The evening world. Newspaper, October 29, 1921, Page 16

4 THE EVENING WORLD'S FICTION SECTION, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 29. 1921, “fiome of the yeHow devils blasted out supports on both eides at the same time they jumped the camp. We can’t fet down the side; it’s a sheer drop of a thousand feet.” ; “T nee. They waated to make sure they’d get me, as they've threatened,” replied Tully quietly. “They haven't got you yet, Mr. Tully,” said Nathalie crisply. Kneel- ing, she fired again at the advancing filame-spurts, Tully, leaning down, seized the girl by the arm. “No, not yet they haven’{ Wurry.” Come on HBY found the party crouched at the edge of the precipitous heights, alternately gazing at the wreckage of the bridge, or down the trail whence the volleys of Lullets were whining with increased fury. Hester Dane was lying prone, motionless; the guard who had re- mained with the party was kneeling, waiting for the trail to be cleared be- fore firing. “Every one has to fight now.” Tully peered down at the two men. “Where are your weapons?’ » “I never took one,’’ confessed Hanes. “Never could shoot, anyway.” ‘I grabbed de camera and dropped ft,” groaned Sheridan, ‘‘Cal] me a damn fool; I am one, all right, all right.” “You were in France, Mr. Tully.” Nathalie’s voice was clear. “Did you pever hear of emergency entrench- ments?” “My God, girl!” Tully swung around. “Here, Sheridan, and Hanes, come up eutof that and giveahand. He turned to the two guards and to Nathalie. “You three keep firing.” Hastily the three men dragged rocks into position, and, while the enemy stood al bay, firing, an effective breast- work of solid rock was reared. But it was not done without cost. Sheridan dropped with a bullet through his shoulder and one of the guards had a shaitered right arm, The Mexicans pressed on up the trail until, to their cost, they discovered the rature of the period of silence, broken only by the cerasional crack of a rifle. The idea, apparently, was to wait for reinforce- ments. Nathalie, who had some skill as a nurse, occupied the lull in attending to the wounded men. Then waiting, watching, the night went on, illumined finally by the splendid conflagration of Tully’s house, which the attacking party, after looting, set on fire, Hints of dawn became established through a rift in the casterly moun- tains. Presently a vast arm, like the shaft of a searchlight, quivered through the mountain fastness and lay across the canyon. It lighted a picture that would have been prized by any film studio in the land. Nathalie Bell was standing alert, her rifle in the hollow of her arm, watching the effect of a shot. The light of the dawn was in her corn-colored hair; it touched her indomitable face, threw into relief her resilient, beautifully poised figure. Sheridan pointed to obstacle. Followed a her, smiling wanly. ‘If we had dat camera, Mr. Tully!” 4nd Tully nodded solemnly. ‘I'd give a hundred thousand dollars if 1 had it,” he said. By George, they're coming up again—more than twenty of them.” Tully gestured. “You're the only one who can pick them off at that distance, Miss Bell.” Nathalie sighted her weapon and fired four times, forcing the enemy take cover as they advanced. “They’)l have to rush we to beat us out,” muttered Tully. “And they’re enough of them to do that if they dare wy.” That they did dare was made mani- fest shortly when the Mexicans sprang up the trail at a crouch, taking ad- vantago of opportunity for cover. every HE weapons of the defenders, pumping shots with deadly rapidity, were hot in their hands, and of the ammunition me full belt wae all that remained girl gone mad. “Any one who won't follow 4 woman,” she sbrilled, “stay behind!" With that she started down the trail, firing and shouting as she went. With ® piercing cowboy yip, Tully joined her; 60 did Matthews, the guard, while Oli- ver, the guard with the shattered arm, fell into the charge, discharging his revolver with his left hand, Phinney Hanes leaped to his feet and, seizing a handful of stones, joined in the at- tack. The Mexicans, caught off their guard, sprang from cover and fell in two and threes before the well-directed Arnold Tully came to her. “Miss Bell,” he said, “in my room before the house was burned I had two photographs of Hester Dane, One of them"”—— "I know.” WNathalic's voice caught “J heard you telling it to Miss Dane. I couldn’t help hearing. veranda, I am awfully sor’—- "I asked her to tell me which was the real Hester Dane—the Hester Dane t could worship, could’”—— She held out her hand. “Did you believe what she said ahov about—about me?” He swept the question away with THE DRIVER SPRANG CLEAR AS IT FELL; NATHALIE LANDED IN A HEAP. The eneniy, not 300 yards away, were consolidating on the trail; there was an ruption in their ad- vance that saged a final rush, “Mr, Tul Nathalie turned, her glowing—"I think if we should suddenly burst out of here and charge right down upon those men we'd make them break. They're cowards. I think be bluffed. Our ammunition is low; they'll overpower wus here. What do you say?" As Tully tating, evidently Tace they cou! glanced at the Nathalie, others, hesi- a cry, leaped le, veritably a with over the stone barrica shots of the girl and the The next instant the cans turned and fled And, as they ran, came a volley of shots directed at them from @ belated posse of citizens and rangers in the valley below, shots which caused some to leap in desperation of blind fear over the side of the trai] into the treacherous depths of the canyon b« low, while others sought concealmen on the bare face of the mountain, For a moment Nathalie stood motion less, her lips parted, her eyes staring upon the . three men surviving Mex! scene helow savage gesiure “TI asked her to tell me which was the Hester Dane who had filled my life with something, something—oh, what's the use! Nathalie Bell!” His were on her shoulders, his eyes hands searcl ng hers. Suddenly her head fell forward upon his breast, She was weeping. Arnold Tully looked up at the morning sky and smiled THE END. Copyright. All rights 1 Vrinted by atrangement wit Meropolitan Newspaper Service, New 1 NEXT SATURDAY’S COMPLETE STORY Lee BOOSTER’S By WALLACE HONEY MOO! IRWIN Ihe Exciting Adventures of a Pair of Newlyweds in the Most Romantic City in America—New York. And the Booster’s Last Warning From “Uncle Obe’’ Had Been, “Don't Be a Hick” ORDER YOUR EVENING WORLD IN ADVANCE I was on the _»