The Huttig news., 1916-10-07

deadly. Like a tigress she fought hiIa i; her face no longer resembled wo- mans.
 He heard a cry from outside-a mans cry, hoarse and alarming. It made him think of loss of time. This demon of woman might yet block his plan.
 Let goi' he whispered. and felt his lips stiff. In the grnness of that instant he relaxed his hold on the rifle-harrel
 With sudden, redoubled, irresistible strength she wrcnched the rifle down and discharged it. Duane felt blow -a shock-a burning agony tearing through his breast. Then in frenzy he jerked so powerfully upon the rifle that he threw the woman against the wall. She fell and seemed stunned.
 Duane leaped back, whirled, flew ont of the door on the porch. The sharp cracking of a gun halted him. He SAW Jennie holding to the bridle of his bay horse. Euchre was astride the other, and he had Colt leveled and he was firing down the lane. Then came single shot, heavier, and Euchre's ceased. He fell from the horse.
 A swift glance back showed to Duane man coming down the lane. Chess Aflowayi His gun was smoking He broke into il run. Then in an instant lie saw Duane, and tried to check his pace as he swung up his arm. But that slight pause was fatal. Duane shot, and Alloway was falling when his gun went off. His bullet whistled close to Duane and thudded into the cabin.
 Duane bounded down to the horses. Jennie was trying to hold the plunging bay. Euchre Jay flat on his back. dead, bullet-hole in his shirt. his face set hard. and his hands twisted round gun and bridle.
 Jennie. you've nerve. all right '" cried Duane, as he dragged down the horse she was holding. "Up with you nowi There, Never mnd-lOng strrupsi Hang on somehow P
 He caught his bride out of Euchre's clutching grip and leaped astride The frightened horses jumped into run and thundcred down the lane into the road. Duane saw men running from cabins. He heard shouts But there were no shots fired. Jennie seemed able to stay on her horse, but without stirrups she was thrown about so much that Duane rode closer and reached out to grasp her arm.
 Thus they rode through the valley to the trail that led up over the steep and broken Rim Rock. As they be- gan to climb Duane looked back. No purSuers were in sight.
 "Jennie. we're going to get away" he cried, exultation for her ill his voice
 She was gazing horror stricken at his breast. as in turning to look back hc faced her.
 "Oh, Duane your shirts all bloody" she faltered, pointing with trembling fingers.
 With her words Duane became aware of two things-the hand he in- stinctively placed to his breast still held his gun, and he had been shot through the breast far enough down to give him grave apprehension of his life.
 They did not stop climbing while Duane tore a scarf and made com presses. which he bound tightly over his wounds. The fresh horses made fast time up the rough trail. From open places Duane looked down When they surmounted the steep ascent and stood on top of the Rim Rock, with no signs of pursuit down in the valley, and with the wild broken fastness before them, Duane turned to the girl and assured her that they now had every chance to escape.
 ut-your-wound !' she faltered, with dark. troubled eyes. q see-the blood-dripping from your back!'
 Jennie, I'll take lot of killing" he said
 Then he became silent and attended to the uneven trail. He was aware presently that he had not come into Bland's camp by this route. But that did not matter; any trail leading out beyond the Rim Rock was safe enough. What he wanted was to get far away into some wild retreat where he could hide till he recovered from his wound. So he turned off on a trail that ap- peared seldom travelled.
 Soon after this move be became con- scious of further thickening of his senses. He felt able to hold on to his saddle for while longer. but he was failing. Then he thought he ought to advise Jennie. so in case she was left alone she would have some idea of what to do.
 Jennie, I'll give out soon he said. "No-z-I don't mean-what you think. But I'll drop soon. My strengths go- ing. If l die-.ou ride back to the