The Pickens sentinel. (Pickens, S.C.) 1911-2016, 1915-02-04

? Behind them other lights appeared,
two staring yellow eyes that peereo
up over the horizon, seemed to pause
a time in search CT the two lnen
leaned out directly toward them:
OF this they were altogether lsnor-
ant. and when a deep, droning SOUND
disturbed the desert silence, hAe 'ne
purring Of some gigantic eat, 6otn as.
cribed It to the drumming OF their
laboring pulses. ILL ,a
The two lights were not mile De,
hind them when, silently, without a
eien ~ warn the girl, Alan released
be- took step apart and dropped
as If shot -, b,e
Instantly she was kneeling oy MS
side But in the act OF oenolng over
him she drew back and remained 1or
several moments motionless, staring
- those twin glaring eyes, sweeping
down upon them with all the speed
ettainable by si1-cylinder touring car
NEGOTIATING a trackless desert.
When Judith did move 1t was not to
comfort Alan. On the contrary, heI
first act was to draw from her pocket
q heavy. blunt-nosed revolver, break II
at the breech and blow its barre
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 tc
fall in the middle of a wide space sc
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 q corner Of the rear seat:
an aged man with the face Of a damned
soul, doomed for a 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, a revolver poised il
either hand.
Halt" she ordered imperatively
Hands up!"
The three who had aighted obeyet
without a moments hesitation; hel
fathers creatures, they knew thu
daughters temper far too well Il
dream of opposing her will.
In the six hands that were sll
houetted against the headlights radi
ance three revolvers glimmered; bu
at her command all three dropped
harmlessly to the earth.
Then, sharply, Stand back tw'
paces!" she required.
They humored her unanimously.
Darling forward, she picked up AM
pocketed the three weapons, then witt
one of her own singled out the mel
she named.
Nov, Marrophat-and you, Hicks
pick MIR. Law up and carry him int
the car. And treat him gently, mind
II one of you lifts a finger to harr
him that one shall answer to me-"
Still none ventured to dispute he'
The two men designated, without
sign Of disinclination, stepped forwart
One lifted Alan Law by the shoulders
the other took the legs. Between theI
they bore him with every care toWar
the motor car.
But now a second will manifesto
itself. The man in the rear seat LITE
up weirdly sonorous voice:
Stop" he cried. "Stop this mol
sense, Drop that man! Judith,
command you"
BE SILENT" the girl cut in sharpl
81 command here-if it's necessary
tell you"
There was a pause Of astonishmen
Then the-old man broke out in exa
peration that threatened to wax I'M
fury: Judith! What do you meSas
. this? Has it indeed come to this tn
my own daughter defies me to n
/ face?"
, Apparently" she shot back, wi
> a short laugh. Judge for yourself
| Have you forgotten your VOW
;, me?'
mo. But I take it back and cane
i it: that is my privilege, l believe. :.
? Silence!" she stormed as he stro'
t to gainsay her. "Silence-do W
2 hear?-or it will be the worse f
4 you!"
r AS well command the sea to St
1 it's voice: her father ragged like ma
, man that he was, for the time beir
? divested of his hSbitual mask Of frig
/ heartlessness.
And seeing that there was no oths
t way of quieting him, the girl turne
to the third man.
Nov JIMMY" she said crispl
Into that car-and be quick about
and gag him!"
III you do," her father foamed, ~
} have your life"
: A flourish Of her weapons game
instant obedience.
She stepped up on the running boar
and shot quick, searching glanc
at the face of the chauffeur.
Straight ahead, my mani she saic
Make for the nearest pass throug
those hills yonder, and don't della
unless you are anxious for trouble. OF
you co."
The car began to move. She swep
the three men in the desert mocKinl
bow, jumped into the body Of the ca
and slammed the door.
They made no effort to plead thei
cause and secure passage even as ia:
as the edge Of the desert; doubtless
they knew too well the futility Of that
she thought, as she settled back in
seat, chuckling with the memory o.
.