The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1917-06-21
CHAPTER XIV.
EIiuht.

DE spain, catching Mans arm, spoke
hurriedly, and they FASTENED outside
toward the kitchen. I'VE must get
away quick" he said as she buttoned
her coat. And, knowing how she suf-
fered in what she was doing, he drew
her into the shelter of the porch and
caught her close to him. I'll take you
straight to Mrs. Jeffries. When you
are ready, you'll marry me; Wen make
our peace with your Uncle Duke to-
gether. Great God! What night
This way, dearie."
mo, to the stable, Henry! Where's
your horse?"
Under the pine, and yours, too.
found the pony, but l couldn't find
your saddle, Nan"
81 know where it's hidden. Let's
get the horses"
Just a minute. l stuck my rifle I'M
der this porch" He stopped and felt
below the stringer. Rising in mo-
ment with the weapon on his arm, the
two hurried around the end of the
house toward the pine tree. They had
| almost reached this when murmur
unlike the sounds of the storm made
| De Spain halt his companion.
"What is it?" she whispered. he
! listened intently. Without speaking,
he took Nan and retreated to the cor
ner of the house. There is somebody
in that pine" he whispered, waiting
| for me to come after the horses. Sas-
soon may have found them. I'll try
it out, anyway, before take a chance.
Stand back here, Nan"
He put her behind the corner of the
house, threw his rifle to his shoulder,
and fired as nearly as he could in the
darkness toward and just above the
pine. Without an instant's hesitation
pistol shot answered from the direc-
ton in which he had fired, and in
another moment a small fusillade fol-
lowed. 'By the Almighty" muttered
De Spain, 1--WE must have our horses,
Nan. Stay right here. I'll try driving
those fellows off their perch"
She caught his arm. ''What are you
going to do?"
run in on them from cover. wher-
ever can find it, Nan, and push them
back. We've got to have those horses"
''If we could only get away without
a fight J"
"This is Sassoon and his gang, Nan.
You heard Pardaloe. These are not
your people. I've got to drive 'em, or
we're gone, Nan"
"Then 1 go with you"
Man, you can't do it," whispered
De Spain energetically. "a chance
bullet"
She spoke with decision: 81 go
with you. 1 can use a rifle. Better
both of US be killed than one Help
me up on this roof I've climbed it
a hundred times. My rifle is in my
room. Quick, Henry"
Overriding his continued objec-
tons, she lifted her foot to his hand,
put her second foot on De SPANS
shoulder, gained the sloping roof, and
scrambled on her hands and knees up
to the window of her room. A far-off
peal of thunder echoed from the noun
tains. Luckily, no flash had preceded
it, and Nan, rifle in hand, slid safely
down to the end of the lean-to, where
De Spain helped her to the ground.
He directed her how to make zigzag
advance toward the pine, and, above
all, to throw herself fiat and sidewise
after every shetland not to fire
often.
In this way they advanced slowly
but safely to the disputed point and
then understandable horses were
gone. A fresh discharge of shots came
from two seemingly from
the house and the stable. A moment
later they heard sharp firing far down
the gap-their sole avenue of escape.
They withdrew to the shelter of a
large rock familiar to Nan even in the
dark While De Spain was debating
in his mind how to meet the emer-
gency, she stood at his side, his equal
he knew, in courage, daring and re-
source, and answered his rapid ques-
lions as to possible gateways of