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?\srm mca I JTTHF/ P&VI | I cxw73j&*.rr JSP (Continued from Uit week) "Yes, senor, a woman; the same you ought, but I have found you first." He chuckled. "A good Jest surely; how came you here?" "Not to discuss that, senor," quietly. "Nor Is this to be laughed over. " If 11L cH "If You Would Live, Do as I Say." you would live, do ns I sny. Mr. Cavendish, see If the mau hours weapons." "Only a belt with a knife." "Keep the knife; It may come handy for some purpose. Now bind his hands with the belt. Cross your wrists, senor." He had lost his temper, no longer deeming this a Joke. "You d n vixen," he growled savagely. "This ploy will soon be done; do you know who I am?" "The senor Pascual Mendez, but that means nothing," she answered. "This revolver will kill you as surely as any one else. Do what I say then, and talk no more?cross your wrists behind." He did so, and Cavendish strapped the stout belt about them, winding It In and out until he nad sure purchase. He drew It so tightly the fel low winced. "It hurts, senor," she said, satisfled. "Well, to hurt you a little Is better than what you planned for me. Now lead on. No, listen first. I know f ROY FEB tjbac" mark ^ *r* o ?- r..S5g'.?'tt?!>--^-iv^S^; fko l i' iNGEi JTE |g WlSlI fA&Gisif mm ?- ? crwisi St WE WORTH " ETC gT jb4ac04z-6 j9ajt??2/<&ff j who you are and your power here. That Is why we took this chance of making you prisoner. We are desperate; it is either your life, or ours, senor. You are a* outlaw, with a j price on your head, and you realize i what chances one will tnke to escape. ' Now, there is just one opportunity | Kiven you to live." "What, senorlta?" "That you accompany us down this \ passage Into the valley as hostage. You will compel your men, if we encounter Hny, to furnish us horses." "But the men may not obey. I cannot promise; Senor Cateras?" "Senor Cateras will not be there," | she Interrupted sharply. "We have j already seen to Senor Cateras. The others will obey you?" "They may; I cannot promise." "Then It will be your own loss; foi If there be a shot fired, you will get either a bullet or a knife thrust. 1 , would try no sharp tricks, Senoi Mendez. Now we go on." Mendez smiled grimly In the dark, his mind busy. "1 am to go first?" and his voice assumed polite deference. "Beside Mr. Cavendish," she replied, . "and I will he behind." "This gentleman, you mean?" "Yes; and there Is no need for any more acting. This is the revolver pressing against your hack, senor. I could scarcely miss you at that dis- ; tance." They advanced in silence, through the faint gleam of light which il- ' lumined the passage through the stone silts over the cell doors. The darkness swallowed them again, but the way was clear, and, once around the sharp turn, a glimmer of distant daylight made advance easier. There was no sign of any guard visible, nor any movement perceptible in tlie open vista beyond the save entrance. The girl touched Mendez' arm. "You expect Lacy?" "I have sent for hlaa; it "was yesterday." "And he could be here now?" "Not before night; It Is a hard ride; why ask all this?" "I have reasons. Now another thing; where are your men?" t His eyes wandered to the gleam of daylight. "There will be one or two In the ! bunk-house likely; the others are with the cattle up the valley." "But none In your cabin?" He shook his head. "And you say Lacy cannot get here before dark? How late?" "Well, senorita, I may as well tell you, I suppose. It Is the rule not to enter this valley after dark. I expect the Americanos to arrive about ten o'clock." "The Americanos?" "Si, there will be three In the party. 31 ?, Mat | BIGGER ? Sl1< t BETTER < r on l FEWER ? wit ' I ccc I | F. S. Roystei m Narfolk, Va. Richmond, Va. Ly W Chariotto, N. C. Wa?hln|to ra| Spartanburg, S. C. Atlanta, Ga flfj Montgomery, Ala. Baltha gunru wvnuez until i return. It will only he a moment. Don't take your eyes off him; there must be no alarm." She moved forward through the gloomy shadows toward the light showing at the mouth of the cave and was able to gain a comprehensive view of the entire scene beyond. Within the cave itself there was no movement, 110 evidence of life. Quite clearly no guard had been posted here, and 110 precautions taken, although doubtless the only entrance to the deep valley was carefully watched. The two enhins were directly before the entrance, the smaller closely in against the cliff, the larger slightly advanced. Neither exhibited any sign of life. Her study of the situation concentrated on the small cabin immediately in front. It was built of logs, well mortised together and plastered between with clay. There were no windows on the end toward the cliff, or along the one side which she could see from where she lay. The single door must open from the front, and apparently t ie house had been erected with the thought that It might some time be used for purposes of defense, as It had almost the appearance of a .fort. Confident there could he no better time for the venture, Stella signaled with her hand for the others to Join her. "The wnv is elenr." slip snl<) "#nit listen to my warning, senor. We are going straight along the north side of your cabin there, until we reach the door. For about twenty feet we shall be exposed to view from that other cabin, if any~of your men are there. If you dare utter a sound, or make a motion, this man will shoot you dead In your tracks?do you understand?" Ills look was ugly enough, although he compelled the thin lips to smile. "Quite clearly?yes; but pardon me if I doubt. You might kill me; I think that, yet how would it serve you? One shot fired would bring here a dozen men?then what?" "I thank you, senor; there will be no shot fired. Give me the revolver, Mr. Cavendish; now take this knife. As we advance walk one step behind Mendez. You will know what to do. Now, RS IRS, I YIELDS SRADES ACRES ABOR * Guano Co. nehbiarg, Va. Tarboro, N. C. n, N. C. Columbia, S. C. . Macon, Ga. Columbua,Qa. aro, Md. Toledo, Ohio. one of them a man from New York, who has business with me." Her clear, thoughtful eyes turned inquiringly toward Cavendish, but the survey brought with It no encouragement. The man meant well, no doubt, and would tight valiantly on occasion; he was no coward, no weakling?equally clear his was not the stuff from which leaders are made. There was uncertainty In his eyes, a lack of force In his face which told the story. Whatever was decided upon, or accomplished, must be by her volition; she could trust blm to obey, but that was all. "Then we vflll make no attempt to leave the valley until after durk," she said slowly. "Even If we got away now, we would be pursued and overtaken, for the desert offers few cnances ror concealment. If we can reach that smaller cabin unseen we ought to b^ safe enough there for hours. Cateras will net bother, and with Mendez captive his men will not learn what has occurred. Is not this our best plan, Mr. Cavendish?" "And at night?" "We must wdrk some scheme to get horses and depart before those others reach here. If we leave this man se-* curely bound, his plight will not even he discovered until Lacy arrives. By that time, with any good fortune, we will be beyond pursuit, lost in the desert. Do you think of anything better?" That he did not was evidenced by the vacant look In his eyes, and she waited for no answer. "Here," she said, thrusting the revolver into his hand, "take this and you wish to "try an experV ment?we go now." | There was not- a sound, not s word. ( Not unlike three shadows they crossed the open space, and foun-1 shelter bejhlnd the walls of the hut. The girl never removed her eyes from the other cabin, and Cavendish, a step behind his prisoner, poised for a quick blow, the steel blade glittering In uplifted hand, saw nothing but the back of the man before him. The latter shrugged his shoulders and marched forward, his eyes alone evidencing the passion ; raging within. Without pausing they reached the 1 door, which stood slightly ajar. Stella ! pushed It ojten, took one swift glance within and stepped aside. The other two entered, and she instantly followed, closing the door, and securing It with a stout wooden bar. Her face was white, marked by nervous emotion, her eyes bright and fearless. With one swift glance she vlsioned the Interior; there were two rooms, both small, divided by a solid log partition, pierced by a narrow doorway. I Her heart beat faster as she turned away, satisfied with the success of her plan. Nothing remained now but to secure Mendez, to make It Impossible for him to raise an alarm. If he could be bound, and locked Into that rear room. She looked at the two men? the Mexican had slouched down Into a chair, apparently having abandoned all hope of escape, his chin lowered on his breast, his eyes hidden beneath the wide brim of his hat. Feeling no trepidation, she crossed toward the other room, noting as she passed that Mendez lifted his hegd to observe her movements. She paused at the door, turning suspiciously, but the man had already seemingly lost Interest, and Ills head again drooped. She stepped within. It was dingy dark once she had crossed the threshold, yet enough of light flickered In through the doorway to enable her to perceive the few articles of furniture. The room Itself was a small one, but contained a roughly constructed wooden bed, two stools, and a square table of unplaned boards. Against the wall In a corner leaned a short-barreled gun, a canvas bag draped over Its muzzle. I She had no opportunity to observe more. To her ears there came the Bound of a blow In the room she had just left, a groan, the dull thud of a body striking the floor, accompanied by a Spanish oath, and a shuffling of feet. She snrans' hnolr lntr? fho r?n??n doorway, startled, certain only of some catastrophe, her fingers gripping hard on the revolver. Cavendish lay writhing on the floor, the chair overturned beside him, and the Mexican, with one swift leap forward, cleared the body, and reached the window. Even as she caught this movement, too dazed for the instant to act, the injured man struggled up on one elbow, and, with all the force he possessed, hurled the knife straight at the fleeing figure. It flashed through the air, a savage gleam of steel, burely missing Mendez* shoulder, and burled Itself in a log, quivering from the force of Impact. With a yell of derision, his hands still bound, the desperate fugitive cast himself head-first through the opening. Without aim, scarcely aware of what she did, the girl flung up her weapon and fired. With revolver yet smoking she rushed forward to look without Rolling over and over on the ground, his face covered with blood, Mendez was seeking to round the corner of the cabin, to get beyond range. Again she pulled the trigger, the powder smoke blowing back into her face, and blinding her. When she could see once more, he was gone, but men were leaping out through the door of the bunkhouse, shouting In excitement. One of these caught sight of her, and fired, the bullet chugging Into the end of a log, so closely it caught a strand of her hair, but, before another shot could follow, she had seized the shutter, and closed the opening, driving the latch fast with the revolver butt. She was cool enough now, every I nerve on edge, realizing fully the danger of their position. All the bloou ot a nghting race surged through her veins, and she was conscious of no fear, only of a wild exultation, a strange desire to win. As Hhe tutted she faced Cavendish, only vaguely visible in the twilight caused by the closed window. "Are you hurt?" "No?not?not much. Hi aborted all the irltid out of me. I?rm ah right now." "Get up then! There's fitting enough ahead to make you forget that What happened?" "He?he kicked me, I guess. I?I lon't exactly know. I heard you go past us Into that other room, and?and Just turned my head to see. The next I knew I was on the floor. I thought I was going to faint. Did I get him with the knife?" "No, It's over there, and I am afraid I didn't touch him either; it was all so sudden I got no aim. Do you hear those voices? There must be a dozen Why take chances with Jjl Bjl' H I tear down the system? Get the fen- Jr ilfll Tablets, the mild, sure laxDruggiit JJ I "LM(t*d"P?p?loT>blMttrtHeh In p?p- I I sin and contain th* standard mlld-purga- I I tl?a alamants In sclantlAc proportions. I GASOUNE SYSTEMS Oil Tanks and Pumps, Air Compressors, Computing Scales Floor Scales, Show Cases, Account Registers. Rebuilt Cash Registers. Safes, Store Fixtures. 5 or tno band outside already/' He looked up at her, his glance almost vacant, and she could but perceive how his chin shook. "What shall we do?" "Do 1" She gripped his shoulder, i "Are you a man and ask that? We will fight 1 Did you imagine I would ever surrender myself Into the hands of that devil after whut has. happened? I would rather die; yes, I will die before he ever puts hand on me.- And whut about you, Mr. Cavendish? Are you going to lie there moping? Answer me?I thought you were ?a gentleman." The words were like a blow In his face, and under their sting he staggered to his feet; scarlet blazed In both his cheeks. "xou nave no right to say that to me," he said angrily. "I'm not that kind." "I know It," she admitted, "but you lose your nerve; this Isn't your game. Well, It Isn't mine either, for the matter of that. Nevertheless It has got to be played, and we're going to play It together. Those fellows will be at that do??r presently?Just as soon as 1 Mendez tells them who are Inside here. They'll try us once and, If we can beat them back, that will give us a breathing spell. Two of us ought to hold them for some time." There was a shouting of communds without In Spanish, punctuated by | oaths, the meaning of which the girl alone understood. She leaned forward, her eyes on the door, the cocked revolver held ready. She had meant what she said to Cavendish; to her mind death was far preferable to any surrender to that Infurluted Mexican; she expected death, hut on# hope yet buoyed her up?Westcott. He would come; she had faith in that?and he would find she had fought to the end. even If he came too late. She burled her face In her hands, stifling a sob that shook her body, yet when she lifted her head again there was no glimmer of tears In her eyes and her cheeks were crimson. She waited motionless, scarcely seeming to breathe? the statue of a woman at bay. All this was but for a moment, a moment of swift thought, of equally swift decision. The next Cavendish stood beside her, grasping the shotgun, no longer a victim of weukness, his eyes meeting hers eagerly. , "I could only find twelve cartridges," I he exclaimed, "but I know how to use those." He took a step forward and held out his hand. "Forgive me. Miss Donovan," he I pleaded. "Really I do not know what I makes me like that, hut you would make a man out of anybody." Her firm, slim fingers met his eagerly. her eyes instantly glowing In appreciation. "Of course I forgive you," she exclaimed. "Your fear Is no greater than my own. I am a woman and dread this sort of thing. All that gives me courage is the knowledge that death Is preferable to dishonor," her voice lost its firmness, "and?and my faith in a man." "You mean in possible rescue?" Her eyes lifted to his face. "Yes, Mr. Cavendish. It may prove all Imagination, yet there Is one?a real man, I am sure?who must know of my plight before this. If he does, and lives, he will come to me. If we con only defend ourselves long enough there will he rescue." A blow struck the outer door, and j was repeated, evidently dealt by the i taitt of a gun ; then the two, standing silent and almost breathless within, heard Mendez' voice. "Senorita, and you also, Senor Cavendish," he called, his words intended to he conciliatory. "It Is of no use that you resist. We ure many and armed. If you surrender und not fight I pledge you protection." The girl glanced at Cavendish. "Yo? answer him." "What shall I say?" he whispered. "The man lies; he will keep no promise once we are in his nower. Re sides they have not yet found Cateras. When they do there will be no thought of mercy." "Then we will fight it out?" "1 shall; 1 will never give myself into the hands of that creature." "Senor," and Cavendish stepped aside to the protection of the logs, "we will not surrender. That Is our answer." "Fools I" he called back, his voice rising harsh above the growling of others. "We will show you. Silva. Felipe, quick now ; do what I told you. We will teuch these Amerleuno dogs a lesson. No, stand hack! Walt until 1 speak the word." A faint glimmer of light through one of the log crevices caught Cavendish's attention and he bent down, his eye to the crack, one hand grasping the barrel of his gun. Stella watched him ' motionless and silent, her face again ; pale from strain. "I can count about a dozen nnl there," he said Anally, his words barely audible, and his eye still at the light opening. "All Mexican except two?they look American. Moat ol ... U,.... Flavor! No cigarette has the same delicious flavor as Luoky Strike. Because? aid I toasted LUCKY STRIKE CIGARETTE fellows have searched the cells and discovered Cateras. Do you hear that yell? It will be a tight to a finish now. Here come two men with a log ?that's their game, then; they mean to smash in the door." lie straightened up, casting a swift glnnce about the apartment. All hesitancy, doubt, had left* him now that the supreme test had come, lie wus again capable of thinking clearly and acting. "Miss Donovan," he burst out, "we can never hope to hold back those men here?In this room. We shall be 4n bright light as soon as the door Is battered down and then, If they crush In the window also, we shall surely be attacked from two sides." "What will be better?' she asked. "The bnck room; It Is dark, with no windows, and there are strips nailed between the logs. We can force that heavy wooden bed across the door and hide behind it. We ought to hold them there as long as our cartridges last, unless they set the cabin nlire. Good God! They have begun already. Three more blows like that and the door goes down. Come; It's our only chance." It was the work of a moment; It had to be. The Inner room was so dark they had to feel their way about blindly, yet those splintering crashes on the outer door, interspersed by the shouts of the men, spurred both to hurried effort. Nor was there much to be done. The heavy bed was thrown upon its side and hauled and pushed forward until it rested against the door Jambs, the mattress and blankets so caught and held as to form protection against bullets. Brenthless the two sank to their knees In the darkness behind, their eyes on the brightening daylight of the room beyond. Already a hole had been stove through the upper panel of the door, the surrounding wood splintered. Some one fired once through the Jagged opening and an exultant yell followed from without. "No firing 1" the voice was Mendez', rising sharply above the other sounds. "I don't want the girl shot, you fools. Take that other log around to the window. They'll surrender fast enough once we're inside. Now, another one. Here, five of you swing her 1" With a crash the remaining wood gave way, the end of the log, used as a battering ram, projecting into the room. Over the shattered door, now held only by one bent hinge, a halfdozen forms swarmed Inward, the quick rush blocking their passage. Cavendish pulled trigger, the deep boom of his shotgun echoed Instantly by the sharper report of the girl's revolver. She fired twice before the swirling smoke obstructed the view, conscious only that one man had leaped straight Into the ulr and another had sprawled forward on hands and knees. Cavendish pushed home a fresh cartridge and the smoke cloud lifted Just enough to permit them to perceive the farther doorwny. A Mexican lay curled up in the center of the floor, his gun a dozen feet away; another hung dangling across an overturned stool, but the opening was vacant. Just outside a fellow, wounded, wns dragging himself out of range. "Grenrt Scott 1" exclaimed Cavendish, excitedly. "Every shot counted. Here, load up quick. They'll try the window next Get down!" The warning wns not nn Instant too soon, the hasty volley largely thudding harmlessly into the thick mattress, although a bullet or two sang past and found billets in the logs behind. Cavendish returned the fire, shooting blindly into the smoke, hut the girl only lifted her head, staring Intently into the smother, until the cloud floated away through the door. The attackers had again vanished, all semblance of them, except those two motionless bodies. "Looks as though they had enough of It." he said grimly, "and have decided to starve us out." "Oh, do you think so? I heard a noise then." He heard it also, his glance returning Instantly to the front, his form stiffening Into preparation. For a moA. F. DAVIj MARKET The Finest Fresh Meat* The Best Fancy Groceries High Grade Canned Goods The Best of Everything for the Table A. F. DAVIS MARKET E. MAE EDGEWORTH Optometrist Eyes examined and glasses fitted scientifically. Office hours 10 A. M. to 4 I'. M. Office upstairs in Ross building. discharge notice On 5th March, next, i will apply ti the Probate Court for a discharge a? Administrator of Estate of (J. J Kirkley, deceased. G. W. Kirkley, It Was Done So Quickly Neither Fired. ment neither could determine tlx meaning of the sounds. Then he cooked his gun, the sharp click echoing aluiosl loudly iti the stillness. "Trying the window this time," lit muimu,*ed. "Do you hear thai? B? ready." The two knelt motionless, peering over the edge of the bed Into the dim twilight, seeing nothing, each with linger on trigger?tense, exi>eetnnt. Then, without warning, the llylng figure of a ninn leaped across the doo'rwoy into the security of the opposite wall. It was done so quickly neither fired, hut Cavendish licked his parched lips with a dry tongue. "I'll get the next one who tries that trick," he muttered. "It will be easier than partridge shooting." A minute?two passed, every nerve on edge; then a second flying form, almost a blur in the gathering gloom, shot across the narrow opening. The shotgun spoke, and the wildly leaping figure seemed to crumble to the floor? its lower half had reached shelter, but head and shoulders lay exposed, revealing gray hair and a white mustache. Cavendish sprang erect, all caution forgotten. "It's Mendez," he cried. "I got the arch-fiend of them?" A ritle cracked and he went plunging hack, his body striking the girl, and crushing her to the llnor beside him. There was no cry. no groan of agony, yet he lay there motionless. She crept across and bent over him, almost dumb with fear. "You?you are shot?" she mude herself speak. "Yes; they've got me," the utterance of the words a struggle. "It's here in the chest; I?I don't know how had; perhaps if you tear open my shirt, you?you might stop the blood." She could see nothing, not even the man's face, yet her fingers rent the shirt asunder and searched for the wound. It was not bleeding greatly. j and she hud no water, hut not knowing what else to do, she tore a strip from her skirt and bound It hastily. Ho never moved, q>r spoke, and she bent her head closer. The wounded man had lost consciousness. Alone, in the dark she crept on her knees to her place behind the barricade. Her hand touched the empty j;un he had dropped, und she reloaded It slowly, only half comprehending its mechanism. The revolver, every chamber tilled, rested on the upturned edge of the bed; her lips were firmly pressed together. Quietly she pushed forward the burrel of the shotgun, and waited. (To be continued) PALMAFESTA Palmetto State Festival Columbia, March 28 to April 2. J. ARTHUR KNIGHT At torney-at-La w Oliice in Courthouse Chesterfield, S. C. r\ n i t oil t i rrv/"' r IS I\. J. I. I\U 1 LU^ViL Dental Surgeon At Pagol.md Tuesday and Wednesday. Remainder of time at Chesterfield, office in Rank ot" Chesterfield building. WEAK; RUN-DOWN Carolina Lady Got So She Could Just Drag.?"Cardui Built Me Up," She Declares. Kernersvtlle, N*. O.?In an interesting statement regarding Cardui, the Woman's Tonic, Mrs. Wesley Mabe, of near here, recently said: "I havo Known Cardui for years, but never knew its worth until a year or so ago. I was in a weakened, run-down condition. I became draggy?didn't eat or sleep to do any good; couldn't do anything without a great effort. I tried different remedies and medicines, yet I continued to drag. "I decided to give Cardui a trial, end found it was just what 1 really needed, it made me feel much stronger soon after I began to use it. I began to eat more, and the nervous, weak feeling began to leave. Boon I was sleeping good. "Cardui built me un as no other | tonic ever did. "I used C'ardul with one daughter who was puny, felt had nnd tired out all the time. It brought her right out, and soon sho was as well as a girl . could be. We think there is nothing like Cardui." Do not allow yourself to become ' weak and run-down from womanly i troubles. Take Cardui. You may find It Just what you really noed. For more than 40 years it haH been used by thousands and thousands, and found Just as Mrs. Mabe describes. mm