The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-09-05
CHATTER V.

II was late. The August night
was cool and sweet after q weary
day % intense heat Williston
was sitting Just within the door.
way. Mary. her hands claspef
idly around her knees. sat on the
doorstep. thoughtfully staring out
Into the still darkness.
Bedtime. little girl." said WI
llston.
Just ninute more. daddy.
Must We have a llght7 Think how
tho mosquitoes will swarm. Let's
go TO bed IN the dark"
We win shut tho door and next
summer. little girl. you shall have
your screens promise you that.
always providing. OF course. Jesse
Black leaves US alone"
Sure. daddy" abe answered.
cheerily. And I'll SEQ that you
don't forget As for Jesse Black.
he wouldn't dare. with the Three
Bars on his trail Well. " you
rsust have a light. you must" ria.
Ing and rummaging around a shelf
In search o, matches
Her hand touched tho match
box at last A light flared out
Shut the door quick. dad" she
said. lighting tho lamp on tho
table. The skeeters'll eat us
alive"
williston stepped To the door.
Just a moment he stood there in
the doorway. outlined against the
brightly lighted room. A sudden
sharp report rang out. The bullet
sang past Willlston's head. peril.
ously near. and lodged in the op.
posite wall At that moment. tho
light was blown out.
Good. my deari" cried Willis.
ton. IN low tones Quick "a n
flash. the door was slammed shut
and bolted just az a second shot
fell foul OF t.
"Oh. my father" cried Mary.
cropping her way to his side.
Hush. my dear, They missed
me clean. Don't lose your nerve.
Mary. They won't find It so easy
after all"
There had been no third shot A
profound silence followed the sec
ond report Whence. then. the
shots
IL took but n moment for VII.
liston TO have the rifles cooked
and ready. Mary took her own
from him with a hand that trem.
bled ever so slightly.
What viii you do. father" she
esked.
Take the back window. girl"
he answered. briefly. I'll take the
front. Stand 10 tho side. Get
used 10 the starlight and don't let
anything creep up on you. They
mustn't get near enough to fire the
house"
Several heavy minutes dragged
away without movement, without
sound from without.
II think they're frightened off"
saiu Mary at last They were
probably Just one. or they'd not
have left. He knew he missed you.
or he would not have fired again
Do you think II was Jesse?"
Jesse would not have missed. 4"
he said, grimly.
At that moment new sound
broke the stiffness. the whinny of
horse. Reinforcements had ap-
preached within the shadow OF the
cattle-sheds. Something moved
out there az last.
Daddy" called Mary. in a chok.
ed whisper. Come here-they are
down at The sheds"
Willlston stepped to the back
window quickly
Change places" he said briefly.
To his quickened hearing came
the sound Of stealthy creeping.
Something moved directly in front
of him, but some distance away.
His was the third shot OF that
night.
H I've got It in the leg!"
cried a rough voice. fun of intense
anger and pain. and there we're
sounds OF a precipitate retreat.
Again the heavy minutes dragged
away. Al each of the two windows
crouched a tense figure. brain alert.
eyes In iron control. II was a
irightful strain. this waiting game.
Could one be sure nothing had es.
capped ones vigilance? Starlight
was deceptive. and ones eyes must
needs shift to keep the mastery
over the horizon. 1t might well be
that some one OF those ghostly and
hidden sentinels patrolling the
lOnelY hnmnRlnad had wnrmod him