White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-24
tpisoDfko2

Bessie Blake DanH. anu conAshA
IN the sunshine Of her mountain
home. left the house and vas walk
ing To a spring in a grove nearby
when she heard the elatter II ap
proaching horsemen. One glance
sufieed 10 tell her Who they we're.
She could almost feel the evil eyes
of their leader. Black lack Haines,
resting IN her. For an instant only
she stood as If transaxed. then turn
ing. she sped back 70 the house
BLACK Jack gang-they are
coming she shouted.
Well did The Waterman Of the
Blake home realize the import 81
those words and even before MS
young mistress gained the door. he
had barred windows and laid out On
fhe table three rifles and pistols
Snatching up her own repeater,
which had terminated the careers of
many of Black Jacks gang in for
nler encounters. Bessie in i few
quick words encouraged the fright
ened maid and. taking her position
At a front window. prepared for the
shock of battle. But her heart was
orr in an agony of fear.
Henry, my husband. did he reach
the train or did the outlaws
The report of a rifle cut short her
reyerie and a bullet crashed through
the boards above her head.
Black Jack had seen Bessie as she
fetreated to the house and a leer OF
anticipation spread over his face.
Careful how you shoot. men" he
cried as he swung from his horse in
the clump Of trees 100 yards from
tie house. Get the others. but
spare the Woman-she's for me-"
Johnson. commanche Pete. and
me three others n the raiding PARTY,
al IN convict garb. nodded assent as
they advanced towards the little
building From the windows came
puGs Of smoke and n Of the con
xiets fell With a bullet through his
shoulder. Bessie shot frue-well
he outlaws knew that Back to the
shelter 81 the trees they seurried
sgain theg advanced This time il
AS tie Indian rho fell the BITE Of
a bullet. a flesh wound n an arm
\ glance Of hatred ~eonFulsed his
features Throwing down his rife.
he ran 10 his horse and seized his
bow. the same which had unlocked
he gates Of the prison
Here. he called % his eompaa-
ions The girl shoots TOO straight
III fix them-smoke them out.
smearine an arrow head sith
pitch from a big pine. he touched Il
with a match and as admiring md
exultant grins spread about The cir
ele Of lad mea. he set the arrow 70
the bow and drew The string \
tiny trail Of Tame scarcely dis
tinguizhabie in the sunlight. marked
Is course true 10 the ~giistening sides
Of the house A moment 1t nestled
against the k~iln-dried boards. then
flames curled slowly upwards to-
wards the roof A second. then q
third arrow we're sped On their
course.
A rear door opened and Bessie
came Out to place a ladder and
quickly climb to the roof. which
flames already were licking. Run
ming lightly along the r~idgepole. she
tried brayely TO beat out the flames
xith a blanket.
A splendid target h young form
made. sharply silhouetted against
the blue OF the distant mountains
and Involuntary the men raised
their rifles. only 10 lower them as
Haines turned On them With an oath
Then the front door of the house,
now enyeloped in flames, swung out
ward and the Waterman staggered
gasping into the air. He never raised
his rifle. Three bullets struck him
aud he fell. The maid. a oomeiy
young oma followed. Comanehe
Pete. from behind the pine. leyeled
his rifle and with a pitiful cry. she
erumpled TO the earth.
Choking and scorehed. Bessie half
climbed. half fell down the ladder
INTO the arms of Black Jack. There
vas a weak struggle as he clasped
her 10 him. Then the outlaw swung
The half conscious girl into the sad
die and rode away.
Black Jack had got the woman
Towering Ike a sentinel above a
mountain canyon. reached only by
trails known 10 outlaw horses, stood
Eagle Rock and AZ its foot a rude
cabin. the rendezvous Of Black Jacks