The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1920-01-22
CHAPTER yIII--continued.

Thought onct the deputy might show
mp ugly, but quart o. red-eye sure
gixed him-thar's our party a comm
now. Ye're ter stay right whar We
are"
They were advancing toward us up
the bank which sloped down toward
the creek. Rale moved forward to
meet them across the little open space,
and moment later, from my hiding
place among the motionless horses !
became able to distinguish the slowly
approaching figures. There were four
in the party, apparently from the garb
two men and two women. The second
man might be the preacher, but If so,
why should he be there? Why should
Unless the two main conspirators had
special need for his services, l could
conceive no reason for his having any
part in the action that night. Had l
been deceived in their plans? Even as
this fear overwhelmed me with conster-
nation. was compelled to notice how
helplessly the first of the two women
walked-as though her limbs refused
to support her body, even though APP
parently upheld by the grip of the
man beside her. Rale, Joining them,
immediately grasped her other arm,
and, between the two, she was impelled
forward. The saloonkeeper seemed
anable to restrain his voice.
"Yer must'r give her one h o.
DOSE" he growled, angrily. "Half o
bhet wud a bin nough. Why, d. 1t.
abe kin hardly walk"
swell, what's the odds?" 1t was Kir-
by who replied sarcastically, "She got
mole because she wouldn't drink. We
tad to make her take it, and it wasn't
40 easy job. Gaskins will tell you
shat Have you got your man hereT
90 course; he's waiting thar with
this. She cont know nuthin', does
She?"
maybe not now; but she'll come
around all right, and she signed her
maine, So there amt no hitch. She
seemed to get worse after that. Come
get them off, Jack there isn't any time
TO waste. suppose wen have to strap
her into the saddle"
/ held back, and permitted them to
work, merely leading my own horse
slightly 70 one side and keeping in his
shadow. Caskins brutally jerked the
shrinking mulatto forward and forced
her to mount one of the horses. She
made some faint protest, the nature
of which failed to catch clearly, but
the e. low only laughed In reply and
ordertd her to keep quiet. Eloise ut
tered no word, emitted no sound, made
no struggle, as the two other men lifted
her bodily into the saddle, where Kirby
held her, swaying helplessly against
him, while Rale strapped her securely
into place.
The entire proceedings were so
6rutally cruel that it required all my
strength of will to restrain myself from
action. My fingers closed upon the pis-
toll in my pocket, and every impulse
urged me to hurl myself en- the fellow,
trusting everything to swift, bitter
fight. fairly trembled in eagerness to
grapple with Kirby, hand 10 hand, and
crush him helpless TO the earth.
"Thar," said the saloonkeeper, st
last, testing his strap. Il reckon she
can't fall off nowhow, even If she don't
sit up worth a d.. Go ahead now,
Moffett."
Both men stepped aside, and i led
my liorse forward. The movement
brought me more into the open, and
face 20 face with Kirby. BY some trick
of fate, at that very instant star
CLEAN, piercing through the screen OF
leaves overhead, struck full into my
eyes. With an oath he thrust my kaI
back and stared straight at me.
could not see the mingled hate and
horror glariug in the mans eyes, but
there could be no doubt of his recognl-
ton. The acknowledgment found ex-
preston In startled exclamation.
"By God You, herel"
That was all the time gave him.
With every pound of strength, with
every ounce of dislike, l drove q
clenched fist Into that surprised race,
and the fellow went down as though
smitten by an ak. Even as he reeled,
Rale leaped on me. cursing, failing to
understand the cause, yet instinctively
realizing the presence Of an enemy.
His grip was at my throat, and. even
as his fingers closed savagely, he struck
me with one knee in the stomach, and
drove an elbow straight into my face.
The next instant we were locked to-
gether so closely any blow became Inn
possible, youth and agility waging
fierce battle against brutal strength.
think was his match, yet this i
never knew-for all my thought GEN.
tered In an effort to keep his hands
from reaching any weapon. Whatever
happened to me. there must be no
alarm, no noise sufficiently loud so as
60 attract the attention of sentries on
..I n rol~