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duty at whatever cost。 He was hooted down with jeers and laughter； and
immediately the attack commenced。
The yells of the attackers mingled with the sound of the axe…blows and
the report of revolvers from inside the building。 Among those nearest to
the door being battered down were Denver and the few men he had with
him。 His plan offered merely a forlorn hope。 It was that in the first
scramble to get in after the way was opened he and his friends might push
up the stairs in the van； and hold the corridor for as long as they could
against the furious mob。
It took less than a quarter of an hour to batter down the door； and
among the first of those who sprang across the threshold were Denver；
Missou； Frisco and their allies。 While others stopped to overpower the
struggling deputies according to the arranged farce； they hurried upstairs
and discovered the cell in which their friends were fastened。
Frisco passed a revolver through the grating to McWilliams； and
another to Bannister。 〃Haven't got the keys； so I can't let y'u out； old hoss；〃
he told the foreman。 〃But mebbe y'u won't feel so lonesome with these
little toys to play with。〃
Meanwhile Denver； a young giant of seventy…six inches； held the head
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of the stairs； with four stalwart plainsmen back of him。 The rush of many
feet came up pell…mell； and he flung the leaders back on those behind。
〃Hold on there。 This isn't a free…lunch counter。 Don't you see we're
crowded up here already？〃
〃What's eating you ？ Whyfor； can't we come？〃 growled one of the
foremost nursing an injured nose。
〃I've just explained to you； son； that it's crowded。 Folks are prevalent
enough up here right now。 Send up that bunch of keys and we'll bring your
meat to you fast enough。〃
〃What's that？ What's that？〃 The outlaw chief pushed his way through
the dense mob at the door and reached the stairway。
〃He won't let us up；〃 growled one of them。
〃Who won't？〃 demanded Bannister sharply； and at once came leaping
up the stairs。
〃Nothing doing；〃 drawled Frisco； and tossed him over the railing on to
the heads of his followers below。
They carried Bannister into the open air； for his head had struck the
newel…post in his descent。 This gave the defense a few minutes respite。
〃They're going to come a…shooting next time；〃 remarked Denver。 〃Just
as soon as he comes back from bye…low land you'll see things hum。〃
〃Y'u bet；〃 agreed Missou。 We'll last about three minutes when the
stampede begins。〃
The scream of an engine pierced the night。
Denver's face lit。 〃Make it five minutes； Missou； and Mac is safe。 At
least； I'm hoping so awful hard。 Miss Helen wired for the militia from
Sheridan this nothing。 Chances are they're on that train。 I couldn't tell you
earlier because she made me promise not to。 She was afraid it might leak
out and get things started sooner。 〃
Weak but furious； the miscreant from the Shoshones returned to the
attack。 〃Break in the back door and sneak up behind on those fellows。
We'll have the men we want inside of fifteen minutes；〃 he promised the
mob。
〃We'll rush them from both sides； and show those guys on the landing
whether they can stop us；〃 added Bostwick。
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Suddenly some one raised the cry； 〃The soldiers！〃 Bannister looked up
the street and swore a vicious oath。 Swinging down the road at double
time came a company of militia in khaki。 He was mad with baffled fury；
but he made good his retreat at once and disappeared promptly into the
nearest dark alley。
The mob scattered by universal impulse； disintegrated so promptly that
within five minutes the soldiers held the ground alone； save for the
officials of the prison and Denver's little band。
A boyish lieutenant lately out of the Point； and just come in to a
lieutenancy in the militia； was in command。 〃In time？〃 he asked anxiously；
for this was his first independent expedition。
〃Y'u bet；〃 chuckled Denver。 〃We're right glad to see you； and I'll bet
those boys in the cage ain't regretting your arrival any。 Fifteen minutes
later and you would have been in time to hold the funeral services； I
reckon。〃 〃Where is Miss Messiter？〃 asked the young officer。
〃She's at the Elk House； colonel。 I expect some of us better drift over
there and tell her it's all right。 She's the gamest little woman that ever
crossed the Wyoming line。 Hadn't been for her these boys would have
been across the divide hours ago。 She's a plumb thoroughbred。 Wouldn't
give up an inch。 All day she has generaled this thing； played a mighty
weak hand for a heap more than it was worth。 Sand？ Seh： she's grit clear
through； if anybody asks you。〃 And Denver told the story of the day；
making much of her unflinching courage and nothing of her men's
readiness to back whatever steps she decided upon。
It was ten minutes past eleven when a smooth young； apple…cheeked
lad in khaki presented himself before Helen Messiter with a bow never
invented outside of West Point。
〃I am Lieutenant Beecher。 Governor Raleigh presents his compliments
by me； Miss Messiter； and is very glad to be able to put at your service
such forces as are needed to quiet the town。〃
〃You were in time？〃 she breathed。
〃With about five minutes to spare。 I am having the prisoners brought
here for the night if you do not object。 In the morning I shall investigate
the affair； and take such steps as are necessary。 In the meantime you may
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rest assured that there will be no further disturbance。〃
〃Thank you I am sure that with you in command everything will now
be all right； and I am quite of your opinion that the prisoners had better
stay here for the night。 One of them is wounded； and ought to be given the
best attention。 But； of course； you will see to that； lieutenant。〃
The young man blushed。 This was the right kind of appreciation。 He
wished his old classmates at the Point could hear how implicitly this sweet
girl relied on him。
〃Certainly。 And now； Miss Messiter； if there is nothing you wish； I
shall retire for the night。 You may sleep with perfect confidence。〃
〃I am sure I may； lieutenant。〃 She gave him a broadside of trusting
eyes full of admiration。 〃But perhaps you would like me to see my
foreman first； just to relieve my mind。 And； as you were about to say； his
friend might be brought in； too； since they are together。〃
The young man promptly assented； though he had not been aware that
he was about to say anything of the kind。
They came in together； Bannister supported by McWilliams's arm。 The
eyes of both mistress and maid brimmed over with tears when they saw
them。 Helen dragged forward a chair for the sheepman； and he sank into it。
From its depths he looked up with his rare； sweet smile。
〃I've heard about it；〃 he told her； in a low voice。 〃I've heard how y'u
fought for my life all day。 There's nothing I can say。 I owed y'u everything
already twice； and now I owe it all over again。 Give me a lifetime and I
couldn't get even。〃
Helen's swift glance swept over Nora and the foreman。 They were in a
dark alcove； oblivious of anybody else。 Also they were in each other's
arms frankly。 For some reason wine flowed into the cream of Helen's
cheeks。
〃Do you have to 'get even'？ Among friends is that necessary？〃 she
asked shyly。
〃I hope not。 If it is； I'm sure bankrupt Even my thanks seem to stay at
home。 If y'u hadn't done so much for me； perhaps I could tell y'u how
much y'u had done But I have no words to say it。〃
〃Then don't；〃 she advised。
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