Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-08-01
Keith Of the Border
CONTINUED from page 81

Opened the skin. Thought the cuss
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 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 woman's voice:
What do you want? / am armed,
and will fire through the door If you
do not go 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 the
door,
He could hear little smothered cry
break from her lips, and then the
sound of 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, l knew you would come!
knew you would GOMEZ" 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.
Its all right. little girl" he said
Readingly. 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, az
though she could never again bear to
let him go.
"Oh, Jack. 1t Is 80 good just to feel
you near again"
Yes. dear" soothingly. and 1t u
good to hear you say Jack. but tell
me one thing-is any one else in the
cabin? Is Hawley here?"
mo, 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 scar on his
cheek, and 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
heard him say he didn't care what
Hawley's orders were, he was going t.
sleep inside; If the girl didn't like II
she could take the other room.
didn't know what to do-oh. | was Sc
afraid of him; but what he said gave
me an idea, and l went into the bach
room, and put up bar across the
door. When he came in he tried the
door; then he spoke through it. but
never answered; and finally he lay
down and went to sleep. sat there
in the dark SO Long. and when l hearc
you'll thought 1t must be some o.
the others"
He stroked her hair. whispering
words of encouragement.
That is all done with now, Hope
and We'll have those fellows at oul
mercy in another half-hour. But
must go now to the boys; lie here be
hind these saddles, and don't move
until come for you. can trust you
to remain right here?"
Yes" He was bending over, ant
her eyes were upon his face. Sudden
ly, obeying an irresistible impulse, b.
clasped her to him. and their lips met
Sweetheart" he whispered softly
He could not hear her answer, blu
her arms were about his neck.
(To Be Continued)