Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-08-16
XIV.
Flight

Flight.
DE Spain. catching Mans arm. spoke
hurriedly. and they FASTENED outside
toward the kitchen. I'VE must get
away quick" he said as she buttoned
her coat. And, knowing how she suf-
fered In what she was doing. he drew
her into the shelter of tie porch and
caught her close to him. I'll take you
straight to Mrs. Jeffries. When you
are ready. you'll marry me; we'll make
our peace with your Uncle Duke to-
gether. Great God! What a night /!
This way, dearie."
mo. to the stables Henry! Where's
your horse?"
"under the pine. and yours. too. l
found the pony. but | couldn't find
| your saddle. Nam"
Il know where it's hidden. Let's
| get the horses"
"Just q minute. l stuck my rifle TN
der this porch" He stopped and felt
below the st1;nger. Rising ia a mo-
ment 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 n murmur
unlike the sounds Of the storm made
De Spain halt his companion.
what Is it," she whispered. he
listened intently. Without speaking,
he took Nan and retreated to the cor.
ner of the house. "There is somebody
in that pine" he whispered, waiting
for me to come after the horses. Sas-
soon may have found them. I'll try
it out, anyway. before I take a chance.
Stand back here. Man."
He put her behind the corner of the
house. threw his rifle to his shoulder,
and fired as nearly as he could In the
darkness toward and just above the
pine. Without an instant's hesitation
a pistol shot answered from the direc.
ton in which he had fired. . and in
another moment a small fusillade fol.
lowed. by the Almighty" muttered
De Spain, i've must have our horses
Nan. Stay right here. I'll try driving
those fellows off their perch"
She caught his arm. "What are you
going to do?"
Run in on them from cover, wher.
ever l can find 1t. Nan, and push them
back. We've got to have those horses
IF we could only get away withou,
a fight"
This is Sassoon and his gang, Nan
You heard Pardaloe. These are not
your people. I've got to drive 'em, OIL
we're gone. Nam"
Then l go with you"
man, you can't do It," whispered
De Spain cnergetically. "a chance
bullet"
She spoke with decision: II &C
with you. l can use a rife. Better
both Of us be killed than one. Hell
me up on this roof. I've climbed il
a hundred times. My rifle is in III.
room. Quick, Henry"
Overriding his continued objec
tons, she lifted her foot to his hand
put her second foot on DE SPANS
shoulder, gained the sloping roof, ant
scrambled on her hands and knees VI
to the window of her room. A far-of
peal of thunder echoed from the noun
tains. Luckily, no flash had preceded
it, and Nan. rifle in hand, slid safely
down to the end of the lcan-to, where
De Spain helped her to the ground
He directed her how to make n zigzal
advance toward the pine, and, above
all. to throw herself fiat and sidewist
after every shetland not to fire
often.
In this way they advanced slowl,
but safely to the disputed point ant
then understandable horses were
gone. A fresh discharge of shots cam,
from two directions-seemingly from
the house and the stable. A momen
later they heard sharp firing far dowr
the gap--thelr sole avenue Of escape
They withdrew to the shelter Of
large rock familiar to Nan even in tn,
dark. While De Spain was debatin;
In his mind how to meet the emer
gcncy, she stood Mt his side, his equa
he knew, in courage, daring and re
source, and answered his rapid ques
lions as to possible gateways o