The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-05-18

give me the guni"
Shuddering. Sandry covered her
savage eyes with his hand. Their
reversion sickened him. But she
shook him loose, crying for death.
KIN them both. for they will ruin
you II they go freel She's got the
packet Kill her and get the packet"
What's this?" be cried hoarsely.
Things she has written about you
a-letter to q man BY the name OF
M.rseldorn!"
Slowly Sandry's face went white
beneath It's CRIME as he raised his
eyes and looked at Poppy ordway.
She returned his gaze.
Then True" she said. that's
why went east. cannot lose you.
Walter. There was danger from that
wild creature there. though you did
not know II. and was determined to
make sure Fair means OF FOUL
must win. And there's no law for a
genius. | know and you know that
you arc"
"Guilty!" he said. throwing up his
head.
Then Sandry dropped his eyes to
Siletz and spoke as II he obeyed
some compelling power some urge to
justify himself before her.
answer to the Right Law I
obeyed the ancient Right Law. little
Sletz. and have no regrets"
II knowl" cried Siletz. II know"
the smoke was so dense that the
actors In this drama could scarcely
see each others faces. but they took
no note OF II. The climbing roar had
shut them apart IN a sound.made 81
lence and they did not know IT, Only
Hampden, edging sldewise. was alive
to the possibilities OF the moment
He saw the gun hanging in Sandry's
hand. forgotten. He saw Siletz de
vouring his face with her blazing
eyes OF passion. He saw his moment
and took It.
With one great bound he flung him
self high In the air. leaped the space
between and came down with his
great weight upon the shoulders OF
the other man. clutching for back and
throat, drawing the one TO him In q
grip OF iron. pushing the other away
Sandry went down like a reed. and
as his knees buckled under him there
was an ominous snap. The bone OF
his right leg. newly healed and fragile.
gave way under the strain.
AS the two men fell both guns, the
one in Sandry's hand and the one In
his trousers bands tumbled loosely
apart. Siletz. clinging still to San
dry's knees. was borne down with
them. As they rolled over she tore
herself from under them and with
two sweeps OF her outspread arms
gathered the guns. Then she sprang
up. drawing back a pace. her eyes like
fire. and deliberately sought for q
chance to kill Hampden.
"Sandry." she cried. "lie aati Lie
nat!"
y From under Hampden's arm thai
vas choking the breath from his
lungs the owner saw that slim fig
ure Of doom and strove to cry out Al
last he got his voice for a moment.
"Siletz!" he rasped. don't shoot.
command you, don't kill" But the
bark OF the gun drowned his words
She was firing around them.
With the first shot Hampden. re
membering the guns that he hac
failed to get. felt his flesh rise on his
body and he loosened his hold, shooi
of Sandry and got to his feet. painting
fighting mad. his eyes red and awful
With the courage of the raging bull
he made straight for Siletz. who free
point blank at him He took the bal
in his shoulder and spun half round
The girl pulled the trigger again. go
an empty snap. threw the weapor
away and raised the other.
"Siletz!" shrieked Sandry from tn,
ground, 'for my sake stop!"
II was a command. cry OF owner
ship. and It went straight to that par
of her nature which had obeyed fo
generations. She hesitated. holdinl
the man across the barrel.
AS for Hampden. he stood. waver
ing drunkenly. chuckling In his throat
thing OF horror In his malevolence
Well" he rasped dryly. II guess III
just as we'll I'll leave you to ye
pleasant dreams sail fer Panama
Hawaii-the Yukon. I'm done"
He turned on his heel. to strid,
away into the pail OF smoke tcwarl
the north. In one moment he cam,
rushing back to run down to the west
For the first time the three peopl
left together remembered the fires
saw the thickened smoke. heard tn
roar that had made them scream thei
tragic words, unconsciously. for tn
last half hour.
II was all around them. that pouring
mass of smoke. and 1t was black. as |
the tires were near Hampdens hug
figure tore past them toward the mai
row point OF the ridge. then cam
lurching back, long red streame
staining his bedraggled shirt
MY Cod" he shouted hoarseiy
Were hemmed in! It's on ever
sidel Well burn like rats!"