The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1917-03-31
Continued from Our Las, issu.)

storms. meeting IN the Gap,
crashed together. Bolt upon bolt
OF lightning split the falling sheets
Of water. and thunder. exploding
In their faces, stunned and deaf
ened them.
Nan leaned within de SPANS
arm. This ia too fierce 10 last
long" he said
"Oh. but it's November" Nan
reminded him approximately,
1T won't last all night. anyway.
he answered.
Despite bis assurance. however,
n did last all night, and Il was
only the iulls between the sharp
squalls that enabled them TO cover
the trail before daylight.
Their flight was almost ended.
Only the sheer cliff ahead blocked
their descent 10 the aspen grove.
They started forward, de Spain
ahead. The footholds were slip
nory. and fragments OF rock that
had washed down made every step
{. new hazard.
They made half the stretch and
the sun was rising when de Spain,
turning 10 speak 10 Nan. asked her
for her rife. that no might carry
Il with his own.
As he turned n gust OF wind.
sweeping against the sheer wall,
caught him off hie guard. He re.
gained hii balance. but in doing
10 released his rifle. Before he
could recover II the rife slipped
fiom reach. In the next instant
he heard II bounding from rock to
rock. five hundred feet below.
Greatly annoyed and Inundated.
he spoke with a laugh TO reassure
Nan. just as she answered not TO
worry. something splashed suddenly
close at hand against the rocky
wall. From below, the sound OF a
rife report cracked against the
face OF tho cliff. They were so
startled. 70 completely amazed.
that they stood motionless. But IN
another moment the blow OF the
heavy slug against the splintering
rock was repeated. the distant re-
port followed.
Under fire" muttered de Spain.
He looked queEtioningly at Nan.
She herself. gazing across the dizzy
depths. was searching for the dan.
ger-point A third shot followed AZ
n seemingly regular interval-the
deliberate interval needed by a
marksman working out
his range and taking his time TO
lind H.
Nan" de Spain mu,tered. I've
rot you into n fix. II we can't
stop that fellow he Is liable 10 stop
~. Can YOU see anything"
Henry" She was looking
straight down into the valley. is
ther6 anything moving on the
there-see-just east
81 Sassoon's ranch house7"
De Spain. his eyes bent on the
point Nan indicated. drew her for
ward TO a dip in the trail which.
To one stretched flat afforded a
slight protection.
De Spain spoke slowly: Give
ne your rife" lie held out his
hand. keeping his eyes rigidly on
The suspicious spot on the ridge.
Il How far liz IL 10 that road. Nan? ?"
She looked toward the faint line
hat lay in the deep shadows be.
Io.s. Three hundred yards"
Nan. II Il wasn't for you,
couldn't travel this country at ALL
he remarked with studious uncon-
rsrn. Last time | had no ammu.
time. no rifle-you al
ways have what's needed. How
high are We. Nam
Seven hundred feet"
Elevate for me. Nan. will your"
Remember the wind" she fal.
erred. adjusting the sight as he
lsd asked.
Throwing the rifle 10 his shoulder.
10 Spain covered a hardly pereep-
ible black object and fired. Once,
vice. three times his hand fell and
'ose sharply on the lever. with
very mark OF precision.
The fire came steadily back, and
without the least init.
nation OF being affected by de
;pain's return.
Nan tried to-close her eyes TO the
igure of de Spain fighting for her
lie and his own. Her rifle. at his
boulder. seemed In his hands a
eadly part Of his arm and eye and
rain.
Then, while she looked, breath |
essly. he took his eyes an instant
rom the sights He's runningl"
reclaimed de Spain. as the rifle butt /
vent instantly back TO his cheek. |
Whoever he is. God help him nowl" I
The words were more fearful TO |
IAN than an imprecation. He had |
rivon his enemy from the scant |
over OF rut in the trail. and the |
lan was fleeing for life.
Bullet after bullet followed |
he escaping wretch. Suddenly de |
pain terked the rifle from his /
heck. threw back his head and /
wept his left hand across his
training eyes. The black speck |
toward the ranch house
prawled headlong on the trail.
De Spain did not fire again. Sec
nd after second he waited to be
ure there was no ruse. Without
aking HIS eyes off the sprawling
peck. he rose stiffly TO his feet. As
In dream she saw his hand
tretched toward her and heard. as
e looked across the far gulf. one
ord; Comet"
or all the confused impressions
nat crowded Mans memory after
he wild night on Music Mountain,
10 most vivid was that of a no