The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-22
Continued

Bettys first impulse was to mount
Pinto and gallop TO the manor for Cecil
and Bob, but before she touched a stir
rup the idea was abandoned. Ii was
but short way 70 the cliff lined coast.
and there were a hundred assures and
canyon-like inlets where boat might
he hidden. Before she could secure aid
and locate the particular ford for
which the conspirators were headin:
they might make good their escape
There was nothing 10 do but follow
them and trust 10 circumstances to af
ford her IN opportunity for successful
action. Bitterly she regretted the alb
sence of the little revolver that had
swung ut her hip in the old days in
Nevada
To one who had stalked antelope on
almost leaeess and ahe-like plains
there was no difficulty in followin.
closely and unobserved through this
hedged and ditched land Very soon
Betty saw the countess and her com
panion disappear as though they had
been swallowed by the earth. and sh
'h-N' NAeN AANf hth hGSNtuUtu ullS O
the steep paths leading TO the bottom
ot the clif. Hurrying forward and
choosing her path 50 that PintoS hoofs
would not ring on the outcroppins
stone, Betty approached the edge OF 4
wide issure band cautiously peered
down.
Directly below a small boat was
DthprnI Ia.
edge OF the water which was as smooth
in this deep cove as that OF a woodland
nond. was a group Of FIVE persons-thc
countess. the man she had called duke
another in the uniform Of yacht of
Her and two sailors. Their voices cam,
distinctly. but in language. whic!
BETTY could not understand Il WIS ev
ident, however. jlat tie duke va
e7ger 20 de'art. and the officer waS =.
S'Tin= him thar the yvrht tu which Z
was 10 hp conveyed was waiting. r,
countesS d-cw from Ter breast srra
na"Set and with "a >.Sh NJ regret d
iFered il IN Ihr duke who hast
thrust It inside his but;nued coat e.:
reait1ed that in another moment H.
Star of tolHrai would ho forever 10.
10 BriUin While she looked helpless
m Then with Y Cash Of inspiration
she sprans hack and caught from til,
saddle her coiIed lariat fastened one
eud TO the horn of the saddle and crept
back 10 the edge Of the elf.
As the duke prepared 10 step into
the waiting boat rope dropped. ap
parently from the sky. and the loop OF
q lasso gripped his body. The next in.
stant, as Betty cried an order and
the cow pony mnged forward. the
man was snatched from his feet and
drawn rapidly up the face OF the cliff.
When her captive was within arms
reach Of the top Betty again shouted
and Pinto stood still Lying fat upon
her face. Betty reached down and from
the mans breast pocket extracted the
case containing the precious Jewel and
from holster swung under his arm.
nit a revolver. The duke made no of.
fort TO prevent this despoilment-with |
both hands he clutched frantically at
the rope by which he dangled.
With laugh Of triumph Betty /
sprang M. and. feeling secure with
the revolver I'm ner laut,S. gave Pinto .
word which caused him TO drag the 4
dangling man TO the safety of the Cliff |
top. Betty began to move toward the /
pony. but before she had reached it .
there was quick rush of feet. and .
the countess. followed by the officers 4
and sailors. sprang up the path. Each
held Il ready weapon. and. at sight Of .
Betty the countess raised her revolver
ard fired. Az Betty turned to face
this attack the duke. who had disen-
tangled himself from the coils of the
lssso. dashed past her. reached the
horse and struck him with the fat of
his hand upon the elnk With snort
of astonishment. Pinto galloped away.
Again the countess fred. then the
officer and sailors, and Betty could
hear the bullets hum about her like an
CRY bees. A little in her rear Betty saw
she could find cover. and retreated
hastily There were five of the enemy.
and as she had but FIVE cartridges she
was not minded to waste them. How
ever. 1t was necessary to temporarily
check the advance Of the countess
party. and the girl paused to fire once.
With cry the officer dropped his re-
volver and staggered. clutching at his
shoulder. During the confusion that
followed. Betty gained the shelter of
stone and furze for which she was
striving.
The attackers now advanced eau.
tiously. the duke having possessed
himself of the wounded officers weap-
ON. all excepting the countess seeking
the cover of the rocks She stood de.
family in the open. watching for Dst.J
10 expose herself to finishing shot.
Three times Betty rested her revolver
upon her rocky rampant and drew a
fine sight upon the countess breast.
but each time she lowered it.
She deserves it. but cannot do it."
Betty whispered. II cannotr
The duke and the two sailors contin.
ued their cautious advance. firing as
they moved.
Meanwhile Pinto. disdaining roads.
had cut straight across the fields TO
croftlaigh and had spread wild alarm
RS he passed. score of laborers rec.