The Detroit times., 1912-08-16
XVIII.
(Contlnued.)

n NulNh TURN III INC creek pthi
where the rock walls Rugged in close,
and his mare planted her forefeet
with suddenness that nearly sent
him over her head Directly in their
path. struggling 10 rise from among
the rocks, was a riderless horse. Two
hundred yards beyond a man OH foot
was running swiftly up the chasm,
and pistol shot beyond him two
others on horseback had turned and
were waiting
Lord If haG Billinger's gun
now groansd Philip.
AT the 5ound 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 hoof5
stopped the runner for an instant
and in that same instant Philip halt
ed and rose in his stirrups TO lire As
his finger pressed the trigger there
came TO his ears a thrilling sound
from behind him 1.-The sharp gallOpiug
beat of steel upon rock Billinger
was coming Blhnger, with his brok
EN- le' and his carblne. lie could
have shouted for Joy as he fired. Once
twice. and the outlaw was speeding
ahead OF him again unhurt third
rocks and disappeared There vas
no movement toward retreat on the
part OF the mounted men and Philip
listened as he slipped IN fresh
cartridges His horse was painting
; ne could hear the excited and Joyous
tumL,l cf mis- own neari--but above
IL all be heard the steady beat. beat
beat of those approaching hoofs Bill
linger Mould be there soon--in time
10 use his cGIbine AT dead rate
while hes got into clOsor quarter yith
his revolver. God bless Bllnneer
and his broken les'
lie was filed with the craze of fight
now and il found Vent ia yell OF
defiance Is ne spurred on toward the
outlaws. They were not gong 20 run.
They we're waiting for him Tie caught
the CLEAN OF the hot sun on their re.
yolyers, and saw that they meant
business as they swung a little apart
TO divide his fire AT one hundred
yards Philip still held his gun at his
side; al sixty ne pulled in his mare,
fattened along her neck like an In
dian, his pistol arm swinging free be-
tween her ears. IL was one OF the
cleverest fighting tricks OF the service,
guns OF the others leaped before their
faces. Two shots sang over his head,
so CLOSE that they wonld have swept
him from the saddle II he had been
erect. In another moment the rock
bound chasm echoed with the steady
roar OF the three revolvers. In front
OF fhe flaming end of his own gun
Philip saw the outlaw on the right
pitch forward in his saddle and fall to
the ground. lie sent his last Shot at
the man on the left and drew his
second gun, Before he could fire again
his mare gave a tremendous unge
forward and stumbled upon her knees.
and with a gasp Of horror Philip felt
the tsaddle-girth slip as he swung to
free himself
In the few terrible seconds that
followed Philip was conscious OF two
things-that death was very near, and
that Billinger was a moment too late.
Less than ten. PAGES away the outlaw
was deliberately taking aim at him,
while his own pistol arm was pinned
under the weight of his body For
breath he ceased to struggle, locking
up In frozen calmness at the man
whose finger Was h-Nldy crooked 70
fire. When shot suddenly rang out,
Il passed through him I'm a lightning
flash that it was the shot Intended
for him But he saw no movement
In the outlaws arm; no smoke from
his gun. For a moment the man sat
rigid and stiff i'm his saddle. Then
his arm dropped His revolver fell
with a clatter among the stones. He
slipped sidewise with low groan
and tumbled limp and lifeless almost
at Philips feet.
"Bilynger- Blllinger-"
The words came in a sob Of JOY
from Philips lips. Billinger had come
in time just in time He struggled
so that he could turn his head and
look down the. chasm. Yes, here
was Billinger-a hundred yards away,
hunched over his saddle. Bill'nger,
with his broken leg, his magnificent
courage. his
With Wild cry Philip ierked him
self free. Good God, II was not Bill
inser. Ii was Isobel She had slipped
from the saddle--he saw her as she
tottered a few steps among the rocks
and then sank down among Them.
With his pistol still in his hand he
ran back to whore Bllinger's horse
was standing. The girl was crumpled
against the side of boulder, VIII her
head in her arms-and she was cry
ing. In an instant he was beside her,
md all that he had ever dreamed or,
all that he had ever hoped for burst
from his lips as he caught hei and
held her close against his breast. Yet
he never could have told what ne
said. Only he knew that her arms
were clasped about his neck, ana
that. as she pressed her face against
him. she sobbed over and over again
something about the old days at Lac
Bain--and that she loved him, Owed
him. Then his eyes turned IN the
chasm. and what he saw then made
him bend low behind the boulder ana
brought a strange thrill into his toice.
+You WI stay here-a little while
nc whispered running his fingers
through her shining hair There was
al tone of gentle command IN his
words as ne placed her against the
rock. Il must 60 back for a few
minutes. There is no danger-now.
He stopped and picked up The car
bine which had fallen from her
hand. There was one cartridge stu
In the breech Replacing his revolver