst had happened. Would they be
In time? These claim shanties burn
! like paper. And the girl. He doubted
not that she had sustained her share
OF the good fight. She had fought
like n man, she must die like n man
would be the outlaws reasoning. He
| believed she would die like a man
! II that meant bravely-but something
c!utched at his heart-strings with the
thought. Her big. solemn eyes came
back to him now as they had looked
when she had lifted them to him
! Srayely rs he sat his horse and she
! had said she had waited for him. Was
she waiting now?
The boys rallied to the new i'm
! pctus gloriously. They knew now
what 1t 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 to
! Williston's. without diminution OF
| speed. Presently, the boss drew rein
with suddenness that would have
! played havoc with the equilibrium oil
| less seasoned horscmen than cowboys.
! They followed with the precision and
accord OF trained cavalrymen. Now
and then could be seen black, sinis-
! ter figure patrolling the burning home.
/ stead. but hugGing closely the outer
Skirt of darkness, waiting for the
| doomed door TO open.
Boys" began I.angford. But he
never gave the intended command to
! charge at once with wild shouting and
! shooting to frightcn away the maraud.
ers and give warning to the besieged
that rescue was at hand. For ut that
moment the door opened and Willis.
ton and his daughter stepped out in
| full view of raider and rescuer. Would
| there he parley? a man, slouchinS in
his saddle, rode up into the circle of
lurid light. Was 1t Jesse Black? There
was something hauntingly familiar
about the droop OF the shoulders. That
was all: hardly enough to hang n
man.
I.angford raised his rifle quickly.
His nerves were perfectly steady. His
sight was never truer. His bullet
went straight to the rifle arm of the
outlaw: with ringing shout he ,il-
lied his comrades, spurred his pony
forward. and the little party charged
the astounded raiders with n fury of
shots that made each rustler stand
well to his own support, leaving the
Willston's, for the time being, free
from their attention.
The desperadoes We're on the run.
They cared to take no risk of identi.
tication. 1t was not easy to determine
how many there were. There seemed
a half.dozen or more. but probably
four or five at the most would tell
their number.
The flames were sinking. Willis.
ton had disappeared. The boys scat
tered in wild pursuit. Wheeling his
horse, Langford was in time to zse
n big. muscular fellow swing Sirlish
form to the saddle in front OF him.
Quick as a flash he spurred forward,
lifted his heavy Colts revolver high
over his head and brought 1t down on
the fellows skull with a force that
knocked him senseless without time
for sigh or moan. AS his arms foil
lax and he toppled in his sadd:n,
Langford caught the girl and sw'a
her free of ENHANCEMENT.
ITO Be Continued)
Interesting Use Of Gas.
A very interesting use for producer
gas is made in factory In Jersey