Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1917-07-05

knife-edge, and the mountain is so
nearly vertical that it appears to
overhang the floor of the valley
They made half the stretch OF this
angle with hardly misstep, but the
advance for II part of the way was
Il climb, and De Spain. turning once
to speak To Nan. asked her for her
rifle. that he might carry it with his
own. What their story might have
been had she given 1t to him. none
can tell But Nan. holding back. re-
fused to let him relieve her The
dreaded angle which had haunted De
Spain all night was safely turned on
hands and knees, and. as they round
I'd 1t toward the east. clouds scudding
over the open desert broke and shot
the light OF dawn against the beetling
urete
De Spain turned in some relief to
point To the coming day. AS he did
50 gust of wind. sweeping against
the sheer wall. tipped him sidewise,
ana he threw himself on his knees to
uNNiu Allt uALLN th-ts Ills mt Witch
lay under his hand on the rock.
slipped from reach. In the next in
slant he heard it bouncing from rock
to rock. five hundred feet below
Greatly annoyed and Inundated. he
regained his feet and spoke with a
laugh to reassure Nan. Just as she
answered not to worry a little sing
ing scream struck their ears; some
thing splashed suddenly close at hand
against the rock wall chips scattered
between them. From below, the
sound of rifle report cracked against
the face of the cliff. They We're so
startled, so completely amazed. that
they stood motionless.
De Spain looked down and over the
uneven floor of the gap. The ranch
houses, spread like toys In the long
perspective, lay peacefully revealed in
the gray of the morslng. He could
discover no sign of life around any of
the houses. But In another mopent
the little singing scream came again.
the blow of the heavy slug against the
, splinteling rock was repeated. the dis
tant report Of the rifle followed
Under fire." muttered De Spain
He looked at Nan. wed better keeI
; moving" he said. Come whoever =
shooting can follow us hundred
yards either way" In front of "
Spain a fourth bullet struck the rock
Man." he muttered. i've got you int,
a fix. If we can't stop that fellow
= he is liable to stop US. Can yol Sc,
anything?" he asked, waiting for hei
10 come up.
Henry" She was looking stralgh
down into the valley, and laid her hanC
- on De SPANS shoulder. as there any
thing moving on the ridge-over Their,
,, !see-just east of Sassoons ranch
. hOuse?'
De Spain, his eyes bent on the poin
Nan indicated, drew her forward to
dip in the trail which, to one stretche,
=, fiat, afforded slight protection. II
made her lie down, and Just beyon,
her refuge chose a point where tn
!, path, broadening little and rising In
- stead of sloping toward the cute
, edge, gave him IA chance to brace hin
\ there like a target In midair, he threy
his hat down to Nan, and, resting o
n one knee, waited for the shot tina
\ should tumble him down FL Captain o
betray the man bent on killing hin
n Another bullet, deliberately aimee
| Clipped the rock above him. MAI
| agonizng In her suspense, cried gu
4 | .ha lot l. 4.
if he went. He steadled her with
few words. A bullet struck agai
viciously close between them. ID
Spain spoke slowly: "Give me you
rifle" Without turning his head, h
\ held out his hand, keeping his eye
rigldly on the suspicious spot on tn
ridge. How far Is 1t to that roat
| Nan?"
| She looked toward the faint lin
that lay in the deep shadows below
| "Three hundred yards"
| Nan, If it wasn't for you, couldn
travel this country at ALL" he r,
marked with studious unconcerl
Last time l had no ammunltion-th
time, no rifie-you always have what
needed. How high are we, Nan?"
"Seven hundred feet"
} ELEVATE for me. Nan, will you
IN Remember the wind" she faltere,
adjusting the sight as he had aske,
With the cautloning words 81
ID passed the FURNISHED weapon, glitte
h ing yet with the raindrops, into h
70 hand. A flash came from the distaI
W ridge. Throwing his rifle to his shou
e. der, De Spain covered a hardly pc
ceptible black object on the trail nit
=, way between Sassoon's ranch-hous
re and little bridge. Then he fired b
IN fore Nan could believe he had line
a the sights. Once, twice, three time