The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1917-09-13

he was past the CUTLER.
The woman, crouched Just beyond,
under the edge of the bank, was blaz-
Ing away toward the Indians with nm
automatic revolver. An instant later he
pulled up his mare alongside the buck
board and looked up with cool alert
ness at the third member of the party,
under the brink Of the bank. The man
Gensed firing and twisted his thickset
body half about so that he could stare
down at the newcomer.
The fusillade of the Indians had
ceased the instant their view Of the
fugitive was cut of. Yet, after n sim
gle hard look, the man ON the bank
turned away to thrust his rifle up over
the edge and shoot. The rider wheeled
his mare and rode back past the skit-
fish ponies. The woman hud crept In
| from the entrance of the gullcy to
where she could stand upright without
exposing herself to the fire of the
Ihdians.
She came up the slope with an easy.
sprlnglng step hat told of youthful
buoyuncy. From under the hem of her
neat gingham dress peeped the toes of
small, blue-beadcd ihoccasins. Having
reloaded her pistol, she raised her
head to look up ut the rider. He was
lifting his hand to touch his hat with
p%erfunctory courtesy. Then he saw
her ~face-culm, proud, wildly beauti-
full.
lie removed his hat, with n sudden
change In his manner that brought II
CLEAN into the girls 6lue-black eyes.
a trifle disconnected by the girls
cool scrutiny, he brusquely demanded:
"What Is the trouble here?"
She looked from his cavalry puttees
to his army saddle and the butt of his
rifle. 81 guess you needn't worry about
your scalp" she assured him, her rich
contralto voice as soft as 1t was sweet.
ly hooking. You came near getting n
hair brand, l see. But you're safe
enough now If you keep close"
The raillery brought n slight flush in
to his sallow cheeks. Yet his gaze did
not finch before her look of disdain.
lie asked another question: "uuve
they taken u abency
mo. We saw this bunch IN the
bank. Reggie cut loose ut them before
Pere could stop him."
"Perc?' Ah-your father. The
other man fired at them first, you say?'
Can you blame him? lie was along
when the agent was shot down, last
week. You may have heard of the
murder"
Yves. Still II was wrong for idm to
invite an attack, with u woman In his
party"
"Oh, I'm only n quarterbreed, you
know" replied the girl with ironical
lightness. Besides, Reggie thought
the party was trying to head us of.
Don't worry. Charlie Redbear crawled
up the road half an hour ago. The
chances are we can hold out until he
fetches the police" A rifle shot pune
tn lted the remark.
The rider looked over the coulee
bank across at the jagged crest of the
butte. IF they slip over there" he
said, "this position will become unten-
able. The butte Is the key to the stu
alton"
He looked at the girl, between con-
Germ and swiftly growing admiration of
her remarkable beauty. Her eyes were
like blue-black diamonds. An almost
imperceptible film Of old-gold enriched
the cream and rose of her cheeks. Her
Jet.black hair was Of French ~fineness.
The curve Of her rather large mouth
was perfect.
But the red lips were again parting
In a disdainful smile. She replied with
out seeking to conceal her scorn: "If
you're afraid they'll take the butte,
you might get away by boiling down
the coulee. Wen do what we Gun to
draw their fire."
you willf" he said. "Thank you for
your suggestion. l believe III follow
1t. Kindly step aside"
She stood motlonless, her eyes gilt.
tering with cold contempt Of his cow
ardlce. Unchecked by the look. ne
leaned forward In the saddle. The
mare lenped away like n startled deer.
Once clear of the gulley she swerved
sharply and raced away down the cou-
lee. The flight was so unexpected, so
daring and SO swift that the fugitive
had been borne II good fifty yards down
along the foot of the near slope before
the Indians opened fire on him.
The girl had crept forward and
crouched In the entrance of the gulley
to peer after him.
"rhe coward! !" she cried. "rhe cow
ard. ] hope they get him I"
But before n OF thu many bullets
could find the leaping. receding mark.
mare and rider shot oct of sight behind
u clump OF willows At nee the firing
ceased.
The blond young man under the bush
glanced around ut the girl and called
jeerlngly: II say, Marie, how's that
for n bobtail visltf Took him for a
gentleman"
"Gentlcman2 That's the word" she
Knocked. Conduct becoming an officer
and gentleman"