, 1886-06-08

low Sunhtn eyes. oIt hdh hHhtth a
lamp, and Toms revolver lay within
reach.
A faint smile crossed the mans pale
lips. Miss Allison saw it, and n little
flash of temper sent color and light into
her cheeks and eyes.
Il need accounting for?" answering
the flash.
you do, certainly" sharply. There's
bread and a glass of wine beside you.
Drink it and lie down till this coffee
boils.r
He obeyed her. When Miss Allison
went to him presently with her coffee,
she found him asleep. And from the
wounded arm u dark stream dripped
slowly.
Miss Allison set down her tray, and
turned faint and sick. Then she reused
him gently.
Look at your arm. What is the mat
ter with it,
Il nave been shot," drowsily. 1T is
bleeding again? Can you-get ne
falling off into unconsciousness, half
sleep, half stupor.
"Oh, dear!" desperately. Hes go
ing to bleed to death! You must wake
upl' seizing his shoulder, and speaking
with a ring in her clear voice.
He opened his eyes again.
Il will help you bandage your arm"
The apron she had tied over her while
dress was in strips, and she was bending
over him, her hands not quite steady,
her face pale. There was blood on her
hands and gown before the work wan
done.
Il am very sorry" looking up depre-
c%atingly. He had long-lashed, womanish
eyes and his face, if not handsome, was
certainly not ruiiianly NOR coarse.
She poured his coffee and cut his food.
A man with one hand is not expected to
be expert with knife and fork; but lie
ate and drank with a refinement that
made his evident eagerness more marked
and touching.
Not a word was spoken. Miss Allison,
behind a table, with her revolver lying
in her lap, watched him closely. All at
once a conclusion flashed on her mind
and took her breath away.
"You are one of the horse-thieveslT
she said, slowly. She was leaning towards
him, her lips apart, her eyes very wide
open.
He laid down his knife and fork, and
looked at her silently.
And then the inconsequent woman's
logic asserted itself. The man was a
fugitive from justice, certainly; but there
he was in her power-hungry-wounded
Misunderstanding. And, somehow, the
Allison blood had n trick of taking the
losing side.
She rose impulsively.
They are after you" she said, in a
half whisper. The whole community is
searching"
Il know it," d~espondently. Il have
been in the brush for two days. Some
body ave me this" touching his arm.
81 was starved out, worn out, and came
here to surrender"
Finish your supper" abruptly.
Then she went away, and on the porch
paced steadily up and down for ten good
minutes in the starlight. Through the
open window she could watch her visitor,
and she had her revolver firmly clutched.
He had finished his meal when she
went back.
al don't know anything about YOU
she said, severely. Il don't want to.
Yon are n young man, and you do not
look as if you were entirely hardened in
crime. nm going to give you another
chance. | don't know whether | am do
ing right or wrong" breaking down in
her moral tone. 81 don't care!' She
stopped and caught her breath. Then
she hurried IN, forgetting everything,
woman fashion, in the excitement of the
moment. THE eastern train passes at 4
o'clock. It's only a signal-station. and
there will be nobody there. I'll take you
down in time for it, and hat will give
you six good hours of sleep. Tom isn't
coming home. and YOU can nave his
clothes"
She opened the door of u small room
behind hcr-an orderly, half-filled store
room.
you can stay here. Nobody will
Gomez; and if they do, II am armedl"
valiantly giving the information as a
warning as well as an assurance.
lie obeyed her speechlessly. lie heard
the lock click as he stretched himself on
the couch hat waited him. And in two
minutes he was asleep.
II did not seem much more than hat
time before he woke, to find her standing
beside him.
Here are Toms clothes. You have
ten minutes to get dressed. I've ripped
the coat-sleeve, you see; and there's u
traveling-shawl. The horses are ready
She was waiting for him as he came
out. A slight, dark-clad figure; a white
face, with wide, shining eyes and reso-
lutte, firmly set lips. After all, being
clad with a semblance of order and de
ing character.
There was more hot coffee.
Come, she said, CURLY, as he put
down his cup.
He paused at the door.
who harnessedYn
IL did"
And you are going a%lonel"
Quite alone"
And coming back alone ?"
yes
She was winter than ever, and her
eyes filled with nars as she looked up at
him. Anything less like n heroine never
figured in an adventure.
you poor child" There was nothing
but kindly pity in his voica. You will
take your revolver" glancing toward it
as it lay on the table.
YES"
Hadn't you better" gently, "let me
load it.r
1T is loaded. Tom said So"
Tom was mistaken. -See,r showing
her the empty chambers"
There was the faintest light in the
room. carefully screened from outside
nhAnrNufinn Shn Ind sunk hncl in hnr