early."

"Oh, no," said the eldest brother. He took the lamp and set it on the
floor. When the hotel man had given a last sharp look around, he went
out and closed the door.

Without losing a moment, the little girl, who was wearied with her long
day's ride, put some matches within easy reach and flung herself down in
her clothes on the cot. But the eldest brother, after rolling the
bedstead against the door, examined the window to make sure that it was
nailed fast, and gently tapped the walls to see that no spot gave back
the hollow sound that would suggest a secret entrance. Satisfied that
all was safe, he unbuckled his belt, put it under the blankets at the
little girl's feet, and extinguished the light.

It was then past eleven, but the hotel was still awake and noisy. The
eldest brother concluded that it would be well to get a short nap at
once and remain awake throughout the hours when, the bar-room being
deserted, any attempt to molest him would be made. The little girl was
already breathing deeply. He threw himself across the bed, his pistols
beside him.

He did not know how long he had been asleep when he found himself wide
awake and conscious that some one was moving softly toward him. He
struggled to spring up, half convinced that he was having a nightmare,
but his body refused to obey. All at once, as he lay silently looking
upward, a man arose from beside the bed and leaned over him.

A dim light, which seemed to come from the rear, brought out the
menacing figure plainly. One arm was half raised as if to strike. It was
evident that the assassin was in doubt, since the headboard shaded the
bed, as to whether the eldest brother or the little girl was stretched
before him. The next instant he knew, for the eldest brother twisted in
agony at sight of the arm poised above him and uttered a groan.

Quick as a flash the figure swayed toward him and the arm descended. But
the eldest brother was quicker. He rolled sidewise, and at the same time
struck out with his right hand. There was the sound of a dull blow not
made by his fist, a scream from the little girl, and the thump of the
eldest brother's body as he struck the floor on the farther side of the
bed.

Intense stillness followed. The eldest brother, a revolver in either
hand, got cautiously to his knees and peered across to where his
assailant had stood. The dim light was gone now, however, and he could
make out nothing. He waited, holding his breat