El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-21
Lawson's Call
BY Roland Ashford Phillips.

L Ger said quietly. And I've
been waiting to get back at you.
caught you fair and square, absenting
yourself without permission. 1 always
thought q woman would pull you down.
You and me are the only ones who
known of this. Dawson, 1 suppose !
should be sorry-but l amt.
They were nearing the summit OF
the rise, and were preparing for the
short, abrupt descent when the singing
of a rifle ball broke into the hush.
With an oath Kent drew rem and
whirled about, jerking free his revolt
yer.
Dawson sat YEARLY to his saddle,
scarce realizing the occurrence.
pregnant, gripping moment came be
fore the next report. Beneath hlmr
Dawson felt his horse tremble.
Again Kent. swore.
1T looks. by heaven, as if we re am
pushed by a pack of sneak:ng insur-
gents" he calculated hoarseiy- !
hadn't any idea of their being so close
to camp We are in for pretty smart
skirmish.''
Reluctantly he slipped from his sad
die, strobe over to Dawson. anc with
out other words cut the ropes rnat
bound his arms. Bringing them In
front of him, the youngster worked
them Dack ana IOElil, ASSlOAA1S 49,
stagnant circulation
At Kent's orders they advanced eau
tiously toward tlTmhled waste OF
rocks.
Here luckily, they came upon a nat
ural fortress, hemmed in by huge rocks
and with two possible entrances One
OF these opened in the rear, scarce
wide enough for a man, and led the
way I'D an almost impossible looking
cliff. The other was by the way tdey
had entered Once here, If the am
munition held out, one man might keep
an army at bay.
They abandoned their horses ana
crawled eagerly into this amphitheater.
No more shot came for a space, but
both men instinctively realized their
hiding place vas being surrounded.
In the faint star glow Kent I'M
hooked his belt and rapidly counted
his cartridges.
Twenty" he exclaimed, gathering
them into a little pile in the hollow
of a rock What's yours. Dawson?
The youngster pushed them through
the loops of his belt.
Ten
The devil
Kent paused to load his revo-ver.
On and on the night wore away
Mn6n a
they fired-sometimes both together,
more often singly. There was no tell
ing how many were down, or II their
shots had taken any serious eject
They realized only that shot Dy snot
their slim store melted away.
Dawson CROPPED to the rock hollow.
He found Kent's fingers there, crop
ing also. Each man found a cartridge
1.-TWO rounds left" Kent muItered-
1.-TWO shot. and three hours until day
break. Well keep these II the worst
comes TO the worst-if it does-@e1l.
It's better than being captured by
these Insurgents You know how they
fixed Hampton and his crowd. Per
haps you'll yet cheat the court-mar-
tial, Dawson"
And once more, like a solid sub
stance the unbroken silence fell about
them. An hour must have filtered
away, and, save for an occasional
change of position, neither spoke
Finally, with little start Dawson
ventured.
Il was just thinking, Kent" he be-
gan slowly. Il was just thinking that
when it gets light they can gee above
rs and-and pick US off like mapped
rats. There's d bare chance yonde-.
m that rear crevice and over the cliff
Let me take it. I can reach camp and
bring a squad before dawn. I'm lighter
than you. You can trust me, can't
your
81 think you're about right We
surely don't stand much of a chance IN
here. I'm too big to scale that cliff.
There's one chance in so of your get
ting out. Dawson. But if you want TO
take tiff you do, go ahead. If they
get you it'll save all the trouble OF
court-martial, and"
I'll try hard the other interrupted
with a catch an his words.
Kent fumbled at his revolver.
@Only one shot apiece, eh?" I'm
saving mine for the last. Go IN and
try. youngster It's slim chance
IF they peg you ~ use this cartridge.
Let me advise you to do the same.
Better that than-than the other.
Make 1t quick and easy
Again the girls face swan before
Dawson's eyes, and again his determi-
nation wavered. He staggered erect.
and placed his lips against the others
ear, whispering a few words.
Kent broke into violent exclama-
ton.
And that-that was why you went
that was why?' he stamnIere
THAT was why. Kent. You amt
blaming me so much now. are your"
But why-why didn't YOU tell me
at first? I might have let you go
or"
Don't say that, Kent" the young
ster hushed. That's treason. Tou
wouldn't be doing your duty b. your
flag and your country. Laws are laws,
and they can't be broken. I've broken
one of them. and I'm willing to pay.
I didn't think about it at the time. 1
only knew-only knew the kid was
mine-my own flesh and blood-rhat
she-the little mother-was calling to
me. That's all I knew snd all I heard
I suppose once in a while all men get
sort of flighty. That was my time"
You're a laundering good kid,
Dawson" Kent ventured softly, FUN
bling for the Youngsters hand. IT
know how it is. I've a wife and Kid
Blackjack in Frisco. It's been a long
time since I've seen them. Three years,
nearly. I guess I'd do the same thing
as you"
Their hands met: and turning ab-