Indiana daily times., 1922-01-09

He turned on his side and stole a
| glance at her, through haf-clOsed lids.
She was moving quietly about, reering
here and there, and as he watched her he
grew hot with resentment that she
should be subjected to such hardships.
/ And so his last conscious thought hap
pened to be of her as he saw her, now
seated on the ground, half turned from
him, gazing out into the forest, wistfully
appealing-then he slept.
He awoke suddenly, senses all keenly
alive, but with that indescribabIe feeling
of something impending. 1t was about
noon. He looked hastily around. Faith
was nowhere to be seen. A sinking, pam
icky feeling seized him and he had diff
Guilty in controlling himself, to keep from
rushing about and shouting her name
Getting himself in hand he took his
rife and moved quietly down toward the
inlet Near here, he all but stumbled
over her little figure lying prone ON the
ground. peering from behind tree, out
! over the water.
/ He dropped down beside her. ain the
name of heaven" he muttered, what are
you doing? l told you not to go away
from the camp"
Hush" she whispered. I'm sorry If
l did wrong, but you were sleeping.
( They're across there You can hear them
once in a while. Listen"
They could hear indistinct voices,
sometimes reising in anger.
/ "Squabblng, Of course" muttered Hun
ter 81 wish they'd get at It right II
they'd go 10 cutting one another's throats
1t would save us a job"
Hunter and the girl lay listening ana
watching for some time, but none or the
men showed themselves.
when we climbed the side Of the
mountain" she returned, "and stood on
that shelf-like place, l noticed we were
surrounded by good sized rocks"
Right. One man up there could stand
off a company for a good bit. II won't
he long before that gang of murderers
are on this side Of the inlet-lets 60"
1t did not take long to move their
few belongings, including the gold.
When Hunter dug up the latter, he re-
filed the hole, remarking with a grin
that it might afford Jansen some amuse-
ment 20 dig for what was not there, II
they stumbled on 10 the signs Of some
one having dug there. Their refuge
was on q comparatively level, shelf like
place surrounded by large rocks. Not
far from them was a spring Of clear.
sweet water bubbling from the noun
tainslde Here. too. they had fairly
good view Of the sea.
IF we can only get rid Of those dew
ils," Hunter observed I'VE can keep a
fire going at night. which might attract
the attention OF n passing ship. II one
should show up during the day. we
could put out in the yawl. But while
that gang Is loose. were simply tied"
The remainder Of that day Hunter
spent in closely watching the approach
from the little valley to their hiding
ha 4
huitv Of Jnnsen's men coming upon them
from another direction, along the noun
tainside, but Hunter thought the chances
small
Toward the end Of the afternoon he
+ caught sight Of a movement below.
Bringing his rife to bear in that direc-
tion. he waited Presently n man peered
cautiously from behind n tree. then at
tempted to dodge to another. The sharp
crack OF Hunters rife echoed among the
crags. and the man pitched to the
ground.
The voice Of Jansen. himself unseen,
ascended in n torrent OF oaths. Wen
git We. We bloody murderin' pirut-wen II
starve We out that's wot we'll do"
IF don't pick all Of you Off irst."
ieored Hunter "Show yourself. Jansen.
Come on, you coward There's five OF
t
girl"
Hunter tried to nag them into an at
tack for he believed he could finish them
from behind his shelter but they were
too wary.
He was in cold rage because he could
not leave the girl alone II his hands
were only united he firmly believed he
could skirmish round In those woods and
/ XIII every one Of those cutthrosts. But
f. he should attempt that and fail what
would become OF Faith?
Although the girl bore up cheerfully
there we're shadows beneath her eyes and
her face WAS growing pinched Hunter
noticed this with concern. If she could
only hold out-things must change be
fore long.
Then something happened that gave
him a shock. Faith picked up a tin. and
before he could stop her. started for the
spring. She had gone but a few feet,
necessarily exposing herself somewhat.
when a shot ripped out not far from
her She half turned, swayed and with
out n sound, fell.
Hunter was like something inhuman
when he sprang after her. He lifted her
and leaped back as another shot came
from the woods. followed by a hoarse
laugh. Hunter placed the girl on the
tarpaulin and knelt beside her Her
face was deathlike and her eyes closed
If she were dead, the end was not far,
and they would pay From that mo-
ment Hunter began to wake
He caught his breath in a half sob as
she opened her eyes and smiled up at
him. Il wasn't hit" she murmured. "I
! turned my ankle on a stone. l must
be awfuIly weak to-faint-that---"
And tainted again
A fainting woman rattles any man,
and Just for minute Hunter was
dazed. Then he pulled himself together,
seized his rifle and fred several shots in
rapid succession In the general direction
Of the sniper thus laying down his own
barrage, caught up the tin, made a dash