The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1914-12-17
CHAPTER xxxIV.
Burn, Flnusrs.

Once she had lost touch with her IA.
theirs creatures. the girl drew rein
and went on more slowly aud eau
tiously.
Below her. In the valley, the lower
trail wound It's facile way From time
to time she could discern upon some
naked stretch OF lts length a aioad OF
dust, or perhaps three mounted fg
uros. scurrying mAdly on with fear Of
death swapping at their heels
Il was within an hour OF midnight.
a night bellclear and bitter cold GA
the heights. and bright with moon.
light. when Alane party made It's last
pause and oamped to rest against the
dawn. unconscious OF the fact that, a
quarter OF a mile above them. on the
upper trail. a lonely woman paused
when they paused and made her own
camp ON the edge OF sharp decliyity.
The level shafts OF the rising sun
awakened her She sat up. rubbed her
eyeA yawned. stretched limbs stiff
with the hardship Of sleeping ON un.
yielding. sun.bakcd carth--and OF a
sudden started up. surprised by the
grating Of footsteps on the earth be.
hind her.
Before she could turn. however. she
was caught and wrapped In the arms
OF Hopi Jim.
She mustered all her strength and
wits and will for one last struggle
and In a frenEled moment managed 10
break hts hold a trine. enough TO on.
able her TO snatch at the pistol hang.
Ing from her belt and present IL at his
head.
But II exploded harmlessly. spend.
Ing its bullet ON the blue Of the morn.
Ing sky, The bandit caught her wrist
in time. thrust Il aside and subjected
Il to such cruel pressure and such saw.
age wrenchings that the pistol dropped
from fingers numbed with pain
And now all hint Of mercy left his
eyes; remained only the glare OF rage.
lie put forth all his strength In turn.
aud Judith was az child In his hands.
In half a minute he had her helpless.
In as much time more her back was
breaking across hia knee. while he
bound her with loop after loop Of bis
rawhide lariAt.
Then. leaving ner momentaFily
sapine on the ground Hopi Jim caught
and unhobbled her horse. and without
troubling TO saddle Il. lifted the girl
to its back. and placed her there. face
upward. catching her hands and feet.
a. they fell on either flank Of the ami.
nal. with more loops Of that unbreak.
able rawhide. and deity placing the
master knot OF the hitch that bound
this human pack we'll beyond posi-.
blllty OF her reach.
She painted a prayer for mercy. lie
laughed In her face. bent aud kissed
her brutally and stepped back laugh.
ing 20 admire his handiwork
Thus he stood for an Instant be.
tween the horse and the edge Of the
declivity. a fair mark. stark against
the sky, for one who stood In tho val.
ley below, holding his rifle with eager
fingers, waiting for just such oppor.
tunity with the same impotence with
which he had waited for II ever since
the noise Of debris kicked over the
edge by the struggling man and
woman had drawn his attention TO
what was going on above
Alan pressed the trigger and tho
shot sounded clear In the morning
stiffness. Judith saw look OF ag.
grieved amazement cross the face OF
Hopi Jim Slade.
Then he threw his hands out. clawod
bllndly at the air. staggered. reeled
against the horses flank 10 heavily
that Il SHE'D In fright. and abruptly
shot from sight over the edge OF the
bluI.