The Benson signal., 1917-10-27
CHAPTER XXIV.-Continued.
Copyright by Charles scribners sons)

CHAPTER XXIV.-Continued.
IL
Another bullet, deliberately aimed,
Clipped the rock above him. Nan,
agonizing in her suspense, cried out
she must join him and go with him
If he went. He steadied her with a
few words. A 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
rigidly on the suspicious spot on the
ridge. "How far is it to that road,
Nan?
She looked toward the faint line
chat lay in the deep shadows below.
"Three hundred yards"
"Nan, If it wasn't for you, 1 couldn't
travel this country at ALL" he re-
marked with studious unconcern
last time had no ammunition-this
time, no rif1e-yOu always have what's
needed. How high are we, Nan?"
"Seven hundred feet"
Elevate for me, Nan, will you?
Remember the wino," she faltered
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 a 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.
stand how he could discover what his
shots were doing.
The fire came steadily back, and de.
hberately, without the least intimation
Of being affected by De Spain's return
She had never before seen a 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 a rifle in his hands. She
strove to look. The butt of the heat.
Ing rifle lay close against the red.
marked cheek she knew so well, and
to the tips of the fingers every par
ticle of the mans 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 clasped her hands
toward him in an act of devotion
Then, while she looked, breathlessly
be took his eyes an instant from the
sights. He's running!" exclaimed De
Spain as the rifle butt went instantly
back to his cheek. whoever he is
God help him now!"
The words were more fearful tC
Nan than an imprecation. He had
driven his enemy from the scant cover
Of rut in the trail, and the man was
6eeing for new cover and for life
Bullet after bullet pitilessly led the
escaping wretch. Suddenly De Spain
jerked the rifle from his cheek, threw
back his head, and swept his left hanC
across his straining eyes. Once more
the rifle came up to place and flame
shot again in the gray morning light
from the hot muzzle. The rifle fel
away from the shoulder. TIE black
speck running toward the ranchhoust
stumbled, as if stricken by an ak, and
sprawled headlong on the trail. Throw
ing the lever again like lightning. Dc
Spain held the rifle back to his cheek
He did not fire. Second after sec
Ond he waited. Nan watched the rifle
slowly come down, unfred, and saw
his drawn face slowly relax. Without
taking his eyes off the sprawline
speck, he rose stiff1y to his feet. AS il
in dream she saw his hand stretched
toward her and heard, as he looked
across the far gulf, one word: "Come !
They reached the end of the trail
De Spain, rifle in hand, looked back
The sun, bursting in splendOr across
the great desert, splashed the valley
and the loW-Iying ridge with ribbone(
gold. Farther up the gap hOrsemen
stirred by the firing, were riding rap
idly down toward SassoOn's ranch
house. But the black thing in the
sunshine lay quite still.