The Winslow mail., 1918-05-31

Baines had come into his life In q way
; that left lasting impression.
He was seated in the one large room
of the house telling his wonder-eyet
little friend Of the marvels of the out
side world she had never seen, when
she sprang up with warning cry. A
shadow crossed the threshold, then il
disclosed a great, brawny, fierce-vis'
aged man. He swung out q slip knot
piece of rawhide. 1t looped the head
and then the body of the unprepareG
Adrian. With a great laugh Budd
Grinnel secured the strap about the
| chair.
Hardly" sneered Grinnel, as Lura
reached for her fathers rifle. The out
law anticipated this, and flung the
weapon through the window and drop
ped into chair directly opposite Lura,
the table between them.
"What do you want?" she gasped,
her brave nature for the moment
thrown off its balance, but her mind
working activity as seeking some way
out of the dilemma.
"What I've got" sneered Grinnell.
"That fellow yonder. He'll never chase
another gang down. I am going to
end him, here and now, and then-I'm
going to take you along with me-
Without my consent, I supposeT'
questioned Lura, calm enough now.
"Oh, I've got my horse. You are a
mere featherweight."
"Unwillingly? SO much for that! 1
will either kill you, or myself, the first
chance l get"
"See here, girl" said Grinnell, look
ing impressed, I'm lonesome, I want
you, I'm going to leave the district,
and I've got some money. know your
tune-that young fellow is your spark.
Goods Give him up, come with me
willingly, and I'll let him live."
81 must think-give me time," MUIR
INJURED Lura.
Her pretty brown hand played with
the salt cellars that stood upon the ia
BILE, with pepper boxes and mustard
pot. Opposite to her, complacently ex-
pectant, Grinnell lolled and leered.
Adrian, despite his nearness to death,
had to smile as Lura picked up the
large red-pepper sitter. He recalled
his first meal at that table, when
Baines had passed it to him and, un-
Willingly, Adrian had used the contents
freely. How Lura had laughed! but
speedy and merciful to rush for glass
of milk to subdue his sufferings.
She did not laugh now. Charming
little actress that she was, where inter
est in Adrian Burgoyne and love were
the impelling motives, she assumed the
role Of thoughtful, distressed maiden.
Suddenly she removed the cover of the
pepper box and flung the fiery granules
squarely into the face of the leering
ruffian. Then she seized an iron ket-
tie and swung it across the head Of the
shrieking, blinded scoundrel, Grinnell.
He went down like a shot.
"Quick!' cried Lura, rushing to the
side of Burgoyne and liberating him.
'"Tie him up, take his revolver and
guard him till I return"
Adrian stood over the PROSTATE and
helpless bandit. Glancing from the
window, he saw Lura astride Grin
nell's own horse, speeding down the
road. At little distance she met her
father, searching for Burgoyne to de-
liver a telegram that had just arrived
from Leesburg. 1t told that the de-
tectives had captured all of the bandits
except Grinnell-cautioned Burgoyne
to look out for the outlaw chief, who
had, threatened direful vengeance.
The local authorities, the old terror
removed, were willing to cooperate
now with Burgoyne. They took Grin
nell to the jail at Leesburg.
'"This is for you," spoke Adrian to
Lura, one day week later. "It is the
reward of five thousand dollars offered
for the capture of Grinnell, which you
have earned"
ooh, no no II cannot accept it; in
deed I cannot" she demurred.
"There is no other way" insisted
Adrian. Then their eyes met. "Lura."
he said softly, you must know that I
love you."
"You-you l-me, a poor, humble
girlw
"Poor, Lura? Dear, you have more
money now than myself. A frontier
heroine, indeed-you have saved my
life twice over, viii you trust your
own to my keeping?"
She drew closer to him, her face ra-
diant,
"Oh, Adrian," she cried, "the world
seems all made over again. I am SO
happy"