River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-02-29

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. 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 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 it was, didn't her
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 III 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 a slight noise,
and suddenly he started back at the
sound of a womans voice:
What do you want? l 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 a little smothered cry
break from her lips, and then the
sound of bar being hastily removed.
An instant, and the door opened 81
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 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; l must ask yUn 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, land it is
good to hear you say Jack, but tell
me one thing-is any one else in the
cabin? Is Hawley hera?"
No, mol He left US early the first
morning. / haven't either seen OF
left me alone since We got here; have
had the cabin all to myself until to-
night. | have not suffered, only
mentaIIy-from dread of what they
intended doing with me-until to
| night Three men rode in here just
before sundown-two Mexicans and az
Indian One of them was an awful
looking old man, with a scar on his
cheek, and face that made me shud
der. He didn't see me, but saw hin
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 te
sleep inside; if the girl didn't like Il
she could take the other room.
didn't know what to do--oh, was 81
afraid of him; but what he said gave
me an idea. and | went into the bach