The Washington times., 1934-12-27

they want up here, Miss. You're
in Ell Toro, you know" he re-
minded her.
Dick nodded. "We must gain
all the time we can. Then if
they fire the place We'll put
Nora on the horse and shoot
our way out. In the darkness
1t will be every man for him.
self"
But what about me?" the
captive protested from his chair.
Stub glared at him. "You?
Oh, you'll be decorating that
pile of ashes in the morning,
brother" he answered cheer
fully.
But it seemed a short five
minutes when again the voice
from outside called, "Well
going to be reasonable?"
Give us more time. We
haven't decided"
"No? Then We'll decide fol
you." The tone of finailty in
that unseen voice told them
beyond any doubt the end Of
the truce was at hand. Ahead
lay only the remote and des-
perate chance of holding them
at bay until help reached them,
or, failing that, to fight their
way out to safety. Long odds,
and silently Stub cooked his
rifle, the girl took up the cap
tive'S revolver, and now, facing
the door, all three crouched in
the shelter of the bar.
Not long to wait. Almost at
BY Storm
once the men outside struck
the door with a concerted rush.
The hinges, already weakened
by the impact of those previous
blows, tore from their fasten-
ings, and with a Splintering
crash the door burst inward.
Thrust forward by the momen-
tum of the men behind, the
leader of the attackers rushed,
gun in hand, into the room.
Catching sight of Lowell he
raised his revolver-just too
late. Without aiming, Dick fired
from the hip and the man
sprawled headlong. face down.
ward, in the center of the
floor. Stubs SCARED cheek
nestled against his rifle, wait
ing for the next intruder, but
through the shattered doorway
the night lay silent and empty
not one had dared to follow.
A momentary lull, then from
somewhere outside a rifle cracked
and a silvery tinkling of glass
rang out from the shattered
mirror. Instantly Nora reached
forward and dashed the lamp
to the floor, plunging the room
in darkness. Silence again.
while framed by the open door,
the night loomed, dimly star.
lit.
The two men crouched now
at either end of the long bar,
where, safe from scattered
shots, they could command a
killing crossfire against any
who might enter. Once through
the darkness the prisoner
raised a despairing voice, plead.
ing with his friends not to fire,
and once again the baffled
silence told Dick that for a time
at least there would be respite
from attack.
Warning
Long minutes passed. Heavy
footsteps hurried outside fol-
lowed soon by the sound of low
laughter. Another interlude,
noiseleSs except for the night
winds passing. Dicks body
ached with the tenseneSs of his
attitude-would nothing ever
happen? In the darkness he
heard the mare move reStleSSly,
and now, aroused by some in.
definable warning. Lowell raised
his head and shifted the air.
Very family the first telltale
scent of burning wood reached
his noStrilS. He bent low, and
crawling from the shelter of
the bar. flung open the door
into the back room. Here the
smell was stronger, and listen.
ing intently, Dick caught the
first hungry cracking Of flames
just outside the thick log walls.
This. then was the end. For
a second hot anger seized him,
a savage desire to rush out
with blazing automatic in either
hand, and take what toll he
could Of those relentless foes.
Ito be Continued
Copyright. 1884, by Tom Gill. Distributed
BY King Features Syndicate. InCs