The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, February 24, 1921, Image 3
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(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
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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