Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-10

3
perspective, lay peacefully revealed in
the gray of the morning. He could
discover no sign Ct life around any of
the houses. But in another momen.
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. muttcred De Spain.
He looked at Nan. wed better keep
moving he said. "Come. whoever Is
shooting can follow us a hundred
yards either way" In front of De
Spain a fourth bullet struck the rock.
Man." he muttered 1--WE 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 Spnin's shoulder. rs there any
thing moving on the ridge-over there
--see--iust east of Sussoon's ranch
house"
De Spain, his eyes bent on the point
Nan indicated. drew her forward to a
dip in the trail which, to one stretched
fiat, afforded a slight protection. He
made her lie down. and inst beyond
her refuge chose Il point where the
path, broadening little and rising in
stead of sloping toward the outer
edge, gave him Il chance to brace HIM
self between two rocks. Flattened
there ike target In midar, he threw
his hat down to Nan, and resting on
one knee, waited for the shot that
should tumble him down III Captain or
betray the man bent on killing him.
! Another bullet. deliberately aimed,
Clipped TIE rock above him. Nan,
| agonizing in her suspense, cried out
she must join him and go with him
/ IL he went He steadied her with n
! few words. A bullet struck again
vici0nsy close between them. De
Spain spoke slowly: Give me your
| INV. w Ithout MS iitilI. NV
held out his hand, keeping his eyes
rigidly on the suspicious spot on the
ridge. How far is it to that road,
Nan?"
| She locked toward the faint line
that lay In the deep shadows below.
'"Three hundred yards"
Man, If ir wasn't for you, couldn't
travel this country at ALL" he re-
marked with studious unconcern.
Last time I had no ammunition--thi
time, no rille-you always have what's
needed. How high are we, NanI"
'Seven hundred feet
Elevate for me, Nan, will YOU"
Remember the wind" she faltered,
adjusting the sight az he had asked.
With the cautloning 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 Shout
der, De Spain covered n hardly per-
ceptible black object on the trail mid
way between Sassoons ranch-house
and n 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
stand how he could discover what his
shots were doing.
The fire came steadily back, and de-
liberately, without the least intimation
Of being affected by De SPANS return.
She had never before seen man
shooting to kill another. The very
horror Of watching De Spain, at bay
among the rocks, fascinated her. Since
the first day they had met she had
. hardly seen rifle in his hands. She
strove to look. The butt of the heat
marked check she knew so well, and
to the tips of the fingers every par
ticle Of the .mnn's being was alive
, with strength and resource Some
, strange fascination drew her senses
out toward him as he knelt and threw
shot after shot at the distant figure
, hidden on the ridge. She held out
her arms and casped her hands
, toward him in I'm act of devotion.
Then, while she locked, brenthlessly,
, he took his eyes IN instant from the
|, oiuhto elias MINING" nxploinod nn
Spain rs the rifle butt went instantly
5nck to his cheek. "Whoever he Is,
God help him now!"
The words were more fearful tC
Nan than an imprccution. He had
driven his enemy'from the scant cover
Of a rtt in the trail, ana the man was
fleeing for new cover and for life
, Bullet after bullet pitilessly led thu
escaping wretch. Suddenly De SPAR
, jcrked the rife from his cheek, threw
back his hend and swept his left hnnt
across his stranIng eyes. Once more
| the rifle came M to place ANA flame
| shot again in the grny morning light
} from the hot m,lzzle. The rifle fell
t away from the shoulder The black
, spcck running toward the rnnchhous'
| stumbled, az II stricken BY m TX, and
SPRAYED hendlong on the trail. Throw
4 lng The lever again like lightning. IL