The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1937-07-09
- By==.
.RI1.IiARD HILL
- W ILk IN SON

r-rT.-r-t
fuI that she had kept her head and
knew that their only chance Of escape
lay in speed.
But before they had coveree half shs
distance Bill saw that the for riders
would intercept them. cold chHi
passed through him.
He had a revolver strapped about his
waist. He drew 1T. stopped. took de-
liberate aim and fired. One Of the
four riders went tunbling from his
saddle. The other three Immediately
opened fire.
Blu squeezed the trigger Of bis re-
voIver again and had the satisfaction
OF seeing another rider slump forward
Then he started on and saw that Alyns
had stopped and was waiting for him
GO on! Don't stop! Keep going
It's our only chancel"
moment later Alvne had reached the
barricade and vaulted over 1t into the
waiting arms of her uncle. Bill fol-
lowed. He saw that old Dana's facs
was ashen and that Alyne was clingilg
TO him.
aT'M ALL right. uncle" she kept re-
peating. II couldn't leave Bill out
there alone. could I?''
IT wasn't until the fight was over that
Bill again thought of that sentence
and then he realized 1t had been ringing
in his mind throughout the battle.
~Tne telephonel' he yelled at Jim
Emerson. Has any one called the SOL
diers?"
.Dana called them at noon" Emerson
replied. He got thiiikiiig 1t over and
decided not to wait. So he called and
Offered reward for Gonzales capture.
A detachment is on its way up here
now"
Emerson spoke unhurriedly, never
orce raising his voics. Calmly he laid
his rifle across the top OF the barricade.
sighted and pressed the trigger. Watch
ing, Bill realized that his own state OF
mind was one OF confusion and excite
ment. He got control of himself with an
effort.
Al half dozen rifles lay propped
against the barricade. He seized one.
threw cartridge into the breech. aimed
and fred. He fired second tinle and q
third, feeling the blood run hot In his
veins.
Pandemonium ragged everywhers. This
bandits had dismounted and taken
shelter behind convenient rocks and
bushes. Within few seconds BID
realized that they were hopelessiy OUT
numbered. Gonzales, this time detsr~
mined upon success, had recruited more
than q hundred men. Slowly, yas
steadily, the Lire OF attackers advanced
Already half dozen OF the scant thirty
mine workers were out Of the running,
MINUTES passed. This fighting ragged
AVA flIriously. And then suddenly Dana
Wray called out for them TO retreat into
ths main building. No longer was a
possible to hold out against the savage
onslaught.
Bill was among tho last TO go. Az ne
sprinted across the clearing toward rhs
open door q shout went Up from the at
tackers. But the shout was drowned by
an even greater sound. A roar. A
thundering. Bill turned and bis heafs
leaped. Sweeping Up ths roadway from
the riverbed was four -fle-wida column
OF horsemen. 5oldiersl
A bugls soundedi Instantly sha
charging cayalryInen went into action
Rifles exploded The riders spread out.
bearing down on the astonished bandits
In vain did the swarthy, enraged Con-
zales urge his men TO repulse the charge.
But they saw the uselessness Of 1t. Sur
render was the only course by which
they could save their skins.
And surrender they did. AS one man
they threw down their arms and lifted
their hands. begging for mercy
Bill Strickland waited only long
enough to witness the conclusion Of tht
battle. Then he hurried inside the man
building. A sentence was ringing in his
ears: Il couldn't leave Bill out there
alone, could II"
He saw Alyne sitting on a bench ne-
side one Of the front windows She had
q rifle in her lap.
1t was as though she were waiting his
coming. Her face was white; she
seemed on the verge of collapse. But
she smiled at him.
Hello, Bill" she said.
Bill sat down on the bench beside her
He gripped both her shoulders and
looked at her steadily.
There's just one question I want to
ask you" he said. Just one"
YES Bill" she said
Its about your grandfather. Old
Jonas. What want to know is. did he
propose to your grandmother before or
after he'd made his pile?''
ssXETHY. Bill she said. Il thought you
" knew. 1t was before, Of course. He
waited quite while and then he up and
proposed. He said he didn't have q
dime. but he guessed II she loved him
they could get along. And Grandma
said yes, she guessed they could"
"Ahl" said Bill. .Alyne, I'm a little
better OF than that. I've good job.
love you. Will you marry me?"
BILL" she cried. Bill! Oh, was
afraid you wouldn't ask me"
Bill took her into his arms. He kissed
her. She clung to him. He kissed nes
a second time and held her close. .Ahl'
he sighed. I'll guess we can get along
can't we. darling?"
We could get along. Bill, If ali you
did have was a dime.