The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-10-19
BRECKENRIDGE ELLIS
Copyright, 1913, by the Bobbs- Merrill
 Co.onanx r.

 her along just to save his bacon
 "No, as God 1ivesw cried Gledware. stCan't you see she is dead f&. sleep: She was terrified out of her wits all day, and I've ridden with her all night Don't kill her, men," He turned i'm passioned- eyes on the leader.
 Right you arew exclaimed the man with the ferocfous whiskers-he5 who had been spoken of as Brick Willock. ssYou'H have to go, pard, but I'm against killing infants.''
 The leader darted an angry glance at the man who but for the untoward arrival: of .Gledware would have won from him his share of the booty. But his voice was smooth and pleasant as he resumed, 'sYes, pard,e the kid must. die.''
 Brick Willock, with terrible paths, again expressed himself as strongly opposed to this decision.
 We've had enough of thisr' Red de- clared, his voice suddenly grown hard and cold. Kansas, take the prisoner. Brick Willoek, as you're so fond of the kid; you can carry her.'' He opened the door, and a rush of wind extn- guished the candle. fl
 Red went outside and waited till bis brother had drawn forth the quivering man and Brick WiIIcck had carried out the girl Then he looked back into the room. ssYou fellows can stay in here," he said authoritatively. What. we've got to do ain't any easier with a lot of men standing about looking on.'
 Red closed the door on the scene and turned to face the night. Gledware had already been stationed with his face toward the moon, and Kansas Kimban was calmly examining his pis- tol Between them and the horses Brick Wfllock had come to halt, the little girl still sleeping in his powerful arms. Red 'scow1ed heavily. He had not forgiven Willock for beating him at cards, still less for his persistent opposition to his wishes, and he now resolved that it should be Willock's hand to deal the fatal blow. He had been troubled before tonight by insub- ordination on the part of this man of bristIing whiskers, this knave whose voice was ever for mercy, if mercy were possible. ss.ss-,i.s.s...ss esls7..s =
 As Kansas Kimbau raised his weap- on to fire the man before him uttered cry of terror and began to entreat for his life. Hold on, Kansasp' inter posed Red There's not a one of the bunch believes that story about the last wagon getting away, and the dy- ing wife. We know this Gledware is spy, whatever he says, and that he brought the kid along for ,proteetion- He knew if we got back to No Mans Land we couldn't be touched. not being under no Jurisdiction, and he wanted to find us with our paint and feathers off He's sneaking dog, and a bull let's too good for him. But''-with an oath-"blessed if he don't hate to die worse than any man ever I saWi I don't mind to spare him a few min utes if he's agreed ble. put it to him would he rather the kid be put out of the way first and him afterward, or does he, want the first caH2''
 "For Gods sake, put it off as long as you wfll!'' quavered the prisoner. "I swear I'm no spy. swear''
 The captain of the highwaymen in terposed. ttJust you say another word, and I'll put daylight into you with my own hand Stand there and keep mum, and I'll give you a little breathing space. Now, Brick Wi1lock," the lead CT spoke grimly, sstake your turn first. That kids got to die, and you are to do the trick and do it without any fool ishness.''
 'I can't" Willock declared doggedly.
 "Oh, yes; yes, you can, Brick. You see, we can't tend to no infant class, and I ain't hard hearted enough to leave a fve-year-old girl to die of hunger on the prairie, nor do I mean to take her to no town or stage station as card for to be tracked by."
 Red" exclaimed Willock desperate ly, 'tI tell you fair, and I tell you foul, that this little one lives as long as I do."
 Red swiftly raised his arm and fired point blank at Willock's head as it was defined above the sleeping form. Though famed as an orator, Red un- derstood very we'll that at times ac- ton is everything and there is death in long speaking. He was noted as man who never missed his mark.
 NOW, however, his bullet had gone astray. The few words to which he had treated himself as an introduction to the intended deed had proved his undoing. They had been enough tc warn Wiliock of what was coming, and before Red fired Willock had sent q bullet through the threatening wrist. The two detonations were almost si- naultaneous, and Reds roar of pain as he dropped his weapon rang out as an. accompaniment to the crash of fire arms.
 The next instant Willock with sec ond shot from his sixshooter stretched Kansas on the ground; then, rushing forward with reversed weapon, he. brought the butt down on Reds head with such force as to deprive him of consciousness. So swift and deadly were his movements, so wild his ap- pearance, as with long locks streaming in the wind and huge black whiskers hiding all but glittering eyes, aquiline nose and a brief space of tough red skin, so much more like a demon than a man, it was no wonder that the child, awakened by the firing, screa med with terror at finding her head pressed to his bosom.
 'Come!' Willock called breathlessly to the prisoner who still stood with his back to the moon, as if horror at