The Washington herald., 1912-08-11
"You're certain, Billinger-r,

"You're certain, Billinger-
Sure |" laughed the agent, though he
was biting his lips until they were fieck-
ed with blood. There's no need of you
wasting time" -
For a moment Philip clutehed the
others hand.
I'VE can't understand what this all
means, old mantle carrying off Of
of Isobel-and the money here, but well
find out soon"
Leave that COMPOUNDED carbine," ex-
claimed Billinger, as the other rose to
mount II did rotten work with it. and
the other fellow fixed me with a pistol
That's why I'm not bleeding very much.
The outlaw had disappeared in the
black edge of the Bad Lands when Phil
ip dashed up out of the dip into the
plain. There was only one break ahead
of him, and toward this he urged his
horse. In the entrance to the break
there was another sandy but waterless
dip, and across this trailed the hoof-
prints of the outlaws mounts, two at a
walk--one- at a gallop. At one time,
ages before. the break had been the out
let of stream pouring itself out be-
tween jagged and eavernous walls OF
rock from the black heart of the up
heaved country within. Now the bed
of it was strewn with broken trap and
masses of powders, cracked and dried
by centuries of blistering sun.
Philips heart beat little faster as
he urged his horse ahead, and not for
an instant did his cooked revolver drop
from its guard over the mares ears.
He knew, il he overlook the outlaws
in retreat, that there would be fight,
and that it would be three against one.
That was what he hoped for. 1t was
an ambush that he dreaded. He realized
that if the outlaws stopped and waited
for him he would be AT terrible dis
advantage. In open fight he was con-
hdent. His prairie-bred mount took the
rough trail at a swift canter, evading
the powders and knife-edged trap in the
same guarded manner that she galloped
over prairie-dog and badger holes out
upon the plain. Twice in the ten min
utes that followed their entrance into
the chasm Philip saw movement ahead
of him, and each time his revolver leap
ed to it. Once it was wolf, again the
swiftly moving shadow of an eagle
sweeping with spread wings between
him and the sun. He watched every
concealment as he approached and half
swung in his saddle in passing, ready
to FIRE.
A quick turn in the creek bed, where
the rock walls Rugged in close, and his
mare planted her forefeet with sud-
denness that nearly sent him over her
head. Directly in their path, struggling
to rise from among the rocks, was rid
erless horse. Two hundred yards be-
yond a man on foot was running swiftly
up the chasm. and pistol shot beyond
him two others on horseback had turn
ed and were waiting.
Lord. if had Billinger's gun now !!
groaned Philip.
At the sound of his voice and the
pressure of his heels in her flank the
mare vaulted over the animal in their
path. The clatter Of pursuing hoofs
stopped the runner for an instant, and
in that same instant Philip halted and
rose in his stirrups to FIRE As his I'm
ger pressed the trigger there came to
his ears thrilling sound from behind
him-the sharp galloprng beat of steel
upon rock! Billinger> was coming-Bil-
linger, with his broken>leg and his car
bine! He could have shouted for joy as
he fired. Once-twice, and the outlaw
was speeding ahead of him again, I'M
hurt. A third shot and the man STUN
bled among the rocks and disappeared.
There was a movement toward retreat
on the part of the mounted men. and
Philip listened as he slipped in fresh
cartridges His horse was painting; he
could hear the excited and joyous tu-
multi of his own heart-but above il all
he heard the steady beat. beat, beat OF
those approaching hoofsl Billinger
would be there soon-in time to use his
carbine at a deadly rate, while he got
into closer quarters with his revolver.
God bless Billinger-and his broken leg
He was filed with the craze of fight
now and it found vent in yell of de-
fiancc as he spurred on toward the out
laws. They were not going to run.
They were waiting for him. He caught
the CLEAN of the hot sun on their re-
volvers, and saw that they meant bust
ness as they swung a little apart to d.
vide his FIRE. At one hundred yards
Philip still held his gun at his side; at
sixty he pulled in his mare, flattened
along her neck like an Indian, his pistol
arm swinging free between her ears.
1t was one OF the cleverest fighting
tricks of the service. and he made the
movement as the guns of the others
leaped before their faces. Two shots
sang over his head. so close that they
would have swept him from the saddle
il he had been erect. In another mo-
ment the rock-bound chasm echoed with
the steady roar of the three revolvers.
In front of the flaming end of his own
gun Philip saw the outlaw on the right
pitch forward in his saddle and fall to
the ground. He sent his last shot at
the man on the left and drew his second
gun. Before he could FIRE again his