The Southern herald., 1913-07-25
CHAPTER XXI.
The Girl and the Man.

ueIlDerately, choosing the exposed In
dian as target. The latter, striving
to mount his frightened pony, fell for
ward, grasping the name desperately,
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 body
as shield, was attempting to escape
Already he was too far away to make
revolver shot safe. Hamlin arose to
his knees, and picked up the dropped
rifle. His lips were pressed tight; his
eyes full Of grim determination. Why
didn't Dupont fire? Could 1t be he was
unarmed? Or was he hoping by delay
to gain closer shot? Keen-eyed, res
olute, the Sergeant determined to
take no chances. The rife came to
level-a squirt Of fame, a sharp re-
port, and the pony staggered to its
knees, and sank, bearing its helpless
burden with 1t. Dupont let go his grip
on the rein, and stood upright, clearly
outlined against the white hillside,
staring back toward the kneellng Ser
geant, the faint smoke cloud whirling
between.
"All right-damn you-you've got
mel" he said sullenly.
Hamlin never moved, except to snap
out the emptied cartridge.
"Unbutton that coat" he command
| nd fnrunlu tthJnyry R,rr NJ
shooting iron, hey! That's rather
careless Of gun-man."
He dropped his rife and strobe for
ward revolver in hand, glancing curl
ously at the dead Indian as he passed
A RATA hung to the pommel of sad
die, and he paused to shake 1t loose
uncoiling the thin rope, but with
watchful eyes constantly on his pris-
oner He 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 to
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 dlstin.
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
, wavered frantically as he 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
l pitched forward, and came crashing
, down into the snow.
!. 1t was all the work of an instant a
r wild, confused bit, so rapidly enacted
e as to seem unreal even to the partici
pants. Hamlin lay motionless, bare
! ly conscious of living, yet unable to
: stir muscle. Hughes, screaming out
D one oath, sank back into a heap, his
: frozen fingers still gripping his smok
ing weapon. Then Dupont rose eau
. tiously TO his knees, peering forth
across the dead body Of the pony. The
I man was unnerved, unable at first tC
comprehend what had occurred. He
i was saved as by a miracle, and his
, great form shook from head to foot
r Then, as his eyes rested on the out
!. stretched body of the Sergeant, hate
+. conquered every other feeling; hC
staggered to his feet, picked up the
gun lying in the snow, walked across
|. and brutally kicked the prostrat,
n form. There was no response, NJ
movement.
"All wish is that I'd been the on,
j. to kill yer" he growled savagely, grin
ming down. Hell of a good shot
; though l reckon the blame foo
!. meant it for me-" He threw the riff,
o forward, in readiness, and moved eau
s tiously over toward Hughes.
o "Deader than a door-nail," he NUT
h tered, pressing back the buffalo coat
s and staring CONTEMPORARY down int,
d the white, staring face. 'I wonder hov
t that coward ever happened to be her
v laying out for me, reckonl"
/, He Strengthened up and laughed
3. glancing fuTtively about
l. Some good joke that The Who'll
II outfit cleaned out, and me twent,
IS thousand to the good" feeling insid
l. his coat to make sure ITS there al
y right. Well, goodbye, boys, Their
5, don't seem to be nothing here for m
& to stay for"