The Huttig news., 1915-11-13

Il
 reccil. as though he viewed a ghost. She never moved, never spoke
 aGood Lord!" he muttered. 1s that Harwood's girl? Why, Anse's out huntin' after her now
 He stopped. cursing fiercely to him. self. His eyes shifted their gaze from the face of the girl to mine. They were narrow cat eyes, cruel and cun- ming.
 T reckon l ain't seen oP Harwoods gal afore in maybe five year." he said slowly. but she has sure growed up fine. Anse took after marrying her furst jist ter spite Harwood, but since he seed her while back he's scrter took a notion he wants her hisself. l reckon l don't blame him. Thet's why he wouldn't wait, but set out ter night. No. don't reckon, young fel- Ter, it's no particular risk. Yer a sojer an don't jest understand how we fight out yere in the mountings. We jest strike quick, an then git away. Faint so much of trick Anse is a-playing at over at Lewisburg. Sure thar's five hundred Tanks thar; an if thar wus five thousand 1t wouldn't make no great difference the way the guard Is sot. The who'll blame caboodle is eamped in the courthouse yard an the only picket Is at the main ford O the Green Briar. Yer never saw no- body, did yer, gittin out yere?"
 No I admitted, realizing his inti- mate knowledge. The camp is poorly protected"
 T reckon 1t fs, and Anse knows that just as well as you do An he knows the gal yere had room at ther hotel. Thar is where he went, aimin' fer ter raid the shebang just before daylight" He laughed again mirth- lessly. By God, but Anse will be some mad when he finds cut whut has happened. I reckon he'll bout cut yer heart out"
 He will have to get me first"
 "Oh, don't yer ever worry none bout thet, young fellar. Anse will sure git yer; he knows every bridle path cross these mountings. an wouldn't give continental damn fer no chance you've got fer ter git away. He's tiger cat on trail, Anse is-an' besides the blame fool wants the gal. He ain't no Cowan if he let's you beat him outer her.
 He glanced quickly across my shouI- der toward the door. Perhaps she moved; perhaps it was all imagina- tion. but thought heard a noise, and wheeled partly around, my eyes for an instant deserting cid Cowans face. It was his one chance. and he took 1t. l sensed the spring, even as Noreen's cry of warning broke the silence. but not in time to escape the grip of the old mans iron fingers. His body crashed against me with such force that I staggered and fell; one hand closed like wise on my throat, the other gripped the stock of my re- vclver. crushing my fingers lifeless. struck the edge of the table. strug- , gling vainly to keep my feet 1t went over with crash. bearing us both along. old Ned atop. clutching fiercely to keep his hold, his eyes blazing madly down into mine. As we struck WiChIACu ny udnu iicC anu pulI6u the trigger. The shot seemed to blaze across my own breast. burning like fire, and the next instant, the mans knee crushed my wrist to the floor. and the revolver fell from my be- benumbed fingers.
 I seem to recall little of what fol- lowed; only confused recollection of desperate struggling amid the legs of tho overturned table; of oaths, blows. of eyes glaring revengefully into mine. l seemed to lose all knowledge, all consciousness, under the merciless throttling of those hard fingers. Then suddenly they relaxed--I caught a quick, reviving breath. another. Every nerve in me throbbed; l could see again. hear. feel. That was Noreen's face l looked into-ay, and the girl was actually dragging the fellow of me! I took another breath, long one. moving so that the inert body rolled over on its side; then l rose up, supporting myself on one arm. and stared about. sobbing in the first eff. 1 fort to gain control.
 "Noreen!" the name choked in my throat
 Yes; it's all right now-Cowan is dead"
 Dead! You-you killed him?"
 No; it must have been your shot. had no chance: you-you two fought like madmen-then-then he just let go of you, and fell back ! was afraid to come-I thought at first he had killed you"
 My shot! why the revolver just went off" l muttered, scarcely com pretending See! the bullet burned me across the chest, and there Is blood there. And you say it struck him? Lord! I never knew Help me to sit up. Noreen."
 With the aid of her arms I found support against the table. The blue coat wore showed clearly the mark l of the bullet. and blood discolored the burned cloth. ran my hand within, touching the flesh.
 "A mere scratch" said lightly, Ire