Farmers' champion. (Elgin, Okla.) 1912-1922, 1913-10-02
CHAPTER xxxt.
The Girl and the Man.

realizing now that this was TO be- a
battle to the death Hamlin flung open
his coat. and gripped his revolver.
Lying there on his face he fred twice.
deliberately. choosing the exposed In
dian as a target. The latter. striving
to mount his frightened pony. fell for
ward. graspine the name desperately.
a stream of blood dyeing his blanket
as the animal dashed across the val.
ley. Dupont had whirled the girls
horse to the left. and. with her bocy
as shield. was attempting 10 escape
Already he was too far away 70 make
revolver shot safe. Hamlin arose to
his knees. and picked up the dropped
rife. His lips were pressed tight. his
eyes full OF grim determination. Why |
didn't Dupont fire? Could It be he was
unarmed? Or was ne hoping by delay |
to gain closer shot7 Keen-eyed. res |
olute. the Sergeant determined to |
take no chances. The rifle came to a |
level-a spurt OF flame. sharp re-
port. and the pony staggered 20 its
knees. aud sank. bearing its helpless
burden with It, Dupont let go his grip
on the rein. and stood upright. clearly
outlined against the white hillside.
staring back toward the knceling Ser.
geant. the faint smoke cloud whiring
between.
"All right-damn you-you've got
mel" he said sulleniy.
Uamlin never moved. except To snap
out the emptied cartridge.
hu t,., nj
cd tersely. Now turn around No
shooting iron. hey. That's rather
careless OF sunman."
He dropped his rifle. and strode for
ward revolver In hand. glancing curl
ously at the dead Indian as he passed
RATA hung to the pommel Of sad
die. and he paused to shake It loose.
uncoiing the thin rope. but with
watchful eyes constantly on his pris-
oner. lie felt no fear of Dupont. now
that he knew the fellow to be un-
armed. and the wounded Indian had
vanished over the ridge. Yet Dupont
was a powerful man. and desperate
| enough to accept any chance. Some
thing IN the sullen. glowing face con
| fronting him awoke the Sergeant 10
! caution. He seemed TO sense the plan
of the other. and stopped suddenly.
slipping the rope through his fingers.
He swung the coil about his head.
measuring the distance. every faculty
| concentrated on the toss. He had for
gotten Hughes lying in the snow be-
hind; he neither saw nor heard the
fellow scramble weakly to his knees.
revolver outsretched in a half-frozen
hand, And Hughes. his eyes already
glazing In death. saw only the two fig
ures. In that moment hate triumphed
over cowardice; he could not distin-
guish which was Dupont, which Ham.
lin. In the madness of despair he
cared little-only he would kill some
one before he died. His weapon
wayered frantically as ne sought to
aim. the man holding himself up by
one hand. Dupont, facing that way.
saw this apparition, and leaped aside.
stumbling over the dead pony. Hughes
weapon belched, and Hamlin. the las
so whirling above him in the air,
pitched forward. and came crashing
down into the snow.
1t was all the work Of an instant. n
wild, confused bit. SO rapidly enacted
as 20 seem unreal even 10 the partici,
pants Hamlin lay motionless, bare.
iy conscious of living. yet unable 10
stir a muscle. Hughes. screaming out
one oath, sank back into a heap his
frozen fingers still gripping his smok
ing weapon. Then Dupont rose eau
| ,.A |,
across the dead body OF the pony The
man was unneryed. unable at first to
comprehend what had occurred lie
was saved as by a miracle, and his
great form shook from head to foot
Then. as his eyes rested on the out
stretched body OF the Sergeant. hate
conquered every other feeling; hs
staggered to his feet. picked up tbs
gun lying In the snow, walked acros,
and brutally kicked the prostrat,
, form. There was no response, NJ
movement.
"All wish is that I'd been the on,
: to kill yer" he growled savagely. grin
ming down. "Hel, OF a good shot
. though reckon the blame foo
; meant It FOR me-" He threw the riff
D forward. In readiness. and moved eau
s tiously over toward Hughes.
0 "Deader than a door-nail." he mu,
h tered. pressing back the buffalo Goa,
8 and staring contemptuously down int
d the white. staring face. Il wonder no,
I that coward ever happened to be- her
v laying out for me. reckon!"
/, He Strengthened up and laughed
}. glancing furtively about.
!. Some good Joke that. The Who'll
u outfit cleaned out. and me twent
s thousand to the good" feeling lnsid
]. his coat to make sure. IT'S there a
'. right Well. goodbye. boys. ther
;. don't seem to be nothing here for M
z to stay for"
'. He caught the straying pony an
e swung up into the saddle. glance