Gunnison news-champion., 1913-01-31

Gs<iaG uhy ths nan sss nos move. or
sSssk. Tsss ras sos liss Esslsa. 80
bsnt tors ard. half AFRAID IA the ss.si
sssa. snasssersne 70 a.scesar sS.ee
or The Aoor tor both has fset ne
could seroasse noe . ass:saf s<sr
shossnS clasr throsxn the ragged
eoeuinS jsbsed "a the bscs of :he
coach. baf no ou<isse of the satssss
ssriy shoulders.
ssoyisa'~ he called. haraIy above q
uhisgar What N the troabse7 Have
you bean sst. mani -
There Sas no answer. no resBoaaiag
sosaa. saa he stood ~. Reaching sssa.
y over across the seat Then he
knex. and felt . shs.diiar run throash
bim from head to foot Beaf aoubls
over the ron back Of the middle seat.
ssith hands stin gripping his hot risla.
the man hang. limp aud hialess. Al.
most uithoat Realizing the act. Ham
In lifted the heavy body. laid n ao~n
EEoa the cashioR. and saoiasDed the
dead fingers gripping the Winchester
stock
@Elvory shot gone" be whispered TO
himself dazedly. every Shot gone,
AiHt that helli-
Then h came TO him In a Sudden
Bash OF intelligence-he was alone.
alone except tor the girl They we're
out there vet skullsing Ia the night.
planning revenge. those savage Zoe.
nier- Arspskoes. Chryasnes. OgaIlas.
Z hey had been beaten back. defeated.
sHaittou with death. bur they were In
dians stih They xould come back FOR
she bodies OF their slain. aud then
v-hat7 They could not know who we're
living. who dead. in the coach vet
must have discovered long since that
if had only contained three defeuders.
They would guess that ammunition
would be limited His knoeieaRe OF
the fighting tactics OF the Plains
tribes gave clear vision Of what would
probably occur They would wait.
scattured out in a vide circle from
blum to bluff, lying snake-lilse in the
grass. Some of the baldor might creep
in 70 drag away the bodies of dead
warriors, risking a chance shot, but
there would BE- no open attack in the
dark That would be averse 10 all In
dian strategy, all precedent. Even
Row the mournful wailing had ceased,
Roman Nose had rallied his warriors.
instilled into them his own uncon-
querable savagery, and set them on
watch. With the first gray dawn they
would come again, leaping to the
coach's wheels, yelling, triumphant,
mad with new ferocity-and he was
alone. except for the girl.
And where was she? He felt for
her on the floor. but only touched the
Mexioan's feet. He had to lean across
the seat where Mcylan's body lay,
shr0Uaed In darkness, before his CROP
ing AnGers came in contact with the
skiFt ~ her dress. She WAS on the
froat seat. close to the winAow;
against The hGhtaess of the outer sky.
hes hesA seemed lying upon the wood
ea fpone. Che did not move, he could
nOt even tell that she breathed, and
for sn instant ais dry lips failed him
utterly, his blood seemed TO step. Good
0o1! Hs1 she been killed also? How.
In Heaven's name, did she ever get
there? Then suddenly she lifted her
head slightly. brushing back her hair
with one arm; the faint starlight
cleaned on a steel barrel The Ser
seant expelled his breath swiftly, wet.
ting his dry lips.
Are you hurt?" he questioned
anxiously. Lord but you gave me a
scare!"
She seemed to hear his voice, yet
scarcely to understand, like one
aroused suddenly from sleep.
What! you spoke-then-then-
there are others? III am not here
all alone?"
Not If you count me-" he said,
trace of recklessness in the answer.
Il haven't even scratch SO far as |
know. Did they touch you?"
No; that Is, ! am not quite sure;
it-it was all SO horrible | cannot re-
member. Who are you? Are you the
the SOLDIER"
"Yes-I'm Hamlin. Would you mind
telling me how you ever got over
there?"
She Strengthened up, seemed to no
tice the heavy revolver in her fingers,
and let it fall to the floor.
''Oh, it is like a dream-an awful
dream. ! couldn't help myself. When
the Mexican rolled off on to the floor.
knew he was dead, and-and there
was his revolver held right out to me
in his hand. Before l realized | had
IL, and was up here-I| killed one
he--he fell in the wheel; IL can
never forget that"
Don't try" broke in Hamlin earn
estly. You're all right" he added.
admiration in his voice. And so it
was you there with the small gun.
heard it bark. but never knew Con-
sales was hit When did it happen?"
"When-when they fired first. 1t
It was all smoke out there when got
to the window; they-they looked like
like wild beasts. and it didn't seem