The Lamar register., 1917-06-27
The Two Refugees Looked Down on
the Flooding Gap.

the FloooinS SdP'
against the rock wall; cnips scattered
between them. From below, the
sound Of a rifle report cracked against
the face of the cliff. They were 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 morning. He could
discover no sign of life around any of
the houses. But in another moment
the little singing scream came again,
the blow of the heavy slug against the
splintering rock was repeated, the dis
tant report of the rifle followed.
"Under fire." muttered De Spain.
He looked ut Nan. WED better keep
moving" he said Come whoever Is
shooting can follow US hundred
yards either way" In front of De
Spain fourth bullet struck the rock.
Man." he muttered, I've got you into
a fix. If we can't stop that fellow,
he is liable to stop us. Can you see
anything?" he asked, waiting for her
to come up.
Henry" She was looking straight
down into the valley, and laid her hand
on De Spain's shoulder. SIS there any
thing moving on the ridge-over there
-see-just east of Sassoon's ranch
houseT"
De Spain, his eyes bent on the point
Nan indicated, drew her forward to II
dip in the trail which. to one stretched
Hat, afforded a slight protection. He
made her lie down, and just beyond
her refuge chose point where the
path, broadening a little and rising In
stead of sloping toward the outer
edge, gave him a chance to brace him
self between two rocks. Flattened
there like n target In midaIr, he threw
his hat down to Nan, and, resting on
one knee, waited for the shot that
should tumble him down FL Captain or
betray the man bent on killing him.
Another bullet. deliberately aimed,
Clipped the rock above him. Nan,
ngonizing in her suspense, cried out
she must Join him and go with him
II he went. He, steadied her with a
few words. 4 bullet struck again
viciously close between them. De
Spain spoke slowly: Give me your
rifle" Without turning his head, he
held out his hand, keeping his eyes
rlgldly on the suspicious spot on the
ridge. How far is 1t to that road,
Nan?"
She looked toward the faint line
that lay in the deep shadows below.
ssFTbraa hundred ya rds
'Nan, II 1t wasn't for you, couldn't
travel this country at ALL" he re-
marked with studious uncOncern.
Last time | had no ammunition-this
time, no rifie-you always have what's
needed. How high are we, Nanf"
Seven hundred feet"
Elevate for me. Nan, will your"
adjusting the sight as he had asked.
With the cautioning words she
passed the FURNISHED weapon, glitter
ing yet with the raindrops, into his
hand. A flash came from the distant
ridge. Throwing his rifle to his shoul-
der, De Spain covered hardly per
ceptible black object on the trail mid
way between Sassoon's ranch-house
and little bridge. Then he fired be-
fore Nan could believe he had lined
! the sights. Once, twice three times
! his hand fell and rose sharply on the
lever, with every mark of precision,
yet so rapidly Nan could not under
I stand how he could discover what his
/ shots were doing
Continued next week.