The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1914-12-25


could not long endure. Judith had the
price to pay for her own trials. suf-
fering and priyation: the strain began
to tell sorely upon her, She reeled
slightly as she walked, weaving a
winding trail across and across the
straighter line of footprints that
marked Alan's course through the or
dered pattern Of the powdered sage
brush.
And of a sudden she collapsed.
Instinct alone made Alan glance
oyershoulder: for she had made no
sound whatever.
He turned and came directly back
to her. knelt beside her, lifted her
head, pillowed 1t gently on his arm
and piled her In turn with the dregs
of the canteen.
With sigh, a stified moan and a
little SILVER, she revived.
He helped her gently to regain her
feet, passed an arm round her.
In this fashion they struggled on in
strange, dumb companionship of mis-
cry and wonder.
Thus an hour passed; and for all
their desperate struggles neither could
see that the light on the mountainside
was yard the nearer.
Behind them other lights appeared,
two staring yellow eyes that peered
up over the horizon. seemed to pause
a time in search of the two, then
leaped out directly toward them.
OF this they were altogether ignor-
ant; and when a deep, droning sound
disturbed the desert silence, like the
purring of some gigantic cat, both as
cribed it to the drumming of their
laboring pulses.
The two lights were not a mile be-
hind them when, silently, without a
sign to warn the girl, Alan released
her, took a step apart and dropped
as if shot.
Instantly she was kneeling by his
side. But in the act of bending over
him she drew back and remained for
several moments motionless, staring
at those twin glazing eyes, sweeping
down upon them with all the speed
attainable by a six-cylinder touring car
negotiating a trackless desert.
When Judith did move it was not to
comfort Alan. On the contrary, her
first act was to draw from her pocket
a heavy, blunt-nosed revolver, break it
at the breech and blow it's barrel
clear of dust. Her hand went next
to the holster on Alan's hip. From
this she extracted his Colts AS, treat
ing it as she had the other Then she
crouched low above the man she loved,
as If thinking perhaps to escape notice
from the occupants of the motorcar.
If that were her thought, it was bred
Of an idle hope. Alan had chosen to
fall In the middle of wide space SO
arid that not even sagebrush had ven
tured to take root there. When the
glare of the headlights fell upon them
it was inevitable that discovery should
follow. The motor car stopped within
twenty feet. Three men jumped out
and ran toward the pair, leaving two
in the car-the chauffeur and one who
occupied a corner of the rear seat:
an aged man with the face of damned
soul, doomed for little time to live
upon this earth in the certain knowl-
edge of his damnation.
AS this happened, Judith Trine
leaped to her feet and stood over the
body of Alan, revolver poised in
either hand.
Halt" she ordered imperatively.
Hands up!"
The three who had alighted obeyed
without a moments hesitation; her
fathers creatures, they knew the
daughters temper far too well to
dream of opposing her will
In the six hands that were sill
houetted against the headlights radi-
ance, three revolvers glimmered; but
at her command all three dropped
harmlessly to the earth.
Then, sharply, Stand back two
paces!" she required.
They humored her unanimously.
Darling forward, she picked up and
pocketed the three weapons, then with
one of her own singled out the men
she named
Now, Marrophat-andy you, Hicks
pick Mr.. Law up and carry him into
the car. And treat him gently, mind.
If one of you lifts a finger to harm
him. that one shall answer to me-"
Still none ventured to dispute her.
The two men designated, without
sign of Discrimination, stepped forward.
One lifted Alan Law by the shoulders;
the other took the legs. Between them
they bore him with every care toward |
the motor car.
But now a second will manifested
itself. The man in the rear seat lifted !
up weirdly sonorous voice:
Stop" he cried. Stop this non
sense! Drop that man! Judith, |
you"
BE SILENT" the girl cut in sharply. |
Il command here-if it's necessary to
tell you
There was a pause of establishment. |
Then the old man broke out in exas-
peration that threatened to wax into |
fury: Judith! What do you mean by !
this? Has it indeed come to this that |
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