Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-10-26


there in the corral. Then the eighth
man-Hawley, without doubt-mus,
be In the cabin. At the thought
kelth's teeth clinched. and he had ia
struggle to control his passion. But
no; That would never do; he must dis.
cover first exactly where the girl was
located; after that they would attend
10 the ours. Before creeping back to
the others, he made quick examina.
ton along the rear OF the cabin. but
! could f1nd no visible point OF weak.
ness. He tried to recall from memory
the nature OF the lock on that back
door, but could remember nothing ex.
cept an ordinary wooden latch. II
he could Insert a knife into the crack
that might very easily be dislodgeu.
He drew his hunting knife for the at.
tempt and, first glancing about. per.
ceived man creeping toward him. 70
proved TO be Bristoe.
/ Fixed the greaser all right, cap,
and | reckon he'll be quiet for an hour
or two. Look whar he slashed me;
struck a pack O. plsyin' keerds, or Id
got my ticket" The front OF his
blouse was cut wide open, and Keith
thought he perceived stain of blood.
"Pricked you as It was, didn't he?'
Opened the skin. Thought the cuss
/ had given up, an got careless. What's
! round to the west?''
Keiths lips closed. his hand shut.
ting hard on the knife
Five. and another out in front:
that leaves the eighth man inside.
Bring our fellows up closer and post
them where they can cover those fell
lows asleep, while make an effort at
breaking in here
! Bristoe crawled back like a snail.
and confident the others would do their
part, Keith thrust his knife blade deep
into the narrow crack and began prob
Ing after the latch. In spite of all eau
ton this effort caused a slight noise.
and suddenly he started back at the
sound Of a woman's voice:
What do you want? am armed.
and will fire through the door II you
do not 20 away"
His heart leaping with exultation.
Keith put his lips close to the crack.
Hope" he exclaimed rs loudly as
he dared. This is Keith; open the
door"
He could hear a little smothered cry
break from her lips. and then the
sound of bar being hastily removed.
: An instant. and the door opened ST.
lenty, just wide enough 10 permit her
slender figure to slip through. She
grasped him with her hands, turning
bis face to the light of the stars. and
he could feel her form tremble.
ooh I knew you would come! I
knew YOU would COME" she sobbed,
the words barely audible.
The mans lips set firmly, yet he
held her close to him, begging her
| not TO break down now.
ITS all right, little girl" he said
pleadingly, we've got You safe. but
there is a fight to be attended to.
/ Come with me- I must ask you ques-
ton or two"
He drew her back into the fringe OF
bushes, placing her safely behind the
stack Of saddles. She was not crying
any more. Just clinging to him. as
though she could never again bear to
! let him go.
"Oh. Jack. 1t is so good Just to feel
you near again"
Yes. DEAR" soothingly. land I. is
good to hear you say Jack. but tell
me one thing-is any one else in the
cabin? Is Hawley here"
1sfS 81,
morning. haven't either seen or
heard of him since The men have
! left me alone since we got here; have
had the cabin all to myself until to-
( night. have not suffered. only
! mentally-from dread of what they
/ intended doing with me-until to-
night. Three men rode in here Just
before sundoWn-two Mexicans and an
| Indian. One OF them was an awful
! looking old man, with scar on his
cheek, and a face that made me shud-
! der He didn't see me. but saw him
through the window, and he had such
strange eyes. All the men acted as
though they were afraid of him, and
| heard him say he didn't care what
| .
sleep inside: If the girl didn't like it
she could take the other room.
didn't know what to do-oh. | was so
afraid of him; but what he said gave
me an idea, and | went into the back
room, and put up bar across the
door. When he came in he tried the
door; then he spoke through it, but |
never answered; and finally he lay
down and went to sleep. I sat there
in the dark so long, and when heard
you'll thought It must be some OF
the others"
lie stroked her hair. whispering
words of encouragement
That is all done with now. Hope,
md we'll have those fellows at our
mercy in another half-hour, But !
must 60 now to the boys; lie here be
hind these saddles, and don't move
until come for you. can trust you
TO remain right here"
Yes" He vas bending over srd
her eyes were upon his face. Sudden
ly. obeying an irresistible impulse, h,
clasped her to him, and their lips met
Sweetheart" he whispered softly
He could not hear her answer. bu
her arms were about his neck.
TO BE CONTINUED
A hearing was held Saturday al Barre
| before the DubliC SCrVIoa commission ~,