The Pulaskian., 1921-10-20
CHAPTER xllI--centInued.


 watches. The first was to remain awake and on guard until midnight, and the other was to go on duty from midnight until dawn. The second watch, with which was the factions leader, had nightcap of the vitriolic whisky, flung itself sprawling on the ground and straightway went to sleep.
 The first watch sat around the crackling brushwood fire and played cards for chews of tobacco, cartridges and pocket knives, sang strange and outlandish songs and drank more whisky. One very drunk Torrey gam tied away all his tobacco, all his cart rs sises, his knife. his rifle and his belt, lfs coat and his hat, his boots and his ~l'trt--and offered to bet his trousers i,isi his ears on the turn of single eafdi It was funny, and It was dis ..-ating, too. It was all the work Of hisky. which Bill Dale had always hated because it made men fools, made tliem mouth their secrets and made lhem commit murder. ,.
 After some two hours of these worse than bacchanalian orgies the first watch, heavy with drink, stopped play ing cards and singing outlandish songs, forgot all orders and began to nod. Then 1t was that Dale thought of the man who had been his faithful guardian for many days, the lanky By Heck. Why hadn't he thought of Heck before? He wondered if Heck had followed him to the trap, if Heck vas near him even then, If Heck had gone for help.
 By Heck had not followed Bill Dale to the little basin. But he had fol lowed Henderson Golf, and Henderson Golf had followed Dale to the little basln Golf had returned to the Big Pine Mountain country only that day and he knew nothing of the plans of the Bali-Toerey faction until he wit messed the inockery Of trial. Golf was now crouching in the darkness on the low line of cliffs to the eastward from the walnut tree; and not far behind him. we'll hidden in the black laurels, watching him and watching Bill Dale, crouched By Heck.
 Dale's guardian had not gone for help. because he feared to leave Dale utterly unprotected in the hands of the gang of cutthroats He believed that he could rescue Dale himself. When the first watch became a little more drowsy, he would steal up be- hind the tree and cut tine cotton rope
 Then he realized that Golf had dis appeared entirely. He crept forward silently. his eyes alert, and moment later he saw Gofr stealing toward the walnut tree. He climbed noiseleSsly down ever the face of the cliff and fallowed Golf like shadow. When esoff's hands touched the tree, By Heck was within ten feet of 1t. Heck made sure his rife was ready and took an other step forward. watching, listen lig
 The shyster coal man leaned around the tree to the left. In the glow of the low-burned fire the blade of q small knife In his hand gieamed dull red. He whispered cautiously:
 'Youre In a fix, Dale. And it's none of my doing. either Give me your word that I'll get that coal prop erty for fifteen thousand, and I'll slash the rope. How about it2 Sick of fhls country, aren't youY"
 There came a few seconds Of silence save for the lusty snoring of the sleep ers and the musical tinkle of the little creek, after which Goff mattered dis nnpointesily:
 .Well. then, hang!"
 And Heck knew that Dale had re- fused to sell the Moreland coal for a song even to save his life As Con stepped backward. the muxzle of the taIi hiilmnns rife went against the sniall Of his back, and the tai hillman whispered hoarsely. through teeth tightly clenched:
 ''Slash at rope. d--n yore soul slash 'at rope or I wisht may drap dead of I don't shoot yore backbone into four thousand pieces, igod' Slash if"
 Con straightened in surprise. The rifles mu5zle went harder against Ms hack and he knew 1t for exactly what 1t was. He moved a hand upward. then downward and the cotton rope wss severed in half a dozen places.
 's;tiddy thar, aow." whispered By Heck. and he began to back away. acome along wi me. ye dadslatted hAnjer-bellied skunk. Bill he'll foiler." :"
 The three of them hurried into the sfeepcr shadows. Soon Heck halted Cor and turned to Dale.
 Starch hlm fo' gun. Bill, old boy"
 Dale lifted from Henderson Goff'a lsght-hana coat-pocket Il blued and Skuh-nosed magazine pistol
 ''Dang my eyes and blast my for rarxIr Heck exclaimed in q maffled yoSee Hes plumb death on them lsfffe pepguns. ain't he? Say. Gotr, ef ever ye shoots me with thing like