Evening star., 1921-10-30

Hanes. Never could shoot, anyway
Il grabbed de camera and dropped
It," groaned Sheridan. Call me q
dam fool: l am one, all right, all
right"
Nathalie's voice was clear. did you
never sSa.. i hear of emergency intrench-
my God. girl" Tully swung
around. Here. Sheridan, and Hanes
come UP out of that and give q
and to Nathalie. You three keep
firing"
Hastily the three men dragged
rocks into position, and, while the
enemy stood at bay. firing. an effec-
tive breastwork Of solid rock was
reared; But 1t was not done without
cost. Sheridan dropped with a bullet
through his shoulder, and one of the
guards had shattered right arm.
The Mexicans pressed on up the
trail until. to their cost, they discov.
lowed a period of silence, broken only
by the occasional crack Of a rife. The
idea, apparently. was to wait for re.
Inducements.
Nathalie, who had some skill as a
nurse. occupied the lull in attending
to the wounded men. Then waiting
watching: the night went on. illum-
ined finally by the splendid confiag-
ration of Tully's house, which the at.
tacking party. after looting. set or
fire.
Hints Of dawn became established
through a rift in the easterly noun.
tains. Presently a vast arm, like the
shaft of a searchlight quivered
through the mountain fastness and
lay across the canyon. 1t lightened 9
picture that would have been priced
by any film-studio in the land. Nath.
allie Pau standing aranf her
rifle in the hollow Of her arm. watch.
ing the effect of shot. The light
of the dawn was in her corn-colored
hair; 1t touched her indomitable face
threw into relief her resilient. beauti'
Sheridan pointed to her. smiling
wanly.
"If we had dat camera. Mr.. Tully-
And Tully nodded solemnly.
I'D give hundred thousand dol
they're coming up again-more than
You're the only one who can pick
them OFF at that distance. Miss Bell
Nathalie sighted her weapon and
fired four times. forcing the enemy to
They'll have to rush us to beat US
out" muttered Tully. And they're
enough of them to do that if they
dare try"
That they did dare was made mani.
fest shortly when the Mexicans
ing advantage of every opportunity
for cover.
THE weapons of the defenders
pumping shots with deadly rapid
ity. were hot in their hands. and OF
the ammunition one full belt was all
that remained. The enemy, not SOC
yards away, were evidently consoli-
dating on the trail; there was an in.
saged final rush.
Mr.. Tully."-Nathalie turned, hel
face glowing-"I think II we should
suddenly burst out of here and charge
right down upon those men. we6
think they could be bluffed. Our am.
munition is low; they'll overpower u:
here. What do you say?"
AS Tully glanced at the others
hesitating, Nathalie. with a cry
leaped over the stone barricade, veri.
tably girl gone mad.
Amy one who won't follow a woman
she shrilled, 'stay behind"
With that she started down the
trail, firing and shouting as she went
With piercing cowboy zip. Tully
guard. guard While Oliver. the s'susMs guard wiai pt
the shattered arm. fell into tn.
charge, discharging his revolver with
his left hand. Pbinney Hanes leapec
to his feet, and seizing a handful o.
stones. Joined in the attack.
The Mexicans. caught off theil
guard. sprang from cover and fell IL
twos and three before the well di
rected shots Of the girl and the thre.
men. The next instant the surviving
, Mexicans turned and fed.
And. as they ran, came a volley O
shots directed at them from a belatet
posse of citizens and rangers in th'
| valley below. shots which causet
| some to leap in the desperation o
! blind fear over the side of the trai
| into the treacherous depths Of tn,
concealment on the bare face of tn,
mountain.
For a moment Nathalie stood mo
tionless. her lips parted. her eye!
staring upon the scene below.
Arnold Tully came to her.
before the house was burned 1 hat
two photographs of Hester Dane. On
of them"
IT know" Nathalie's voice caught
IT heard you telling it to Miss Dane
1 couldn't help hearing. 1 was on thu
veranda. 1 am awfully sor-"
II asked her to tell me which wa:
the real Hester Dane-the Hester
Dane 1 could worship, could
She held out her hand.
did you believe what she sait
about-about-abou me?"
He swept the question away will
savage gesture.
IT asked her to tell me which wa!
| the Hester Dane who had filled m,
| life with something. something-oh
what's the use! Nathalie Bell!" Hi
| hands were on her shoulders. his eye'
searching hers.
Suddenly her head fell forwart
upon his breast She was weeping
| Arnold Tully looked up at the morn
| ing sky and smiled.
Copyright, 1921. with all rights reserved.