The Raymer enterprise., 1920-04-08

H.
"Whole caboodle workIn' like a
,harm." he said. good humoredly.
Thought onet the deputy might show
up ugly. but quart O. red-eye sure
axed hlm-thar's our party comm
now. Ye're ter stay right whar ye
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 II SO.
why should he be theref Why should
his presence at this time be necessary
Unless the two main consplrators had
special need for his services, ! could
conceive no reason for his having any
part in the action that night. Had !
been deceived In their plans7 Even as
this fear overwhelmed me with conster-
nation, ! was compelled to notice how
heiplessly the first Of the two women
walked--as though her limbs refused
to support her body. even though ap-
parently upheld by the grip Of the
man beside her. Rale. Joining them.
Immediately grnsped her other arm.
and. between the two. she was lmpelled
forward. The saloonkeeper seemed
unable to restrain his voice.
"Yer must'r give her one h. o. a
dose" he growled. angrily. Half O.
thet wud bin nough. Why. d. II.
she kin hardly walk"
well. what's the oddsi" It was Kir.
BY who replied sarcastically. "She got
more because she wouldn't drink. We
had to make her take It. and It wasn't
no easy Job. Gasklns will tell you
that. Have you got your man herer
70 course: he's waiting thar with
the hosses. But I'm id II like
this. She don't know nuthin', does
she1"
Maybe not now; out she'll come
around all right, and she signed her
name. So there amt no hitch. She
seemed to get worse after that. Come
on. we can't stand talking here; let's
get them on. Jack; there isn't any time
to waste. suppose we'll have to strap
her Into the saddle"
held back. and permitted them to
work, merely leading my own horse
slightly to one side and keeping In his
shadow. Gaskins brutally jerked the
shrinking mulatto forward and forced
her to mount one Of the horses. She
made some faint protest. the nature
Of which I failed to catch clearly, but
the fellow only laughed 10 reply and
ordered 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
brutally cruel that II required all my
strength Of will to restrain myself from
action. My fingers closed upon the pIs.
tol In my pocket. and every impulse
urged me to hurl myself on the fellow,
trusting everything to swift, bitter
fight. fairly trembled In eagerness to
grapple with Kirby. hand to hand. and
crush him helpless to the earth.
thar" said the saloonkeeper, at
last. testing his strap. Il reckon she
can't fall of nowhow, even II she don't
nt up worth d.. Go ahead now.
Moffett."
Both men stepped aside. and I led
my horse forward. The movement
brought me more into the open. and
face to face with Kirby. By some trick
Of fate, at that very instant star
gieam. piercing through the screen OF
leaves overhead. struck full into my
eyes. With an oath he thrust my hat
back and stared straight at me.
I could not see the mingled hate and
horror glaring In the mans eyes, but
there could be no doubt Of his recognl.
tion. The acknowledgment found ex.
preston In a startled exclamation.
by Godl-you. here!"
That was all the time I gave him.
With every pound of strength. with
every ounce Of dislike. drove a
clenched fist into that surprised face.
and the fellow went down as though
smitten by an az. Even as he reeled,
Rale leaped on me. cursing. falling to
understand the cause. yet instinctlvely
realizing the presence Of an enemy.
His grip was at my throat. and. even
~ bis 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 20 closely any blow became Inn
possible. youth and agility wagins
fierce battle against brutal strength.
I think was his match. yet this !
never knew-for all my thought cen.
tered 10 IN effort to keep his hands
from reaching any weapon. Whatever
happened to me. there must be no
alarm, no noise sufficiently loud so as