The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1915-02-01
oopyrishs. 1914. by Louis Joseph Vance

He turned and came directly bacl
to her, knelt beside her, lifted he
head, pillowed it gently on his arm
and piled her in turn with the dregs
of the canteen.
With sigh, stifled moan and 6
little shiver, she revived.
He helped her gently to regain hel
feet, passed an arm round her.
I In this fashion they struggled on in
strange, dumb companionship of mis-
cry and wonder.
Thus an hour passed; and for all
their desperate struggles neither could
see that the light on the mountainside
was yard the nearer.
Behind them other lights appeared
two staring yellow eyes that peered
up over the horizon, seemed to pause
time in search of the two, then
leaped out directly toward them.
OF this they were altogether ignor-
ant; and when deep, droning sound
disturbed the desert silence, like the
purring Of some gigantic cat, both as,
cribed it to the drumming of their
laboring pulses.
The two lights were not mile be-
hind them when, silently, without a
sign to warn the girl, Alan released
her, took a step apart and dropped
as If shot
Instantly she was kneeling by his
side. But in the act Of bending over
him she drew back and remained for
several moments motionless, staring
at those twin glazing eyes, sweeping
down upon them with all the speed
attainable by six-cylinder touring car
negotiating a trackless desert
When Judith did move it was not to
comfort Alan. On the contrary, her
first act was to draw from her pocket
a heavy, blunt-nosed revolver, break it
at the breech and blow its barrel
clear of dust. Her hand went next
to the holster on Alan's hip. From
this she extracted his Colts AS, treat
ing 1t as she had the other. Then she
crouched low above the man she loved,
as il 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 to
fall in the middle of wide space so
arid that not even sagebrush had ven
tured to take root there. When the
glare Of the headlights fell upon them
1t was inevitable that discovery should
follow. The motor car stopped within
twenty feet. Three men jumped out
and ran toward the pair, leaving two
occupied corner Of the rear seat:
an aged man with the face of a damned
soul, doomed for little time to live
upon this earth In the certain kncwl-
edge of his damnation.
AS this happened, Judith Urine
leaped to her feet and stood over the
body of Alan, a revolver poised in
either hand.
Halt she ordered imperatively. |
Hands up!"
The three who had alighted obeyed |
without a moments hesitation; her
fathers creatures, they knew the !
temper far too well to [
dream of opposing her will.
In the six hands that were sill
1ouetted against the headlights radi-
ance, three revolvers glimmered; but
1T her command all three dropped
1armlessly to the earth.
Then, sharply, Stand back two
oaces!" she required.
They humored her unanimously
Darling forward, she picked up and
,ocketed the three weapons, then with
me of her own singled out the men
he named.
Now, Marrophat-and you, Hicks
lick Mr.. Law up and carry him into
he car. And treat him gently, mind!
+. one lof you lifts a finger to harm
i'm that one shall answer to me-"
Still none ventured to dispute her.
he two men designated, without
ign of Discrimination, stepped forward.
,ne lifted Alan Law by the shoulders;
be other took the legs. Between them
hey bore him with. every care toward
be motor car.
But now a second will manifested
self. The man. In the rear seat lifted
p weirdly sonorous voice:
"Stop!''. he cried "Stop this non
ense! Drop that man! Judith, l
you"
BE silent!", the girl cut in sharply.
I command hereEif it's necessary to
Ill you" a@e.i
There was pause of establishment.
hen the CID man broke out in exas-
Grafton that threatened to wax into
Try: Judith! What do you mean by
lis? Has it indeed come to this that
y own daughter defies me to my
ce?"
Apparently" she shot back, with
short laugh. Judge for yourself!"
Have you forgotten your vow to
e?"
mo. But take it back and cancel
that is my privilege, believe. +.
lence!' she stormed as he strove
gainsay her 'Silence-do you
.ar?-or 1t will be the worse for
u!"
AS well command the sea to still |
xoioo. bay. fofbo,- 10 oaI 1iLo vno1- Il