The Dolores star., 1917-03-02

1 in sha6ovy. alnsg fnralDa1ls sAaDsa
and - the 1rst lr0pps1 lnsiAe and
started ON at Q esoucAtng true che
aimed quickly but steadily and fred
A Httis cry Of Dsimitivs and savage
JOY spfang nrom bar lips ~ sAe cav
| tie man plunge forward In the Aafi
nsht and lie thsrs rolling On the
ground.
But at that warning the others
leaped down and came on at Q run.
The tempo qu:ckened and became CON
fusing. They were firing ~ they ran
and their answering bullets pelted
against her barrier and over her head
ON the walls. She heard window panes
shivering and glass falling. and yet
her elation grew-two more advancing
figures had crumpied into inert
masses. Unless there were reinforce
ments she would stem their oncoming
tide. Even q mountain marksnhan can
not target his shots well while he II
running and under fre. II takes
championship sprirting to do nfty
yards in I'VE seconds-on the smooth
ness of o cinder path.
Uphill In q constant spit OF nre
and lead It requires little longer.
There were only two left now, and
one Of them suddenly veered and
made for the cover Of hickory trunk
OF to one side-he was in full flight.
But the other came on. throwing the
rifle away and shifting his heavy mag.
szine pistol to his right hand.
1t was easy now. thought the girl
she could take her time and be very
sure.
Yet she shot and missed, and the
one who wears talisman and fears
NO harm. Now he was almost at the
steps and his pistol was barking vi.
ciously-then suddenly something in
the mechanism Of tuanita's rife
jammed and 1t lay useless and dead
in her hands. She struggled with 1t.
frantically Jerking the lever. but be-
fore she had conquered its baking
obstinacy she saw the oncoming figure
leap up the steps at one stride and
thrust his weapon forward over the
table. She even caught the glitter Of
his teeth as D snarling smile parted
his lips.
Then . rife spoke behind her-a
rife in the hands Of the man who had
dragged himself to the firing line, and
with his foot on the threshold Jim
Fletcher reeled backward and rolled
lumberingly down the steps to the
ground.
"You got himl" she screamed. you
got him. Anse!" ..-.
It had been perhaps five minutes
since she had called out to the men
in the road. but 1t seemed to her that
she had sustained long siege. She
saw the man who had fed crossing
the fence and disappearing. Then
very slowly she rose and turned to
the room again. '-.I ...
Anse Havey was lying on his face
and the gun with which he had killed
Jim Fletcher lay by his side. but his
posture was 30 rigid and his limbs
10 motionless that the girl caught at
her breast and reeled backward She
would have fallen had she not been
supported by the table. Had the fight
been lost, after all!
Slowly, and In . daze of reaction
and fright. she moved forward and
turned HIS body over and laid. her ear
to his heart.
1t was still beating. The rife had
only jolted his weak and pain-racked
body into 'unconsclousness, and as she
held his head to her breast her eyes
went about the room, where the pal.
lid light WAS stealing now, and by the
mantel she saw hanging the horn that
Jerry Everson had given her. "
Why had she not thought of that be-
fore? she asked herself accusingly.
Why had she not sent its call for
help out across the hills long ago2
Then there came back to her mind the
words of the mountain man when he
had brought 1t over and had initiated
the Havey battle-call.
Don't never blow thet unlessen ye
wants ter start hell When them calls
goes out acrost the mountains every
Ravey thet kin tote . guns got ter
git up an come"
II ever there had been q time when
every Havey should come 1t was this
time. She laid Anse's head once more
on the cushions and went to the man.
tel. Then. standing In the door. she
drew long breath.
She set the horn to her lips and
blew. Out across the melting vague.
ness Of the dim world floated the three
long blasts and the three short ones
She waited a little while and blew
again. That signal could not reach
Anse Havey's own house. because the
ridge would send 1t echoing back in 4
shattered wave Of sound. It would be
better heard to the east, and after q
time there came back to her waiting
ears, very low and distant. yet very
clear. an answer.
1t came from the house of Milt Nc
Briar. and Juanita's heart, torn and