Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1912-09-05

uent this new guard was a Mexican.
lie walked TO the corner, glanced
along the east side wall toward the
front OF the cabin, and then, apparent
ly satisfied the coast was clear. start
ed toward the stream. shuffiing along
within foot of where Keith Law flat
on the ground. A moment later the men
heard him splashing softly In the wa
Ter and Keith rolled over. his lips
at Bristoes ear.
Slip down there. Ben" he whis-
pered, and quiet that fellow. I'll find
out how many are on the west side.
Do the job without any noise"
He waited until the scout had dis
appeared like a snake, not even a
rustling leaf telling of his passage.
and then silently crept forward him
self, yet with less caution. until he
was able to peer about the corner OF
the cabin and dimly distinguish the
olanketed forms of several men lying
close in against the side wall They
rested so nearly together it was diff
cult TO separate them in that dark
ness, stars giving the only light. but
he finally determined their number at
nve. Five; the Mexican would make
six, and there would surely be another
guard posted out in the front-seven.
BUT there were eight horses down
there In the corral. Then the eighth
man-Iiawley. without doubt-must
be in the cabin. At the thought
heith's teeth clinched. and he had to
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
TO the ours. Before creeping back to
the others, he made quick examina-
ton along the rear of the cabin. hut
could find 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. IL
he could insert knife into the crack
that might very easily be dislodsed.
He drew his hunting knife for the at
tempt, and. first glancing about. per
ceived 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 ne:
struck a pack o playin' keerds, or Ia
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 cus3
had given up. an got careless What's
round to the west?"
Keith's 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 slight noise,
and suddenly he started back at the
sound of a womRn's voice:
What do you want? | am armed,
and Will fire through the door II you
no not 90 away!
His heart leaping with eXultation.
Keith put his lips close to the crack.
Hope" he exclaimed as loudly as
he dared This is Keith; open tho
door"
He could hear little smothered cry
break from her lips. and then the
sound OF a bar being hastily removed.
An instant. and 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! I
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
pleadingly. we've got you safe. but
there is a fight to be attended to.
Come with me; 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. it is so good just to feel
you near again"
Yes. DEAR" sOothingly, and 1t In
good to hear you say Jack, but tell
me one thing-is any one else in the
cabin? Is Hawley here2'
No. no! He left US early the first
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. l 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 a scar on his
cheek. and q 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