Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-07-14

w nat is the matter with your" she
asked, crisply.
He looked up at her, standing straight
and tall in her white dress,
''1'ye eaten nothing for forty-eight
hours,n he said, quietly.
Speech and voice were clear and soft.
Miss Allison found herself conscious of
glimmer of friendly interest.
Can you get into the house?" with
matter.of-fact cOolness; al will find you
something TO eat"
He raised himself weakly as she
turned away. Miss Allison looked up
presently from her struggles with the
cooking-stoye lire, found him standing
in the doorway regarding her out of
hollow, sunken eyes. She had lighted
a lamp, and Toms revolver lay within
reach.
A faint smile crossed the mans pale
lips. Miss Allison saw it, and a little
flash of temper sent color and light into
her cheeks and eyes.
II need accounting for?" answering
the fash.
You do, certainly" sharply.
There's bread and glass of water
beside you. Drink it and lie down till
this coffee boils."
lie Obeyed her. When Miss Allison
went to him presently with her coffee,
she found him asleep. And from the
wounded arm 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
matter with it?''
~ have been shot," drowsily. SIS it
bleeding againP Can you-get me"
falling of into Inconsistencies, half
sleep, half stupor.
"Oh, dearl" desperately. SHE'S
going to bleed to death! You must
wake up!" selzing his shoulder, and
speaking with ring In her clear voice,
He opened his eyes again.
"I will help you bandage your arm"
The apron that she had tied over her
white 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
was done.
81 am Very sorry" looking up depre
catingly. He had ong-lashed, woman
ish eyes. and his face, If not handsome,
was certainly not ruffianly nor coarse.
She poured his coffee and cut his
food. a man with one hand is not ex-
pected to be expert with knife and
fork; but he ate and drank with re-
linement that made his evident eager
ness more marked and touching.
Not word was spoken. Miss ALI
son, behind table, with her revolver
in her lap, watched him closely. All
at once conclusion flashed on her mind
and took her breath away
"You are one of the horse -thieyesl
she said slowly. She was leaning to-
ward 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. This nan was
fugitive from justice, certainly; but
there he was In her power-hungry-
wounded, and interesting. And.
somehow, the Allison blood had trick
of taking the losing side.
She arose impulsively.
"They are after you," she said, in a
half-whisper. 1.-The whole community
is searching"
II know il, 3" despondently, 81 have
been in the brush for two days. Some
body gave me this," touching his arm.
II was starved out, worn out, and
came here to surrender"
Finish your SUPPER" abruptly.
Then she went away, aud 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 re-
volyer firmly clutched.
He had finished his meal when she
went back.
81 don't know anything about you,"
she said, severely. 81 don't want TO.
You are a young man, and you do not
look as if you were entirely hardened
in crime. am going to give you an
other chance. l don't know whether
am doing right or wrong" breaking
down in her moral tone, '1don't ca Il"
She stopped and caught her breath.
Then she hurried on, forgetting every
thing, woman fashion, In the excite
ment of the moment; 1.-The eastern
train passes at four O'Clock. It's only
signal station, and there VIII De
nobody there. I'll take you down In
time for 1t, and that will give you SIX
good hours of sleep. Tom isn't coming
home, and you can have his clothes"
She opened the door of small room
behind her-an orderly, half-ified
store-room.
"You can stay here. Nobody Will
come; and if they do, L! am armed!"
valiantly giving the information as
warning as well as an assurance.
He obeyed her speechlessly. He
heard the lock click as he stretched
himself on the couch that waited him.
And In two minutes he was asleep.
1t did not seem much more than that
time before he woke, to find her stand
ing beside him.
.Here are Toms clothes. You have
ten minutes to get dressed. I've ripped
the coat-sleeve, you see; and there's a
traveliug-shawl. The horses are ready"
She was waiting for him as he came
out. A slight, dark-clsd hgure,
white face, with wide, shining eyes
and resolute, firmly set lips. After al,
being clad with a semblance OF order
and decency, he was not such desper-
ate-looking character.
He paused at the door.
WHO harnessedr"
81 did" ~,
"And are you going alone?"
"Quite alone. -,
"knd coming back aloneP"
"Yes."
She was whittier than ever, and her
ewes filled with tears as she looked up
at him. Anything less like heroine