Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1917-05-10

a fght!'
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 [ go with you"
Nan, you can't do it," whispered
De Spain energeticalIy. "a chance
bullet"
She spoke with decision: 81 60
with you. l can use rifle. Better
both Of US be killed than one. Help
NE up on this roof. I've climbed it
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
talns. Luckily, no flash had preceded
1t, and Nan, rifle in hand, slid safely
down to the end of the lean-to, where
tDe Spain helped her to the ground.
He directed her how to make a zigzag
advance toward the pine, and, above
all, to throw herself fat and sidewise
after every shot-and 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 directions-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-
tons as to possible gateways of
escape. The rain, which had been
abating, now ceased, but from every
! assure in the mountains came the roar
Of rushing water, and little openings
Of rock and waterway that might have
! offered chance when dry were now
out Of the question. In fact, 1t was
Mans belief that before morning wa
! ter would be running over the main
! trail itself.
yet" said De Spain finally, before
! morning we must be long way from
| this particular spot, Nan. SassoOn
| has posted men at the neck of the
! fho+ =.
I'll tell you," he said suddenly, as
when after long uncertainty and anx.
fOus doubt one chooses an alternative
and hastens to follow it. Retreat is
/ the thing for US, Nam Let's make for
Music mountain and crawl into our
i in here some time tomorrow. Then
| we can connect with him."
Realizing that no time was to be lost
they set out on the long journey. Ev.
| cry foot of the troublesome way Of.
fered difficulties. Water impeded them
continually. Nan picked their trail
| But for her perfecL -Cy with
every foot Of the ground, they could
not have got to the mountain at all.
! When they got to the mountain trail
itself they found their way swept by q
mad rush Of falling water, it's deafen.
ing roar punctured by fragments OF
| loosened rock which, swept downward
| from ledge to ledge, split and thun.
dered as they dashed themselves
against the mOuntainside. On a pro
| tected floor the two stood for a mo-
ment, listening to the roar Of the cata-
| ract that had cut them off their refuge,
NO use, Nam" said De Spain.
There isn't any other trail, is there?''
She told him there was no other.
"And this will run all night. Henry"
she said, turning to him and as if
thinking OF a question she wanted to
ask, 'hoW did you happen to come to
me tonight when I wanted you SOP
. came because you sent for me, -
he answered, surprised.
But didn't send for you
He stopped. dumfounded. what
! do you mean, Nan?" he demanded IN
easily. II got your message on the
telephone last night, in my office at
TO give his name"
I never sent any message to you, p
she insisted in growing wonderment.
Il have been locked in q room for
three days, dearie. The Lord knows
l wanted to send you word. Who ever
! telephoned a message like that? Was
it q trap to get you in here?"
He told her the story-of the siren
uOus efforts he had made to discover
| the identity Of the messenger-and
how he had been baked. mo mat
ter" said Nan at last. 'It couldn't
have been trap. It must have been
a friend, surely, not an enemy.
Henry" every time she repeated
his name De Spain cared less foi
what should happen in the rest OF the
world, what are we going to do now?
We can't stay here all highland
take what they will greet rs with in
the morning"
He answered her question with an
other: What about trying to get out
by Ell Capitan?"
She started in spite Of herself. at
would be certain death, Henry"
Il don't mean at the worst to try
to cross it TIL we get a glimpse 6f
daylight. But it's quite a way over
there. The question is, Can we find