The diamond drill., 1920-04-24


that he must cling TO her as his only
hope Of saving himself. He had made
another mistake in lighting camp
| fire during the morning. Any fool
ought 10 have known tina. the smoke
would draw his hunters as the smell or
carrior does a buzzard.
Now he made third error. Dou-
bling back over an open stretch OF hill
side. he was seen again and forced into
the first pocket that opened. II proved
TO be blind gulch. one offering no exit
at the upper end but a stir rock climb
to a blum above.
He whipped or his coat and gave Il
10 Kate.
''Put II on. Qulckw H
Surprised. she slipped II on.
"Now ride back out and cut along
the edge OF the hill. You've got time
!, to make II all right before they close
In II you travel fast. Stop once--just
once-and Til drop you In your tracks.
Now gitw
She saw his object In flash. Wear
Ing his gray felt hat and his coat. the
pursuers would mistake her for him.
They would follow her--perhaps shoot
her down. Anyhow. II would be d.
version TO draw them from him.
| Meanwhile ne would climb the cliff
and slip away unnotlced.
The danger OF what she had to do
stood out quite clearly, but as a
chance to get away from him she well
coined II gladly. From the lip OF the
gulch she swung abruptly 10 the right.
Her horse stumbled and went down
Just as a bullet few over her head. Be
fore she was free of the stirrups strong
hands pinned her shoulders to the
ground. She heard glad. startled
cry. The rough hands became imme-
diately gentle. Then things grew
black. The last she remembered was
that the mountains were dancing UP
and down In an odd fashion.
Her eyes opened 70 see Curly. She
was In his arms and his face was
| broken with emotions OF love and ten
| derness.
You're not hurtf" he implored.
"No."
"He dldn't-mIstrea your" His
voice was trembling as he whispered
IL.
"No--no."
And at that she broke down. A deep
sob shook her body--and another. She
buried her head on his shoulder and
wept.
Without losing an instant the con-
vict set himself at the climb. His
haste, the swift glances shot behind
him. the appalling dread that made his
nerves ragged, delayed his speed by
dlssipatlng the singleness OF his ener-
gy. His face and hands were torn
with catclaw. his knees bruised by a
slip against SRarp jut Of quartz.
When he rUched the top he was
painting and shaken. Before he had
moved dozen steps man came out
of the brush scarce seventy-five yards
away and called to him to surrender.
He flung his rifle TO place and fired
twice.
The man staggered and steadled
himself. A she'll had jammed aud
Blackwell could not throw II out. He
turned TO run as the other fired. But
he was too late. He stumbled. tripped
and went down full length.
The man that had shot him waited
for him 10 rise. The convict did not
move. Cautiously the wounded hunt
er came forward. his eyes never lifting
from the inert sprawHng figure. Even
now he half expected him to spring up.
life and energy In every tense muscle.
Not till he stood over him. TIL he saw
the carelessly flung limbs. the uncouth
twist 10 the neck. could he believe that
so slight n crook OF the finger had sent
swift death across the plateau.
The wounded man felt suddenly
sick. Leaning against a rock, he stead
led himself TIL the nausea was past.
Voices called to him from the plain be-
low. He answered and presently cir
cled down into the gulch which led 10
the open.
At the gulch mouth he came on a
little group OF people. One glance
told him all he needed to know. Kate
Cullison was crying In the arms OF
Curly Flandrau. simultaneously
man galloped up, flung himself from
his horse and took the young woman
from her lover.
MY little girlr he cried In a voice
that rang with love-
Luck had found his eve lamb that
was lost.
II was Curly who first saw the man
approaching from the gulch. "HelIo.
Cassi Did you get himT
Fendrick nodded wearily. yep.
He's up there" The sheepman's hand
swept toward the biuff.
"You're wounded7"
"Got me In the shoulder. Nothing
serious. Judge"
CullIson swung around. "Sure
about that, Cass7" II was the first