The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-05-27
By FRANK H. SPEARMAN
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons.
WNU Service.

"I'll take what men I've got with
me at the barn and go after EN-"
wouldn't 1t be better to fight 'em
here, John?" asked Cole.
you're licked here" retorted
Sefwood. "If Starbuck stuck his head
in the door most of these fellows
would jump into the river. Get back
to your wounded'-he took Carpy's
arm-''loOks to me, they're about all
the fighting blood you've got left
here"
AS he spoke, he drew the surgeon
apart. "You know the reason I'm in
this mess, Doc" he said sternly and
without wasting words. where is
Christie Fyler?"
Carpy, controlling his excitement,
caught Selwoods arm in his hand.
That's why l wanted you, quick as
you could get here. So help me God,
I don't know where the girl is, John.
l only wish I did. This evening she
and her father took supper at the
hotel. / warned Christie privately to
stay close-I couldn't trust Fyler
with anything. Starbuck," said Carpy
with a curse, "was prancing around
her and had the gall to try to stay to
supper with 'em. l knowed Christie
would stick close and would be all
right, but never figured on us getting
drove like this. When 1 seen what
was coming run up to the hotel
and told all hands to light out for
the depot run to Christie's room
myself and told her what was up. and
to make for the depot"
why didn't you bring her there
yourself?" demanded Selwood.
"She wouldn't leave without her
father" protested Carpy, defending
himself, "and the dashed old mule
wouldn't budget couldn't take her
from him-she wouldn't CO."
$50 you left her there!w
what else could 1 do?"
KNOCK him on the head and drag
her here, yourself said Selwood saw
agely. He made no effort to restrain
himself, and his words fell like whip
lashes. "You knew her danger" he
Numbered; "she didn't! So you left
her therew exclaimed the gambler,
sardOnic in his wrath. "a fine mess
you've made of it,"
"John," protested Carpy, "Pll go
over there this minute with you, my
SELF
"Stay where you are. What was
the number of her room?'
twelve, at the top of the front
stairs. John. I don't want you to
go off mad this way. 1 did what
could-T tell you she wouldn't leave
her father"
SelwOod paused only to make
brief amend, for his outbreak and to
promise to return; he told Carpy he
was going to look for Christie at the
hotel-though in his heart he had no
hope of finding her there.
On table close at hand, where the
doctor had set his instrument case
and dressings, stood a lighted pocket
lantern. Selwood, picking 1t up,
closed the slide, put 1t out, and
slipped it into his coat pocket.
"Hey!" exclaimed Carpy, don't
take that!"
II may need It," said Selwood.
Walking toward the door with Sell
wood, Carpy pointed to one of the
wounded men on the floor near where
they were passing. He lay on his
back, with his eyes closed, and his
stertorous breathing was noticeable.
There's the old general" he said,
init pretty bad, too; want to speak
to him?"
"No," blurted out Selwood.
HE may die" observed .Carpy crit
ically.
Selwood was brutally resentful.
"He won't need me to help him." was
all he said. And fllnging open the
back door, he took one look out into
the hall, slammed the door behind
him, and slipped out into the night.
On the town side of the station he
could hear sporadic firing, answered
at intervals by the fringe of guards
defending the railroad building. He