Nogales international., 1936-03-21
Final Instalment

to rise, but could not manage II.
Must have hit on my head, he |
naun76led thictiy, and raised groping |
fingers. Then he sat up. He knew now
that he had not fallen into pit.
Where are they? What's-hap-
pened2" M 4 4
Betty was .sobbing wildly; her hair
hung IA a cascade about her shoulders;
she was clad only in her nlghtdress,
and it was soaked with the water she
had poured over Ben to revive him.
Beside the open door to the hall lay
the wreck of chair; two of its legs
were splintered, broken off Ben real
lied more clearly now what it was that
had crashed down upon his head With
an effort ne scrambled dizzily to his
feet Water was triclding into has eyes
and binding him; he brushed it away.
then discovered, to his great surprise,
that It was not water at all, but blood,
his own blood. His head felt twice
its normal size; his brain did not
function clearly and his limbs re-
fused to obey him.
Bctty's voice came TO him as if from
. long distance; she was telling him
something, trying TO make him Under
stand that they were alone in tie house
and that their asSailant had fed. When
this became plain to Furloug. he sat
down.
It was some time before the girl sue
ceeded in stanching that flow of blood
wound, for she was scarcely in condi-
ton to render help to anybody. By the
time her task was completed Ben had
managed to get a pretty clear idea of
what had happened. She had been
awakened by a sound and had realized
that somebody was in her room; she
had uttered frightened challenge, only
kc feel groping hands upon her, to find
herself in the grasp of some unseen
person. She retained no very clear re-
collection of anything after that; the
rest was a hideous nightmare. Not until
the rniScreant had bolted out of the
house and she had finally managed
aomeilow to strike light was she made
aware of the reason for his flight Then
sale had stumbled over Ben ard had
realized that it was his voice she had
heard calling to her, that it was the
sound Of his coming that had inter
Eupted the attack. His plight bad done
Rgood deal to bring her back to herself,
but now she threatened to again aban-
don her seif-controI.
Furiong checked tf,iS by saying
"Betty Durham You've got nothing
or but your nghtieP
II was some sine later when the girl
emerged from her room, dressed after
a fashion, to find her deiiverer waiting
III the kitchen with ScoWl upon his
face.
You got a gun?" he inquired.
harshiy.
No, Ben. Why"
Pm going to kill Maddox
For d moment Betty stared at the
speaker; with shaking fingers she
plucked at her dress 1t was in thin,
reedy voice that she said:
1T wasn't Maddox"
How do you know?"
"Oh, know It wasn't Maddox"
"Are you sure2" The girl nodded,
and Ben bowed his throbbing head in
his hands, I'm glad" he groaned.
Providence certainly brought me back.
It wouldn't happen that way once in a
thousand times. Whoever it was. I'll
End him."
Both the man and the girl were in
wretched condition. The rest of the
Night they sat together, watching the
clock and listening for possible re-
turn of the marauder. waiting for the
day to break.
1t was shortly after they had finished
breakfast that Furlong was surprised
TO discover signs of activity, move
raents, goings-on at the we'll which
caused him to stare hxedly, then to an
Rounce, incredulously:
"Sayl believe Maddox is fixing to
shoot the welli"
Betty took her place at his side
SWhy-he can't He dassentl The
powder men won't be here till to-mor-
row"
''All the same, he's doing something
Queer See those cans-thoSe shiny
lhings?"
you couldn't hire Tiiler to touch
nitroglycerine. He's scared IF q"
Ben uttered an oath Il tell you he's
elling Nose cartridges. He's crazy
You've got to stop him !"
Betty turned white; she shook her
head. II WON'T go nea.- tF1e place. It's
It's Aunt Mary's well"
"Then III stop him. Why, its ter TO
one he'll scar the rock. ruin the whole
lob and-Damned il / don't believe
hes trying to do that very thing |"
Furiong started for the door, but
Betty chung to him. When he pushed on
oast her She followed him. Together
the hurried across The Seld end took
fhe oath through Tie mesquite. ~ hey
vent the girl continued 10 in0lore hIns
hot to interfere.
Halfway to the drilling camp they
net the engineer haslening towards the
farmhouse and the latter announced,
kreathlessly. "TilIer's gone plumb off
bis nut, He'E 9oiu' to shoot the well