Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-04-08
"DoC!''
BY HAROLD TITUS.
Author OF ITO the Victor"
Copyright
The Frank A. Munsey Company

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= Hardy had moi seen the flash of the
rifle, but he knew by the direction in
which the outlaws fred that The man
who was thwarling the planned hold
up must be across the triangle anu
under cover else the backing men
would have shot sooner.
lie heard the girls voice close to
his shoulder. She said almost IN 4
moan
'.Oh, what shot Three times and
not one HIT
Even in the tensity of the moment
he felt the shock Of incongrulty, This
girl this model Of young woman
hood, deep.eyed, soft-throated, gen
tie.voiced, intensely feminine with all
her bodily vigor--criticisng the work
Of a man who had failed TO kill
II was all out OF line with any think
Ing he had ever done.
And fourth time the rifle crashed;
almost before the sound reached the
two watchers they saw the man with
the revolyers spin round as though
thrown from his balance by mighty
blow.
lie staggered forward a step. and
his left hand lei 90 its hold OF the
menacing gun.
For an instant it seemed as though
he would pitch forward into the mud,
face down, but he recovered with a
mighty effort and faced about drunk.
only. nstca =. They saw his face
contor, with niger: hen c rais I'd his
right hand AID fired
"They got his left arm Hardy
l.n1rd the girl murmur, q quality Of
grim esultaton in her tone.
The man with the rifle lifted his
voice in an oath of warning, and
backed 50 rapidly that he almost stun.
hled.
The horses were quieter The
wounded man Mnged toward his, still
holding to the one revolver.
The one with the rifle. crouchinc in
q final effort TO make out the position
of his assailant, let 20 three shots in
rapid order: then, with a whirl and a
clean bound, caught the saddle'horn
swung to his seat, and hung in The
spurs.
The three animals seemed to gather
as one for mighty effort, rose tc
their hind legs, and, head to head
upged forward and raced down The
street, cursing. quirting, squirting
riders low over their necks. while the
rifle barked angrily and half dozer
other weapons sent sound to minslf
with the rising babble and lead after
the racing outlaws.
From the time that the gunner
gathered to the moment they race(
away mere seconds had passed, ye
the events that were crowded int
that breath of time.
when the last shot from the ban
dts rifle was fired the street was DC
serted except for the trio, but ten sec
onds after those frantic horses ha,
tur~ed tail and raced for the getawa!
the triangle swarmed with life.
They ran from stores hatless, ant
needless of the mud. they flocke(
toward the bank by shortest cuts
shouting Historically, gcsticua,ine
every third man armed One man il
Il butchers apron .cli flat in the mirc
.egained his feet. and ran on, neve
breaking the stream OF excited tall
he turned aimessly loose in shril
voice.
Women ran along the sidewalk ant
clustered ilutteringly in the entranc,
Of stores, most OF them called from
their kitchens by the fusillade.
dozen small boys, accompanied by
sprlnkling Of little girls, splashe'
across the triangle on run, deserter
from school.
A horse, turned loose by some ey
cited would-be rider, infected by tn
all.prevailing excitement, tore throual
the crowd, within an ace OF tramplin
q half dozen.
Yet none gave him more attention
than necessary TO remove themselye
from his path.
It was as the bursting of q resel
y0ir: all the pent.up excitement q
long days and dread nights loosed a
once.
Danger was no longer hidden.
had come into the open, and Kihek
had driven 1t out.
Fear was gone; vengeance wa
!. rampant.
Hardy reached for the window
sash to throw 1t up. but peculla
sound arrested his action. lie turne
j quickly. The girl was standing -ther,