Nebraska Newspapers

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Continued from Age Foar
pocket for more cartridges. "Maybe
them toys win be a bit More keerfal
If they once eaderstaad they're up
agin the real thus. Well, perhaps I
better skin dowa. fer I reckon it's
liable ter he riles aent.-
It was riles next, aad the "wlaglag"
of Bis Jim. however It aaar have in
spired caution, also developed fresh
animosity Im the, hearts of his fol
lowers, aad brought forth evidences of
discipline la their approach. Peering
across the sheltering damp pile, the
Besieged were able to perceive the
dark figures cautiously advancing
through the protecting brash; they
pad oat widely antU their two tanks
were dose in against the wall of rock,
and then the deadly rifles began to
spit spitefully, the balls easting ap
the soft dirt la cloads or flattening
against the stones. The two men
croached lower, bagging their pile of
slag, unable to perceive evea a stray
assailaat withla range of their ready
revolvers.
This whole blame country is full
of discharged sojers," he growled, "an
they know their bis all right. I reck
oa them fellers is pretty sure to git
one of as ylt; anyhow, they've got as
cooped. -Say, Bob, thet lad crawling
yonder oaght to be in reach, an' if s
oar hoaadea daty act to, tot the boys
git too gay."
Hampton tried the shot suggested,
elevating considerable to overcome dis
tance. There was a yell and a swift
akarrylag backward- which caused Ma
son to laugh, although neither knew
whether this result arose from fright
r wound.
"Bilged ter teach 'em manners onct
am awhile, or they'll. Imbibe a fool ao
tkm they Ua come right long ap yere
without ao Invite. Taint fer long, no
how, less all them gays are fjats."
Hamptoa tamed his head and look
ed ssberly Into the freckled face, im
pressed by the speaker's grave tone."
"Whyr
"Fire, my x boy, fire. The wind's
dead right fer it; thet brash will burn
like so much tiuder, an' with this big
wall o' rock hack of us, it will be hell
here, an right Some of 'em are
hoaad to think of It pretty blame soon,
aa' then. Bob, I reckon you an' I win
hev to take to the opea on the jump."
Hampton's eyes hardened. God,
how he desired to Uve just then, to
aacover that fleeing Murphy aad
wring from him the whole truth which
eluding him all these years!
CHAPTER XXI.
fts; the Loves Me Net."
claim of military daty
It
whteh
Belled Brant to relinquish
so promptly at the ho
tel door, hat rather a desire to escape
her tiasriass' chatter aad gala retire
meat where he could reflect la quiet
over the revelations of Hamptoa. In
this quest he rode slowly ap the val
ley of the Bear Water, through the
bright sunshine, the rare beauty of
the scene scarcely leaving the slight
eat impress oa his mind, so busy was
tt, aad ao preoccapied. He ao longer
had any doabt that Hamptoa had util
ised his advantageous position, as weU
as his remarkable powers.of pleasing.
to ensnare the saseeptible heart of
this young, confiding girl. While the
maa had advaaced ao'direct claim, he
had said enough to make perfectly
dear the 'close Intimacy of their re
lstioa aad the existence of a definite
understanding between them. With
thin recognised as a fact, was he jus
ttaed la endeavoring to win Nalda Gil
M for himself? That the girl would
flad eoatinaed happiness with such a
as Hamptoa he did not for a mo-
believe possible; that she had
deliberately deceived regarding
his tree character he felt ao doabt.
That the girl was morally so. far
above him as to make his very touch
a profanation, aad at the unbidden
thought of it, the soldier vowed to op
pose such aa unholy consummation.
Nor did he, even then, utterly despair
of winning, for he recalled afresh the
latimacy of their few past meetings,
his face brightened, in memory, of this
"Cwttitfliil is
Btttirtiii
If
is to ooaetituted has still
so mack of the animal ia hint that
depends pot a little upon
To make a man thoramghly
with his life aad lot, give
from moldy or ill
earns fee .7 sakimlv with Way
Mcleaa'aas!
).$ -' ""'-'-k-'jtt.
flhiXgg-'i-Biyii-f ."'HIMm -
sal I J e9wwbbu, I
ffis auvC'VVV vara Mvawaw
t
his mod.
iiitffiigi'
i-,rfa-r tiw-.t.v'-.fa,,, -.,.,
and that brief word or shy -glance.
All the world Joves n. lover, and all
the fairies guide him. As the offi
cer's eyes glanced ap from the dusty
road, he perceived just ahead the same
steep bank down which he had
plunged in his eSort at capturing his
fleeing tormentor. With the sight
there came upon him the desire to loi
ter again in the little glen where they
had first met, and dream once more
of her who had given to the shaded
nook both life and beauty. He swung
himself from the saddle, tied a loose
rein to a scrub oak, and clambered up
the bank.
With the noiseless step of a plains
man he pushed la through the laby
rinths bf bush, only to halt petrified
upon the very edge of that inner bar
rier. No figment of imagination, bat
the glowing reality of flesh sad blood,
awaited him. She had aeither seen
nor heard his approach, aad he stop
ped ia perplexity. He had framed a
dozen speeches for her ears, yet now
he could do no more than stand aad
gaze, his heart ia his eyes. Aad it
was -a vision to enchain, to hold Hps
speechless. She was seated with un
studied grace on the edge of the bank,
her hands clasped about one knee, her
sweet face sobered' by thought, her
eyes downcast, the long lashes plain
ly outlined against the clear cheeks.
To draw hack unobserved was Impos
sible, even had he possessed strength
of win sufficient to make the attempt,
aor would words of easy greetlag
come to his relief. He could merely
worship silently as before a sacred
shrine. It was thus she glanced ap
aad saw'hlm with startled eyes, her
hands unclasping; her cheeks rose
colored. "Lieut. Brant, yoa here?" she ac
claimed, speaking as If his presence
seemed unreal. "What strange mir
acles' an idle thought can work!"
"Thoughts. I have heard." he re
plied, coming toward her with head
uncovered, "win sometimes awsttoa
answers throagh vast distances' of
time and space. As my thought was
with you I may be altogether to blame
for thus arousing your own. From
the expression of your .face, I Bap
posed yoa dreaming,"
'. She smiled, her eyes uplifted for a
single Instant to his own. "It was
rather thought just merging .Into
dream, aad there are few things ia
life more sweet I know not whether
it Is the common gift of all minds, hat
my day-dreams are almost more to
me than my realities." "
"First Is was moods, aad mow
dreams." He seated himself comfort
ably at her feet. "Yoewould cause
me to believe yoa a .most Impractical
person. Miss Nalda." '
"If that were only, tree, I am -sure
I should be most happy, for It has
been my fortune so far to conjure ap
only pleasure through day-dreaming
the things I like and long for be
come my very owa then. But If yoa
mean, as I suspect, that I do not en
joy the dirt and drudgery of life, then
my plea wiU have to be guilty. Back
of what yoa term practical some one
has said there is always a dream, a
first conception. .In that sense I
choose .to be a dreamer."
"And aot so aawise a choice, If
your dreams only teikl toward re
sults." He sat' looking into her ani
mated face, deeply puzzled by both
words and actions. "I -cannot help
noticing that you avoid all reference
to my meeting with Mr. Hampton. Is
this another alga of your impractical
mind?"
1 should say rather the opposite,
for I had not .even supposed it con
cerned me."
"Indeed! That presents a vastly dif
ferent vleavfrom the one given as aa
hoar since. The distinct impression
was then conveyed to both our minds
that you were greatly distressed re
garding the matter. Is It possible yoa
can have been acting again?"
1? Certainly not!" aad she made
no attempt to hide 'her indignation.
"What do yoa mesa?"
He hesitated aa instant in hie re
ply, feeling that possibly he was
treading apoa thin ice. But her eyes
commanded a direct aaswer, aad he
yielded to them.
"We were Informed that yoa expe
rienced great, anxiety tor . fear we
might quarrel so great, indeed, that
you had confided your troubles to an
other." "To whomr'
"Hiss Speacer.' She, came to as os
tensibly ia your name, aad as a peace
maker." For n moment she sat gazing direct
ly at him, then she Jaughed softly.
"Why, how supremely ridlculoas; I
caa hardly believe it tree, only your
face tells me yoa certainly are aot
la play. Licet.- Brant, I have never
even dreamed of such a thing. Tea
had Informed me that your mlssfoa
was oae of peace, and he pledged me
his word aot to permit any quarrel.
I had the utmost wmfldciaca ia yoa
"How, then, did she
"I am entirely la tie dark, as
ttfled aa yoa," she acknowledged,
frankly, "for tt has certainly never
beea a habit with me to betray the
conadenoo of-any frieaaa, and I
the proMem leaner, yet he remained
whteh' aright decide hte,iaw,,1,ritl'"i
. T.swak of your seaflisaet in
as beta," he said, slowly: To me'
;ihe Mm, trust yea ropes la Mr,
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NORTH OPERA HOUSE
Thursday, September 19th.
The" direct return , question served
to nettle and confuse him. "It Is,
perhaps, not my place to say, as my
future hnppiness does not directly de
pend on the permanence of his
reformation. But if his word can be
depended upon, your happiness to a
very large extent does."
She bowed. "I have no doubt you
can safely repose confidence in what
ever he may have told you regarding
me."
"Ton indorse, then, the claims he
advances?"
"You are very Insistent; yet I
know of no good reason why I should
not answer. Without at all knowing
the nature of those claims to which
yoa refer, I have ao hesitancy in say
lng that I possess such complete con
fidence In Bob Hampton as to reply
unreservedly yes. But really, Lieut.
Brant, I should prefer talking upon
some other topic. It is evident that
yoa two gentlemen are not friendly,
yet there is no reason why any mis
understanding between you should in
terfere with our friendship, is there?"
She asked this question with such
perfect innocence that Brant believed
she failed to comprehend Hampton's
claims.
"I have been Informed that It must,"
he explained. "I have been told that
I was' no longer to force my attentions
upon Miss Gillls."
"By Bob Hampton?"
. "Tea. These were, I believe, his ex
act words. Can you wonder that I
hardly know how I stand In your
slghtr
"I do not at an understand," she
faltered. "Truly, Lieut Brant, I do
not. I feel that Mr. Hamptoa would
not say that without a good and suf
ficient reason. He Is not a man to
be swayed by prejudice; yet, what
ever the reason may be, I know noth
ing about it"
"But you do not .answer my last
query."
"Perhaps I did not hear It"
"It was: How do I stand In your
sight? That is of far more impor
tance to md now than any unauthor
ized command from Mr. Hampton.
She glanced up into his serious face
shyly; with a little dimple of returning
laughter. "Indeed; but perhaps he
might not care to have me say. How
ever, as I once informed you that you
were very far from being my Ideal,
possibly it may be my duty to qualify
that harsh statement somewhat"
"By confessing that I am your
Ideair . -
"6h,Iadee(L. no! ,We never realise
our ideals, ' you 'know, or else they
would entirely cease to be idealsT My
confession is limited to'a mere admis
sion that -I now-consider you a very
pleasant, young -gentleman."
"You offer, me a stone when I cry
unto your for .bread," he exclaimed.
"The world is filled with pleasant
young mea. They are a drag on the
1 Have BeenTetd That I Was No
Longer e Force My Attentions Up-
Vwa Prjaflaas BaMewwene
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away; 'her v leohr miintaslle; ssd "
aad dictatorial: but I wiB try.. Yoa
are Intelligent, a splendid dancer,
fairly good looking, rather bright at
times, and, no doubt, would prove
venturesome it not held strictly to
your proper place. Take it all in all,
you are even interesting, and I ad
mit I am inclined to like you."
The tantalizing tone and manner
nerved him; he grasped the white
hand resting invitingly on the grass,
and held it firmly within his own.
"You only make sport as you did
once before. I must have the whole
truth."
"Oh,' no; to make sport at such a
time would be sheerest mockery, and
I would never dare to be so free.
Why, remember we are scarcely more
than strangers. How rude you are!
only our third time of meeting, and
you will not release my hand."
"Not unless I must, Nalda," and the
deep ringing soberness of his voice
startled the girl Into suddenly uplift
ing her eyes to his face. What she
read there instantly changed her mood
from playfulness to earnest gravity.
"Oh, please do not do not say what
you are tempted to," her voice almost
pleading. "I cannot listen; truly I
cannot; I -must not It would make us
both very unhappy, and you would be
sure to regret such hasty words."
"Regret!" and he yet clung to the
hand which she scarcely endeavored
to releaser bending forward hoping to
read in her hidden eyes the secret her
Jips guarded. "Am I, then, not old
enough to know my own mind?"
"Yes yes; I hope so, yes; but It Is
not for me; it can never be for me
I am no more than a child, a homeless
waif, a nobody. You forget that I do
not even know who I am, or the name
I ought rightfully to bear. I will
not have it so." ,
"Nalda, sweetheart!" and he burst
impetuously through all bonds of re
straint, her flushed cheeks the inspir
ation of his daring. "I will speak,
for I care nothing for all this. It is
you I love love forever. Do you; un
derstand me, darling? I love you! I
love you!"
For an instant one glad, weak,
helpless, forgetful instant she did
not see him, did not even know her
self; the very world was lost. Then
she awoke as if from a dream, his
strong arms clasped about her, his
lips upon hers, i
"You must net," she sobbed. "I
tell you no! I win not consent; I
wiU not be false to myself. You have
no right; I gave you no right."
He permitted her to draw away,
and they stood facing each other, he
eager, mystified, thrilling with pas
sion almost beyond mastery, she trem
bling and unstrung, her cheeks crim
son, her eyes filled with mute ap
peal. "I read it in your face," he insisted.
'It told of love."
"Then my face must have lied,"
she answered, her soft voice tremu
lous, "or else you read the message
wrongly. It is from my lips you must
take the answer."
"And they kissed me."
"If so, I knew it not It was by
no volition of mine. Lieut Brant I
have trusted you so completely; that
was not right".
"My heart exonerates me."
1 cannot accept that guidance.
"Then you do not love me?"
She paused. 'afraid 'of the Impulse
that swept her on. "Perhaps," the
low voice scarcely audible, "I may
love yoa too well."
jyoa meaa there ls something
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We invite all who desire choice
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'alee haaole poultry aad flsh-and
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. , ..JVtA. , .
"There iaao other way." He caaM
perceive tears ia her eyes, although
she spoke- bravely. "Nor 'caa I ea
plaln, for an ia aet dear to
this I know, thdre fa a barrier bet'
us Insurmountable; act evea the pow
er of love caa overcome it; aad I
appeal to yoa to ask bm
.It was impossible for him to doabt
her sober earnestness, or the depth
of her feelings; the faU truth ia her
words was pictured apoa her face,
and in the pathetic appeal of her eye.
She extended both hands.
"You win forgive me? Truly, this
barrier has -not beea raised by
He bowed low. until his lips
the white fingers, but before ho'coald
oaaster himself to utter a word ia re
ply, a distant voice called his aame,
and both glanced hastily aroaad.
"That cry came from the valley."
he said. "I left my horse tied there.
I wiU go aad lean what It means."
She followed -him part of the way
through the labyrinth of underbrush,
hardly knowing why she did so. He
3tood alone apoa the sammit of the
high bluff whence he could look
across the stream. Miss Spencer stood
below waving her parasol fxaatlcaUy.
and even 'as he gazed at her, hie ears
caught the sound of heavy Arias dowa
the vaUey.
CHAPTER XXII.
Plucked from the nWrWlwg.
That Miss Spencer was deeply agi
tated was evideat at a glance, while
the nervous manner la. which she
glanced in the directloa of those dis
tant gunshots, led Brant to jump to
the conclusion that they were in some
way connected with her appearance.
"Oh, Lieutenant Brant" the cried
excitedly, "they are going to kill him
down there, and he aever did it at aU.
I know he dldnt aad so does Mr.
Wynkoop. Oh, please hurry! No
body knew where yoa were, aatil I
saw your horse tied here, aad Mr.
Wynkoop has beea banting for yoa ev
erywhere. He to nearly frantic, poor
man, and I cannot toara where either
-Mr. Moffat or Mr. McNeil to. aad I
just know those dreadful creatares
will kill him before we caa get help."
"Kill whomr burst fat Brant ring
ing down the beak felly awakened to
the reallzatloa of some aakaowa
emergency. "My dear Miss Speacer.
teU me your story quickly if yoa wish
me to act Who to la danger, aad
from what?"
The girl burst Into tears, bat strag
gled bravely through with her mes
sage. "It's those nwful men, the roughs
and rowdies dowa fat Oleacaid. They
say he murdered Red Slavia. that big
gambler who spoke to me this morn
ing, but he dlda't for I saw the maa
who did, aad so did Mr. Wynkoop. He
jumped out of the salooa window, his
hand aU bloody, and raa away. Bat
they've got him aad the towa marshal
up behind the Shasta damp, aad swear
they're going to hang him If they caa
only take him alive. Oa, just hear
those awful guns!"
"Yes. but who to It?"
"Bob Hamptoa, aad aad he aever
did It at all."
Before Brant could either move or
speak. Nalda swept past him, dowa
the steep bank, aad her voice rang
out clear, insistent "Bob Hamptoa
attacked by a mob? vIs that true.
Phoebe? They are fighting at the
Shasta dump, yoa say? Lieut Brant
you must act yoa must act bow, for
my sake!"
She sprang toward the horse, aerv
ed by Brant's apparent slowness to re
spond, and loosened the rein from the
scrub oak. "Tkea I wffl go tohim,
even if they km me also, the
cowards!"
But Brant had got his head now.
Grasping her arm and the reJa of the
plunging horse, "Yoa win go home,"
he commanded, with the tone of mili
tary authority. "Go home with Miss
Spencer. All that caa possibly be
done to aid Hamptoa I saaU,do win
you go?"
She looked helplessly into his face.
"You you dont Uke aim." she falter
ed; "I know yoa doat But bat yoa
will help him. wont yoa, for my
sake?"
He crashed back aa oath. "Uke
him or not like him. I wffl save him. if
be In the power of maa. Now win
you go?"
"Yes," she answered, and suddenly
extended her arms. "Kiss me flrst"
With the magical pressure of her
lips upon his. he swung into the sad
dle and spurred dowa the road. It
was a principle of his mflitary train
ing never to temporise with a mob
he .would strike hard, bat he mast
have sufficient force behind him. He
reined up before the seemingly desert
ed camp, his horse flung back apoa Its
haunches, white foam flecking tts
quivering flanks.
"Sergeant!" The sharp saap of his
voice brought that officer forward oa
the' run. "Where are the mea?"
"Playin' ball, most of 'em, sir. Just
beyond the ridge."
"Are the horses oat la the herd?"
"Yes, sir."
"Sound the recall; arm aad mount
every man; bring them into Oleacaid
on the gallop. Bo yoa know the old
Shasta mine?"
"No, sir."
"Half-way up the hffl back af the
hotel. You'll flad me somewhere hi
front of It This to a mattecof Hie or
death, so jump lively now.!"
He drove fa his spurs, aad
Uke the wind. A number of
in the street, aU hurrying forward hm
the same directloa, hat he
them. These wei
eager to have a hand la the
Here aad there a rider skarried ales
aad Joined hi the chase. J
the hotel, half-way up the hill.
were speaking Irregularly, the white
pats of smoke blowa quickly away by
the stiff hreeas. N
this line of skirmishers a
Braat. pereerriaff the
straight toward
scattered slightly at his
promptly closed
sar tee easier ex
rise hi spirals.
Clearly
At spirit for
"You damn i fool!"
aa hi
threat, "whet do yoa meaa by
as dowa Mke that? Do yoa
try?"
Braat flung himself from the
aad strode hi frost of the fellow.
mean haslasss. Yea
Strike that my maa, sad yoa strike
the United Spates. Who to
this outfit?"
"I don't know as if s
the maa returned, sullenly. "We ain't
takln" no army orders at present mis
tcv. - V. o're free-bora American dtfr
: at aa' ye better tot as alone."
-That to aot what I ask?! you." aad
Braat squared his shoulders, his
cliBched. "My question was.
Who to at the head of this outfit? aad
1 waat aa answer."
The spokesmaa looked aroaad apoa
the others near aha with a grin of de
riskm. "Oh. ys do. hey? WelLIreck
oa we are, if yoa mast know. Since
Bis Jmi Larsoa got it hi the shoulder
this outfit right yere bee Wa dote'
most of the brass work. So if ye've
got anythin' ter say. mister officer
xaaa. I reckon ye better spit k out
yere ter me, aa' sorter relieve yer
mind."
"Who are yoa?"
The fellow expectorated vigorously
iato the leaves .under foot, and draw
lag oae hairy head across his Ups.
flashed aagrily to the aaeapected la
ealrr. "Oh. ten aha, Bea. What's the
-blame odds? He can't do ye no hurt"
The man's look became dogged.
"I'm Bea CoKoa. if it'll do ye any good
to kaow."
"I thought I had seea yea some
where before," said Brant, contemptu
ously, aad thea swept his glance
about the circle. "A nice leader of
YlgUaates yoa are, a flae representa
tive of law aad order, a lovely sped
mea of the free-bora American
ctttoea! Mea. do you happen to
kaow what sort of a car yoa are fol
lowing la this affair?"
"Oh, Bea'a all right"
"What ys got agaiast him. young
feller?"
"Just this." aad Braat squarely
treated the maa. his voice ringing like
"I've seea mobs before to-day.
rve dealt with them. I'm act
afraid of yoa or your whole outfit
aad rve got flghtlag mea to back me
ap. I aever yet saw any mob which
wasat led aad Incited by some cow
ardly, reveagefal rascal Hoaestmea
get mixed ap hi such affairs, bat they
are invariably Inflamed by some low
down sneak with aa ax to grind. I
confess I doat kaow aU about this
Coltoa, but I know enough to say he
to sa "army deserter, a Iter, a dive
keeper, a gambler, sad. to my certain
knowledge, the direct cause of the
death of three mea,. oae a soldier of
my troop. Now isat he a sweet speci
men to lead la the avenging of a sup
posed crime?"
Whatever etoe Coltoa might have
failed ia. he was a maa of actloa. Like
a flash his gun flew to the level, bat
was mstaatly knocked aside by the
grizzled ejd miner steadies aext him.
"None e that Bea." he growled,
waralagty. "I doa't aever pay to
shoot betes hi Uncle Sam."
Braat smiled. He was aot there
just then to fight bat to secure delay
aatil his owa mea could arrive, aad
to tara aside the fierce mob spirit if
sach a result was found possible
"I really would eajoy accommodat
ing you. Colton," he said, coolly, feel
ing much more at ease, "but I aever
fight personal battles with such fel
lows as yoa. Aad bow. yoa other
mea. it to about time yoa woke ap to
the facts of this matter. A couple of
hundred of you chasing after two
men. ose sa officer of the law doing
his sworn daty. aad the other inno
cent of any crime. I should imagine
yoa would feel proud of your job."
"Innocent? HeU!"
- "That to what I said. Yoa fellows
have goae off half-cocked a mob gen
erally does. Both Miss Speacer aad
Mr. Wynkoop state positively that
they saw the real murderer of Red
Slavia. aad It was aoCBob Hampton."
The mea were impressed by his evi
deat earaestaess, his unquestioned
courage. Soveral voices spoke almost
st once.
"Is that right?"-
"Oh, say. I, saw the fellow with his
hand oa the knife."
"After we git the chap. weU give
them people a chaace to teU what
they kaow."
Braat's keenly atteatlve ears heard
the far-off chug of aumeroas horses'
feet
1 rather think yoa win," he sale,
eoafldeatly. his voice ringing oat with
saddea authority.
Hs stepped back, lifted a sUver
whistle to his lips, aad sounded oae
sharp, dear note. There was a grow
ing thunder of hoofs, a quick, manly
sheer, a crashlas throagh the aader
brusa. sad a squad of eager troopers,
half-dressed bat with faces -glowing
ia aatidpatloa of trouble, came gal
leslas P the slope, swinging oat into
Has ss they advaaced. their
stoamiag la the sunlight It
prettily, sharply performed, aad their
officer's face srlghteaed.
"Very nicely done, Watson," hs
said to the expectant sergeant "De
ploy your mea to left aad right aad
clear oat those shooters. Make a
good job of . but ao firing unless
yoa have to."
The troopers west at tt as If they
enjoyed the task, forcing their restive
thickets, sad
than oae who
to qsssttoa their authority.
Tot the work was over la toss time
thea tt takes to tell, the discomfited
regulators driven pell-mell dowa the
hm aad hack iato the towa. the
eavalrymea haMJag caly at the
of the bugle. Braat
ey.
watch the mea senior, sad thea
ed straight ap the MO, alone
Is the
yet
evideat
The stock spiral of smoke had so-
mulaSamaBt aawa aBBVwPaBBSBBBmaaffe JnBBBBnL ffeaWBaBnaBBnasmt
rapidly hm both dhscttoas from tts
mHlnsl startmspesat Hs arrived
amsfly where the gtoans was shsrrsfl
black ami severed with weed ashes.
ssM not aader met sad smoking, hat
ho pressed upward. sTsmmrhMs
""""
Brcotefit Busy
Groceries
Vegetables
Fruits
Produce
brush readered the none of pre less
impassable. He could see scarcely
three yards la advance, but to the
rear the aarrow taae of retreat re
mained open. Standing there, as
though in the month of a furnace, the
red flames scorchiag his face. Brant
hollowed his hands for a call.
"Hamptoa!" The word rang out
over the infernal crackling aad roar
lag like the Bote of a trumpet
"Ay! What to tt?" The returning
voice was plainly not Hampton's yet
It came from directly in front mad
not far away.
"Who are yoa? Is that yoa. Mar
shal?" "Thet's the ticket" answered the
voice, grafly. "aa' jest as full o' fight
es ever."
Braat lifted his jacket to protect
his face from the scorching heat
There was certainly ao time to lose
ia aay exchaaae of compliments.
"I'm Braat, lieutenant Seventh cav
alry." he cried, choking with the thick
ening smoke. "My troop has scatter
ed those fellows who were hunting
yoa. Ill protect yoa and your prison
er, but youll have to get out of there
at once. Caa yoa locate me and make
a dash for It? Wrap your coats around
your heads, aad leave your guas be-
Aa instant he waited for the an
swer, fairly writhing la the intense
heat thea Mason shouted, "Hamp
ton's been shot aad I'm winged a lit
tle; I caa't carry him."
Braat ripped off hto jacket wrapped
it about his face, jammed a handker
chief iato his mouth aad with a prayer
ia his heart leaped forward into the
seemingly narrow fringe of Are in his
front Head down, he ran blindly,
stumbling forward as he struck the
ore-dump, end beating out with his
hands the sparks that scorched his
clothing. The smoke appeared to roll
higher from the ground here, aad the
coughing soldier crept up beneath it.
breathing the hot air. aad feeUng as
though his entire body were afire.
Mason, his countenance black and un
recognizable, hto shirt soaked with
blood, peered Iato hto face.
"HeU. alat it!" he sputtered, "hut
you're a daady, all right"
."Is Hamptoa dead?"
"I reckon aot Got hit bad, though."
Braat cast oae glance Into the
white, unconscious face of his rival,
and acted with the promptness of mil
itary training.
"Whip off your shirt Mason, and tie
it around your face," he commanded.
"LIvdy now!"
He bound hto silk neckerchief
across Hampton's month, aad lifted
the map form partially from the
around. "Hdp me to get him up.
There, that .win do. Now keep as
dose as yoa caa so as to steady him
If I trip. Straight ahead rua for it!"
They sprang directly Iato the larid
flames, bending low. Brant's hands
grasping the iaert form lying across
his shoulder. They dashed stumbling
through the black, smouldering lane
beyond. Halfway down this, the
ground yet hot beneath their feet the .
vapor stifliag. bat with clearer
breaths of air blowing ia their faces. '
Braat tripped aad felL Masoa beat
out the smouldering sparks In his
clothing, and assisted him to stagger
to his feet once more. Then together
they bore him slowly down below the
flrst flre-line.
To be Continued.
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