American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1912-11-14

a Pistol.
story, Out we got out of him that there
was q hight on mere, and came over as
1ast as our horses would trayel!" His
eyes swept the hall. Five minutes
later would have been too late"
B u Farrell, the girl! Do you
know anything about the girl?"
What girl? Do you mean Claire
Mortimer? Is she here?"
Yes, her father is lying helplessly
wounded up stairs, and she must be
with him. Eric is somewhere in the
hall, either dead or wounded. l saw
him fall just as we retreated to the
stairs"
Farrell leaned over and called to
some n below.
Not yet, sir" was the answer.
Well, hunt for him. Now, well go
up and find Claire. Major, can you
climb the rest of the stairs? Help him,
Dpval."
experienced no great difficulty, my
strength coming back rapidly. There
was a wounded Dragon leaning
against the wall, and halfway down
the hall lay another body, face down..
Without doubt this was the guard Fa-
gin had stationed there. Duval paused
to help the wounded man, but Farrell
and moved on across the dead guard
to the open door beyond. Colonel
Mortimer, unable to move, was
propped up Oh his pillow, one hand
grasping a pistol. With shaking arm
he levelled it at US.
who are you? Quick, now!" he
quavered. I've shot one, and I'm good
for more"
You know me, Colonel" and Far
rell stepped inside. Il am Bull Far
rell; this is Major Lawrence" He
looked at us with dull eyes, his hand
falling weakly,
"Farrell-Farrell-surely, the black
smith. What Lawrence? The-the Of
ticer Claire knows?"
Yes; he's a rough-looking object I
admit, but there has been a fight
down below, sir, in which he had a
share. We've just cleaned out Red Fa-
gins gang. We came up here to tell
the good news to you and your daugh-
ter"
The Colonel's head sank back upon
the mussed pillow.
} MY daughter-Claire-she is not
here"
mot here!" 1 cried, aroused by the
admission. did she not return to
your" &
mo; they came for her to go down
stairs-a tall man with a black beard,
and two others. They took her away
An hour ago., and l have seer nothing
Of her since. heard the shots, the
sound of fierce fighting, but could not
move from the bed. Tell me, Major,
what has become of my little girl?"
Il do not know" | confessed, gaz-
Ing about in bewilderment. She came
Up the stairs, l am sure. 1t was Just
as the fight began, and | had scarce
ly a moment to observe anything be-
fore We were at it fercely. She shot
down, and then ran"
"Shot Fagin! Claire!"
yes; she was justified. Had she
not acted SO quickly l would have
done SO myself. He was forcing her
marriage"
Into marriage! With whom?"
Captain Grant," l answered pas.
s%ionately. ut was a deliberate plot,
although he pretended to be innocent,
and a helpless prisoner. Later the
man fought with the outlaws against
is; after Jones was killed he even as
sumed command"
He has been hand and glove with
those fellows from the first, Colonel"
,himed in Farrell hoarsely. i've
Known it, and told Lawrence so a
month ago. | only hope he was killed
Town below. But what can have be-
come Of Claire?"
"She never passed along here" in
sisted Mortimer, for l haven't taken
ny eyes from that door,"
"Then she is hiding somewhere in
hose front rooms. Come on. Law.