Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1912-03-14

that might very easily be dislodged
He drew his hunting knife for the at
tempt, and. first glancing about, per
ceived man creeping toward him II
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 1t was. didn't hep
Opened the skin. Thought the cuss
had given up, an got careless What s
round to the west p
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, | 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
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. 1t is SO good just to feel
you near again.
Yes. DEAR, soothingiy, and it is
good to hear you say Jack. but tell
me one things any one else In the
cabin? Is Hawley here?'.
No. no! He left us early the frst
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 rode In here Just
before shutdown two Mexicans and an
indian, One Of them was an awful
cooking old man, with a scar on his
heck. and a face that made me shud-
Ter. He didn't see me. hut / saw him !
through the window. and he had such
strange eyes. All the men acted as
hough they were afraid Of him. and
heard him say he didn't care what
orders were, he was going to
ileep inside: II the girl didn't like It |
he could take the other room.
Iidn't know what to doh. was so
.fraid Of him; but what he said gave
ne an idea. and went into the back |