The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-05-13
FRANK H. SPEARMAN
Copyright by Charles Scribner's Sons.
WNU Service.

Tracy, Selwood had gone West.
He swung into the saddle with
light heart, for action is what the
soldier. the adventurer, the gambler
Graves.
Half way into town, emerging from
the breaks that skirt the valley of
the Rat, he caught glimpse of a
red glare on the northern horizon.
He had no need to pause or to sur
mise what 1t might be; the Vigilantes
were abroad.
Selwood presently halted; he struck
a match and looked at his watch; it
was only eleven o'clock-something
had precipitated the fight-he might
be too late to make defense. The
faint crackle of gunfire reached his
ears-told him more than he needed
to know. He Quickened his pace if
he were too late to fight for the hall,
there was company property to pro-
tect. But he had given his word to
defend the hall, and wanted to meet
the masked crowd where he had prom
Used to meet them.
Reaching the river bottom. Selwood
reconnoitered the bridge. Hearted
though he was to go forward, he
dared not risk crossing it. If the
guards had freed themselves, or been
freed. they would be eager to shoot
from ambush. He rode slowly down
the river some three hundred yards.
located an old ford and. guiding his
horse cautiously into the rapids, al
lowed it to drink, crossed slowly,
headed the horse up the rocky bank.
rode up under the bluff, found break
he could get the horse into, and rode
out on the river bench, in full sight
of the town.
No more than a glance was needed
to give the quick-witted gambler the
situation. Vigilantes were pushing into
the River quarter below him, and
burning as they went. But the gum
fire. ceasing at times and breaking
out sharply anew, told him they were
meeting resistance.
He rode well outside the area of
the flames and the fighting on the
outskirts of the town. In the dark
ness he rode unmolested; indeed, en-
countered no one, and came out un-
observed on the Falling Wall trail,
where he could command the lower
end of Fort street, which was on
fire. Between him and the confagra-
ton stood his gambling hall. but this
lay below the brow of the hill in
front of him.
Down Fort street. silent and COM
pletely deserted, he rode. wondering
whether the smoke rising in the fore
ground included the ruins of his own
building or others; and then, crossing
the brow of the hill, he saw the gam
bling hall just below him.
To his amazement, it stood appar-
emily untouched. Lights were burn
ing inside. Through the partly shad-
ed windows of his place he could see
no one moving, nor could he hear
any sound. This was cause for sus-
picion, if not a symptom of danger.
With as little noise as possible, he
rode into the grounds north Of the
hall, dismounted, secured his horse,
and with his hand on the grip Of his
holster gun, walked to the door of
his Office, in the rear of the building.
slipped key into the door lock and.
standing to one side, pressed the latch
and threw the door wide open.
Silence greeted the move. Selwood
would have given much for a dog.
but he had none, and, convincing
himself that he might as well take
shot from the dark then as one In the
light later. walked boldly into the
room, struck a match, lighted the
lamp, and closed the door behind
him. The room was empty. Every
thing appeared as he had left 1t at
dusk.
He threw open the door into the
gambling-room. The lights were on
mot soul was in sight. But signs
of disorder and evidences of hasty
departure were everywhere. CHANGING
collectedly about, drawing rapid in
ferences from whatever he saw, Sell
wood looked at his watch. 1t lacked
but a minute Of twelve o'clock-per-
haps the Vigllantes were coming
back to face his threat and finish
him and the hall together. AS to Big
Haynes and Haynes defenders, he
had never for moment cherished
any illusions; everything about the
room indicated they had run like rab-
bits at the approach Of danger.
He walked to the front doors. They
stood wide open. He looked up and
down the street; not soul was any
where in sight. Yet the hall, open,
brilliantly lighted, stood silent and
deserted; it was as If death had sud-
denly and completely wiped out its
denizens-players, onlookers, dealers,
everybody. He had returned to defend
his place only to find that no one
appeared to challenge its right to
exist.
Puzzled at the situation, Selwood
strobe down the broad steps and
started for the horse barn. He
noticed. that the barn lights were
burning, particularly the stationary
lanterns on both sides Of the front