The Bossier banner., 1921-01-20

rang within to tell him she was so near
and in such fearful need of him.
Twice during the morning did the
refugee attempt to slip down into the
parched desert that stretched toward
Sonora and safety. But the Gordon set
about him was drawn too close. Each
time loose-seated rider lounging in
the saddle with rifle in his hands
drove them back. The second attempt
was almost disastrous, for the convict
was seen. The hum Of q bullet whistled
past his ears as he and his prisoner
drew back into the chaparral and from
thence won back to cover.
Kate. dropping with fatigue. saw
that fear rode Blackwell heavily. He
was trapped and he knew that by the
Arizona code his life was forfeit and
would be exacted Of him should he be
taken. He had not the hardihood to
game 1t out In silence, but whined COM
plants. promises and threats. He tried
to curry favor with her, to work upon
her pity, even while his furtive glances
told her that he was wondering wheth-
er he would have better chance II he
sacrificed her life.
From gulch to arroyo. from rock
cover to pineclad hillside he was
driven in his attempts to break the
narrowing circle Of grim hunters that
hemmed him. And with each failure.
with every passing hour, the terror in
him mounted. He would have well
coined life Imprisonment. would have
sold the last vestige Of manhood to
save the worthless life that would soon
be snuffed out unless he could evade
his hunters till night and in the dark
ness break through the line.
He know now that 1t had been a fatal
mistake to bring the girl with him. He
might have evaded Bolts posses, but
now every man within fifty miles was
on the lookout for him. His rage
turned against Kate because Of It. Yet
even In those black outburstsN he felt
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 to have known tina. the smoke
would draw his hunters as the smell Of
carrson does huzzard.
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. It proved
to be blind gulch. one offering no exit
ut the upper end but stiff rock climb
to blur above.
He whipped OF his coat and gave It
to Kate.
sPut It on. Quick |"
Surprised. she slipped 1t on.
SNOW ride back out and cut along
the edge Of the hill. You've got time
to make It all right before they close
In II yon travel fast. Stop once-just
once-and I'll drop you in your tracks.
Now git!"
She saw his object in q fash. 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. 1t would be q d.
version to draw them from him.
Meanwhile he would climb the cliff
and slip away unnoticed.
The danger OF what she had to do
stood out quite clearly. but as
chance to get away from him she well
coined 1t gladly. From the lip Of the
gulch she swung abruptly to the right
Her horse stumbled and went Gown
just as bullet flew 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 to see Curly. She
was In his arms and his face was
broken with emotions Of love and ten
derness.
"You're not hurt1' he implored.
no"
He didn't -mistreat your His
voice was trembling as he whispered
Il.
Mono"
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
dissipating the singfeness Of his ener-
gy. His face and hands were torn
with catclaw, his knees bruised by a
slip against a sharp jut Of quartz.
When he reached 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 dung his rifle to place and fired