The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-11-18
CHAPTER xII-Continued.

those voic"sf There must be dozen
OF the band outside already"
He looked up nt her, his glnnce al
most vacant, and she could but per.
ceive how his chin shook.
what shall we dor"
Dor She gripped his shoulder.
Are you man and ask that? We
viii fghti Did you imagine | would
ever surrender myself into the hands
OF that devil after what has hep
pened1 | would rather die; yes. I
Will die before he ever puts hand on
me. And what about you, Mr.. Caven-
dish1 Are you going to lie there mop
Ing? Answer mel thought you were
IA gentleman"
The words were like blow in his
face. and under their sting he stag.
gered to his feet; scarlet blazed I'm
both his cheeks.
"You have no right TO say that 10
me-" he said angrily. I'm not that
kind"
Il know IT," she admitted, but you
lose your nerve; this isn't your game.
Well. II isn't mine either. for the mat
ter OF that. Nevertheless Il has got
to be played. and we're going TO play
, IL together. Those fellows Will be mt
that door presently-just as soon as
Mendez tells them who are inside here.
They'll try us once and, II we can beat
them back, that Will give us breath
Ing spell. Two of us ought 10 hold
them for some time"
There was n shouting OF commands
without In Spanish, punctuated by
oatbs. the meaning OF which the girl
alone understood. She leaned for.
ward. her eyes on the door, the cooked
revolver held ready. She had meant
what she said TO Cavendlsh; TO her
mind death was far preferable TO any
surrender TO that infurated Mexican:
she expected death, but one hope yet
buoyed her up-Westcott. He would
come; she had faith In that-and he
would find she had fought to the end.
eeen II he came too late. She buried
her face In her hands, sitting n sob
that shook her body, yet when she lift
ed her head again there was no glim-1
mer OF tears In her eyes and her
cheeks Were crimson. She waited mo-
tionless, scarcely seeming 20 breathe
the statue OF woman at bay.
All this was but for moment, n mo-
ment of swift thought, of equally swift
decision. The next Cavendlsh stood
beside her, grasping the shotgun. no
longer victim of weakness. his eyes
meeting hers eagerly.
81 could only find twelve cartridges"
he exclaimed. but Know how to use |
those"
lie took step forward and held out
his hand.
Forgive me. Miss Donovan" he
pleaded. REALLY do not know what
makes me like that, but you would
make a man out Of anybody"
Her firm. slim fingers met his eager.
~ her eyes instantly glowing In mp
probation.
"of course I forgive you" she ex-
claimed. "Your fear Is no greater
than my own. ] am woman and
dreh1 :s's sort Of thing. All that gives
me courage Is the knowledge that
death is preferable TO dlshonor." her
voice lost its firmness, "and-and my
faith In n man"
You mean In possible rescuef"
Her eyes lifted to his face.
"Nes, Mr. Cavendish. 1t may prove
all imagination, yet there is one-a
real man, am sure-who must know
OF my plight before this. II ne does.
and lives, he will come TO me. II we
can only defend ourselves long enough
there will be rescue"
blow struck the outer door, and
was repeated, evidently dealt by the
butt of gun; then the two, standing
silent and almost breathless within,
heard Mendez' voice.
."Senorita, and you also, Senior Cav
endish," he called, his words intended
to be conciliatory. ut is OF no use that
you resist. We are many and armed.
II you surrender and not fight pledge
you protection"
The girl gl9aced at Cavendish.
You answer him"
what shall l say7" he WHISPERED.
The man lies; he will keep no
promise once we are In his power. Be I
'ides they have not yet found Cateras.
When they do there will be no thought /
" mercy" $
Then we will fight II outT 7
Il shall; ! will never give myself 4
nto the hands OF that creature" h
"senor." and Cavendish stepped Il
side 10 the protection OF the logs eve
Viii not surrender. That Is our an n
wer." r
Fools" he called back, his voice
ising harsh above the growing of o
thers. I'VE viii show you. Silva. I,
'elipe, quick now; do what told YOU, &
We VIII teach these Americana dogs n u
ssson. No, stand back Walt until | N
peak the word" n
A faint glimmer Of light through "
ne OF the log crevices caught Cayen- C
Ish's attention and he bent down. his n
fe TO the crack, one hand grasping the
.