The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1915-03-04

feri1g and privatiOn; n stTdih
10 tell sorely upon her, She reeled
slightly as she walked, weaving q
winding trail across and across tho
stmighter line OF footprints that
marked Alan's course through the or
dered pattern OF the powdered sage
brush.
And of a sudden she collapsed.
Instinct alone made Alan glance
oyershoulder: for she had made no
sound whatever.
He turned and came directly back
TO her, knelt beside her. lifted her
head. pillowed II gently on his arm
and piled her In turn with the dregs
Of the canteen.
With n sigh, q stlfied and q
little SILVER. she revived.
He helped her gently TO regain her
feet, passed an arr round her.
In this fashion they struggled on tn
strange. dunno com%panionship OF mis-
cry and wonder.
Thus an hour passed; and for II
their desperate struggles neither coh't
see that the light on the mountaiL. 8
was n yard the nearer
Behind them other lights appeared.
two staring yellow eyes that peered
up over the horizon, seemed TO pause
a time In search OF the two, then
leaped out directly toward them.
or this they were ~altosether ignor'
ant; and when a deep. droning sound
disturbed the desert silence, like the
purring OF some gigantic cat, both as.
cribed II 10 the drumming OF their
laboring pulses.
The two lights were not a mile be-
hind them when. silently. without a
sign TO warn the girl. Alan released
her, took a step apart and dropped
as II 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
~attainnble by n six.cylinder touring car
negotiating n trackless desert.
When Judith did move II was not to
comfort Alan. On the contrary, her
first act was to draw from her pocket
n heavy, blunt.nosed revolver. break Il
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 II as she had the other. Then she
crouched low above the nan she loved,
as II thinking perhaps TO escape notice
from the occupants OF the motorcar.
II that were her thought, II was bred
OF an idle hope. Alan had chosen 10
fall In the middle OF q wide space 80
arid that not even sagebrush had ven.
tured TO take root there. When the
glare OF the headlights fell upon them
II 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 a corner OF the rear seat:
an aged man with the face OF a damned
soul, doomed for q 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. q revolver poised In
either hand.
Halt" she ordered imperativeiy.
Hands up"
The three who had alighted obeyed
without a moments hesitation: her
fathers creatures. they knew the
daughters temper far too well to
dream OF opposing her will.
In the six hands that were sii.
houetted against the headlights radi.
ance. three revolvers glimmered: but
at her command all three dropped
harmlessly to the earth.
Then, sharply, Stand back two
p~aces!" she required.
They hundred her unanimously.
Darling forward. she picked I'D and
p%ockated the three weapons, then with
one OF her " singled out the men
she named.
NOW, Marrophat-and you, Hicks
pick Mr., Law up and carry him into
the car, And treat him gently, mind,
II n OF you lifts a finger TO harm
him. that Il shall answer 10 me"
still none ventured To dispute her
The two men designated, without n
sign OF Discrimination. stepped forward.
One lifted Alan Law by the shoulders;
the other took the legs. Between them
they bore him with every care toward
the motor car.
But now n second will manIfested
itself. The mar In the rear seat lifted
up a woirdly sonorous voice:
stop" he cried, stop this non.
sense Drop that man! Judith. I
command you"
BE SILENT" the girl cut In sharply
Il command here-if It's necessary 10
tell you"
There was a pause OF a~stonishmen,
Then the old man broke out IN exas.
peration that threatened to wax into
fury: Judith What do you mean nv
this? Has II indeed zone 10 this ,ha,
wi daughter denes me 10 nv
face?"
Apparently" she shot back. with
a short laugh. Judge for yoursal,,"