Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-03-12


that might very easily be dislodged.
He drew his hunting knife for the at
tempt, and. first glancing about, per-
ceived a man creeping toward him. 1t
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 playin' keerds, er I'd
a got my ticket" The front Of his
blouse was cut wide open, and Keith
thought he perceived a 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?"
Keith's lips closed, mis- 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 il. 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 slight noise.
and suddenly he started back at the
sound of a womans voice:
What do you want? | am armed.
and will fire through the door If you
do not go away"
His heart leaping with exultatfon,
Keith put his lips close to the crack
Hope" he exclaimed as loudly as
he dared This is Keith; open the
door"
He could hear little smothered cry
break from her lips, and then the
sound of bar being hastily removed
An instant, ard the door opened ST
lently, just wide enough to permit her
slender figure to slip through. She
grasped him with her hands. turning
his face to the light of the stars. and
he could feel her form tremble.
"Oh, knew you would come! [
knew you would comet" 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.
It's all right. little girl" he said
peadingly we've got you safe. but
there is a fight to be attended TO.
Come with ne; | must ask you Z. 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. soothinsly, and it Is
good 10 hea' you say Jack. but tell
me one thighs any one else in the
cabin? l. Hawley here?"
NO. no! He left us early the nrst
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 <ot;e in here Just
before sundown-twn Nexigsns and an
indian. One of them was an awful
, looking old man. with a scar on his
cheek. and face tha> made me shud-
der He didn't see ns but saw MIN
/ through the window, aid be had such
strange eyes. All tA7 men acted as
though they were affEfd of him. and
| heard him say he 6eln't care what
Hawley's orders were, Sc was going to
sleep inside; il the girl didn't like II
she could take the other room.
didn't know what to doh, was so
afraid of him; but what he said gave
me an idea. and / went into the back