The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1921-02-24
senior. II you wish to try an expert

the Upen space. and found shelter be-
hind the walls of the hut. The girl
never removed her eyes from the other
cabin, and Cavendish, step behind
his prisoner, poised for a quick blow,
the steel blade glittering in uplifted
hand. saw nothing but the back of the
man before him. The latter shrugged
his shoulders and marched forward,
his eyes alone evidenclng the passion
raging within.
Without pausing they reached the
door, which stood slightly ajar. Stella
pushed 1t open, took one swift glance
within and stepped aside. The other
two entered, and she instantly fol-
lowed, closing the door, and securing
1t with stout wooden bar. Her face
was white, marked by nervous emo
tion. her eyes bright and fearless. With
one swift glance she visioned the in
terror; there were two rooms, both
small, divided by solid log partition,
pierced by narrow doorway.
Her heart beat faster as she turned
away. satisfied with the success of her
plan. Nothing remained now but to
secure Mendez, to make 1t impossible
for him to raise an alarm. If he could
be bound, and locked into that rear
room. She looked at the two men
the Mexican had slouched down into a
chair, apparently having abandoned all
hope Of escape, his chin lowered on his
breast, his eyes hidden beneath the
wide brim Of his hat. Feeling no trepi-
dation, she crossed toward the other
room. noting as she passed that Men,
DEE lifted his head to observe her
movements. She paused at the door,
turning suspiciously, but the man had
already seemingly lost interest, and
his head again dropped. She stepped
within.
1t was dlngy dark once she had
crossed the threshold, yet enough Of
light flickered in through the doorway
to enable her to perceive the few ar
ticles Of furniture. The room itself
was small one, but contained q
roughly constructed wooden bed, two
stools. and square table Of unplaned
boards. Against the wall In a corner
leaned short-barreled gun, a canvas
bag draped over its muzzle.
She had no opportunity to observe
more. To her ears there came the
sound Of a blow in the room she had
just left, groan, the dull thud Of q
body striking the floor, accompanied
by a Spanish oath, and a shuffiing Of
feet. She sprang back into the open
doorway, startled. certain only of some
catastrophe, her fingers gripping hard
on the revolver.
Cavendish lay writhing on the floor,
the chair overturned beside him, and
the Mexican, with one swift leap for
ward, cleared the body, and reached
the window. Even as she caught this
movement, too dazed for the instant to
act, the injured man struggled up on
one elbow, and, with all the force he
possessed, hurled the knife straight
at the fleeing figure. 1t flashed through
the air. a savage CLEAN of STEEL barely
missing Mendez' shoulder, and buried
itself in log, quivering from the force
Of impact. With a yell Of derisIon, his
hands still bound, the desperate fugi-
tive cast himself head-f1rst through the
opening. Without aim, scarcely aware
of what she did, the girl flung up her
weapon and fred. With revolver vet
smoking she rushed forward to look
without. Rolling over and over on the
ground, his face covered with blood,
Mendez was seeking to round the cor
ner Of the cabin, to get beyond range.
Again she pulled the trigger, the pow
der smoke blowing back into her face,
and binding her. When she could see
once more he was gone, but men were
leaping out through the door of the
bunkhouse, shouting in excitement.
One Of these caught sight of her,
and fred, the bullet chugging into the
end OF log, 80 closely it caught a
strand Of her hair, but, before another
shot could follow, she had seized the
shutter, and closed the opening, driv-
ing the latch fast with the revolver
butt. She was cool enough now, every
nerve on edge. realizing fully the dam
ger Of their position. All the bloou or
q fighting race surged through her
veins, and she was conscious Of no
fear, only of wild exultu:Ion. o
| strange desire to win. AS sh. tuica.i
she faced Cavendlsh, only vaguely stsi-
BILE in the twilight caused by the cl,ssd
window.
| "Are you hurt1"
"N0-not-not much. He Knocked
all the wind out of ME. I'm all right
now"
| Get up thenl There's fiyhting
enough ahead to make you forget that.
What happened?"
"He-he kicked me, I guess. IL
1on't exactly know. heard you 60
past us into that other room, and-and
just turned my head to see. The next
knew I was on the floor. I thought
was going to faint. Did get him
with the knife?"
"No, it's over there, and I am afraid
didn't touch him either; it was ali SO
sudden I got no aim. Do you hear
those vOices2 There must be a dozen
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