The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1917-12-08

You'll never leave here alive. Give me
that girl Let me-get at her! She'll
never win any more men in this camp
Help help help" she shrieked, in
a voice that must have penetrated to
the remotest cabin in the valley.
Suddenly she snatched a rifle off the
wall and backed away, her strong
hands fumbling at the lever. And she
jerked it down, throwing a shell into
the chamber and cooking the weapon,
Duane leaped upon her. He struck up
the rifle as it went off. the powder
burning his face.
Jennie, u out Get on a horse p
he said.
Jennie flashed out or the door.
With an iron grasp Duane held to
the rife-barrel. He had grasped 1t
with his left hand, and he gave such
a pull that he swung the crazed wo-
man off the floor. But he could not
loose her grip. She was as strong as
he.
"Katel Let gor"
He tried to intimidate her. She did
not see his gun thrust in her face. or
reason had given way to such an
extent to passion that she did not care.
She cursed. Her husband had used
the same curses, and from her lips
they seemed strange, unsexed. more
deadly. Like a tigress she fought him ;
her face no longer resembled a wo-
mans.
He heard a cry from outside-a
mans cry, hoarse and alarming.
1t made him think of loss of time.
This demon of a woman might yet
block his plan.
LET gol" he whispered, and felt
his lips stiff. In the grimness of that
instant he relaxed his hold on the
r~ifie-barrel.
With sudden, redoubled, irresistible
strength she wrenched the rifle down
and discharged it. Duane felt a blow
Ia shock-a burning agony tearing
through his breast. Then in a frenzy
he jerked so powerfully upon the rifle
that he threw the oma against the
wall. She fell and seemed stunned.
Duane leaped back, whirled, flew
out of the door on the porch. The
sharp cracking of a gun halted him
He saw Jennie holding to the bride
of his bay horse. Euchre was astridt
the other, and he had a Colt leveled
and he was firing down the lane. Their
came a single shot, heavier, ant
Euchre's ceased. He fell from thu
horse.
A swift glance back showed to Duane
a man coming down the lane. Chess
Allowayl His gun was smoking. Ill
broke into a run. Then in al instan'
he saw Duane, and tried to check hi'
pace as he swung up his arm. Blu
that slight pause was fatal. DUANE
shot, and AIloway was falling when hi
gun went off. His bullet whistleC
close to Duane and thudded into thu
cabin.
Duane bounded down to the horses
Jennie was trying to hold the plungin;
bay. Euchre lay fiat on his back
dead, a bullet-hole in his shirt, hi
face set hard, and his hands twisted
round gun and bride.
Jennie, you've nerve, all right !
cried Duane, as he dragged down tn
horse she was holding. up with yo'
now! Therel Never mind-lonI
stirrupsl Hang on somehow !"
He caught his bride out of Euchre'
clutching grip and leaped astride. TIL
frightened horses jumped into a rul
and Numbered down the lane into tn
road. Duane saw men running fror
cabins. He heard shouts. But Their
were no shots fired. Jennie SCENE
able to stay on her horse, but withou
stirrups she was thrown about so muc
that Duane rode closer and reache
out to grasp her arm.
Thus they rode through the vale
to the trail that led up over the stee
and broken Rim Rock. AS they be
gan to climb Duane looked back. N
pursuers were in sight.
Jennie, we're going to get away
he cried, exultation for her in hi
voice.
She was gazing horror-stricken O
his breast, as in turning to look bac
he faced her.
"Oh, Duane. your shirts all bloody
she faltered, pointing with tremblin
fingers.
With her words Duane becam
aware of two things-the hand he il
st%inctively placed TO his breast sti
held his-gun. and he had been she
through the breast far enough dow
to give him grave apprehension of h
life.
They did not stop climbing viii
!. Duane tore a scarf and made con
: presses. which he bound lightly oys