Evening star., 1921-10-09

ferent her great fear showed plainly
Are We going to stay here all
nights" she asked with a pathetic at
tempt at lightness.
That's my business"
Don't you want me to help your
You've helped me all you can with
1T you're going to Partridgeville,
I'd go along and show you the way"
Now 1 know you been lyin'!" he
beloved. You said you was headed
for Milltngton. And you amt at all.
You're watchin' your chance to get
the drop on me and have me took
that's what you're doin'"
Watt" she pleaded desperately. II
was going to Millington But "a turn
back and show you the way to Part
whats it to your He had drawn
the gun from his belt and now was
lingering 1t nervously.
You're lost up here in the noun
tains, aren't you? she said. Il
couldn't let you stay lost 1t 1t was
way"
you said you was lost yourself" !"
Il was lost-until I stumbled into
this clearing. That gave me my To-
Smart amt you? Damn smart.
woman" The flare famed up again
| in his crooked eyes. You know who
/ be, all right. You know what I'm
amin to do. And you're stallin' for
you can't-see! I'll have this busi-
ness done with. I'll end this busi-
nesS!
CHE felt herself sinking to her
Dknees. He advanced and gripped
her left wrist. The crunch of his iron
| fingers sent an arrow Of pain through
her arm. 1t bore her down.
For Gods sake-don't" she
| whispered hoarsely, overwhelmed
with horror. For the cold, sharp nose
| of the revolver suddenly punched her
! neck.
"I amt leavin' no traces behind.
| Might as well be hung for sheep as
| a lamb. Never mind If I do"
Look" she cried wildly. Look,
look. look" And with her free hand
| she. pointed behind him.
nothing behind him. But in that in
slant Of desperation instinct had
guided her.
Involuntarily he turned.
With a scream of pain she twisted
from his grasp and blotted out the
candle.
A long, livid pencil of orange fame
spurted from the gun-point. She
sensed the powder-aare In her face.
He had missed.
| the table. The cabin was now in inky
| blackness. ( Across that black four
more threads of scarlet light were
| laced. The man stumbled about seek
ing her, cursing with bloodcurdling
! blasphemy.
Suddenly he tripped and went
sprawling. The gun clattered from
| his bruised fingers; 1t struck the
| woman's knee.
Swiftly her hand closed upon it. The
| hot barrel burned her palm.
She was on her feet in an instant
Her left hand fumbled in her blouse,
i and she found the flash lamp.
| With her back against the door.
| she pulled 1t forth. With the gun
thrust forward for action she pressed
! I've got the gun-get up" she or
| dered. Don't come near me or I'll
shoot. Back up against that wall
| The bulIs-eye of radiance blinded
him. When his eyes became accus-
| toned to the light he saw its refiec-
| ton on the barrel of the revolver He
| obeyed
put up your hands. Put 'em up
high"
| Suppose I won't?"
It'll kill you.''
"What'll you gain by that?
give thousand dollars"
Then you know who beT'
"YeS."
| "And was amin to take me In"
| Yes"
How you goin' to do that II I
won't go?"
you're goin' to find out"
| You won't get no money shootin'
me-"
"Yes, I will-just as much-dead OF
alive"
With his hands raised a little way
| above the level Of his shoulders, he
stood rigidly at bay in the circle of
light.
| WELL" he croaked at last. Ego
ahead and shoot I amt amin to be
took-nOt by no woman Shoot damn