The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-04-09
CHAPTER xIII-continued.

whole caboodle workin' like
charm" he said, good humoredly
Thought onct the deputy might shoy
up ugly, but quart o. red-eye sur
fixed him-thar's our party a comm
now. Ye're ter stay right whar y
are"
They were advancing toward us vi
the bank which sloped down toward
the creek. Rale moved forward t.
meet them across the little open space
and a moment later, from my hiding
place among the motionless horses
became able to distinguish the slowly
approaching figures. There were -four
ia the party, apparently from the garh
two men and two women. The second
man might be the preacher, but if so,
why should he be there? Why should
his presence at this time be necessary?
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, l was compelled to notice how
heIplessly the first of the two women
wElked-as though her limbs refused
10 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
unable to restrain his voice.
Yer must'r give her one h o. q
dose he growled, angrily. Half o.
tibet wud a bin nough. Why, d. it.
she kin hardly walk"
We'll, what's the odds?" 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. Gaskins will tell you
that. Have you got your man here?"
90 course; he's waiting thar with
the bosses. But I'm id if / like
this. She don't know nuthin', does
ghe?"
Maybe not now; but 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 off, Jack; there isn't any time
10 waste. l suppose Wen 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 l failed to catch clearly, but
the fellow only laughed in 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
INFO place.
The entire proceedings were so
brutally crsel that it required all my
strength of will to restrain myself froIs
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
ight. 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. 81 reckon she ,
can't fall off nowhow, even if she don't .
sill up worth Il d. Go ahead now, .
Moffett"
Both men stepped aside, and 1 led ;
my horse forward. The movement q
brought me more into the open, and
face TO face with Kirby. BY some trick 9
of fate, at that very instant a star +
CLEAN, piercing through the screen OF :
leaves overhead, struck full into my Il
eyes. With an oath he thrust my hat :,
back and stared straight at me. a
could not see the mingled hate and =
horror glazing in the mans eyes, but
there could be no doubt of his recogni-
ton. The acknowledgment found ex- :
preston in startled exclamation. :,
by God you, here" =
That was all the time / gave him.
With every pound of strength, with
every ounce of dislike, l drove a Il
clenched fist into that surprised face, II
and the fellow went down as though u
'mitten by an ak. Even as he reeled, W
Rale leaped on me, cursing failing to u
understand the cause, yet instinctively
the presence of an enemy.
lis grip was at my throat. and, even Ut
5 his fingers closed savagely. he struck ST
ne with one knee in the stomach, and
Rove an elbow straight into my face.
The next instant we were locked to- W
ether so closely any blow became i'm M
'ossihle. youth and agility waging W
erce battle against brutal strength. WI
think | 'sas his match, yet this /
ever knew-for all my thoagnt CEN al
cred in an effort to keep his hands ha
rom reaching any weapon. Whatever
90 me, there must be no M
larm, no noise sufficiently loud so as M
attract thp attention of coutr;oe IN, th