The Mena weekly star., 1917-06-14
CHAPTER XxIv.
Flight.

OutSlQe iOWdfu the klLcnen. We must get away quick" he said as she buttoned her coat And, Knowing how she suffered in what she was doing, he drew her into the shelter of the porch and caught her close to him. "l'll take you straight to Mrs. Jeffries. When you are ready, you'lI marry me; we'll make our peace with your Uncle Duke together Great Godl What a night! This way dearie.'
 No, to the stable, Henryl Where's your horse?"
 Under the pine, and yours too. I found the pony, but I couldn't find your saddle, Nan
 T know where it's hidden. Let's get the horses
 Just a minute. l stuck my rifle under this porch" He stooped and felt below the stringer. Rising in a moment with the weapon on his arm the two hurried around the end of the house toward the pine tree They had almost reached this when a murmur unlike the sounds of the storm made De Spain halt his com panion.
 "What is itf" she whispered. He istened intently. Without speaking. se took Nan and retreated to the cor Ter of the house. There is somebody that pine," he whispered, "waiting Or me to come after the horses. Sas- 'oon may have found them. I'll try out anyway, before I take a chance Stand back here, Nan"
 He put her behind the corner of the louse, threw his rife to his shoulder md fired as nearly as he could in the darkness toward and just above the Nne. Without an instants hesitation pistol shot answered from the direc- Ion In which he had fired, and in mother moment a small fusillade fol- owed By the Almighty" muttered De Spain, Eve must have our horses. Nan. Stay right here. I'll try driving hose fellows of their perch"
 She caught his arm. ''what are you going to dor"
 Kun in on them from cover. wher- sver can find it, Nan, and push them pack. We've got to have those horses"
 If we could only get away without | ighti
 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 I go with you"
 Man, you can't do it,v whispered De Spain energetically. "A chance ,ullet--"
 She spoke with decision: T 20 with you. I can use rife. Better 10th of us be killed than one. Help ne up on this roof. I've climbed it hundred times. My rife is tn my 'oom. Quick, Henry"
 Overruling his continued objec- ions. she lifted her foot to his hand, put her second foot on De Spain's 'houlder, gained the sloping roof, and scrambled on her hands and knees up % the window of her room. A far-off ,eal of thunder echoed from the noun ains. Luckily, no flash had preceded |, and Nan, rife in hand, slid safely town to the end of the lean-to, where De Spain helped her to the ground. He directed her how to make a z.gzag advance toward the pine. and, above Ill, to throw herself f1at and sidewise liter every shOt--and not to fire Iften.
 In this way they advanced slowly ,ut safely to the disputed point and hen understood-the horses were Eone. A fresh discharge of shots came rom two directions-seemingly from he house and the stable. 4 moment ater they heard sharp firing far down he gap-their sole avenue of escape. They withdrew to the shelter of .a arge rock familiar to Nan even in the lark. While De Spain was debating . his mind how to meet the emer- gency, she stood at his side, his equal ie knew, in courage, daring and re iource, and answered his rapid ques- ions as to possible gateways of .scape. The rain, which had been lbating, now ceased, but from every assure in the mountains came the roar # rushing water, and little openings if rock and waterway that might have offered chance when dry were now ut of the question. In fact, it was Nan's belief that before morning wa CT would be running over the main rail itself. Yet" said De Spafn finally, before morning we must be long way from his particular spot, Nan. Sassoon las posted men at the neck of the gap-that's the first thing he would do. I'll tell you" he said suddenly, as when after long uncertainty and anx- ous doubt one chooses an alternative md hastens to follow it. Retreat is he thing for us Nan. Let's make for | Music mountain and crawl into our ave till morning. Lefever will get n here some time tomorrow. Then We can connect with him."
 Realizing that no time was to be lost, hey set out on the long journey. Ev- sry foot of the troublesome way of .ered difficulties. Water impeded them continually. Nan picked their trail. But for her perfect familiarity with every foot of the ground, they could lot have got to the mountain at all. When they got to the mountain trail tsalf thav fnund their way swept by |