Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1888-05-31

appeared before tncm.
Gentlemen" he said-and his voice
sounded low and musical-''we have
determined upon twenty thousand
scudi as the sum for your ransom 1
dare not send one of my men to COM
municate With your people. You. l
believe, are friends. and would not
leave one the other to the fate which
would await him should you betray me.
Therefore give one his freedom. Ny
men shall conduct him to an easy road.
and there await his return. If one
week from this time he is here with the
money in his possession, both shall go
forth free; if he fail. then his COM
panion dies at daybreak, shot through
the heart. You may draw lots which
may go and which stay"
In silence the young men took from
his hand the slips of paper held out to
them. Hal was still to be the prisoner.
Its all right. old fellow" he said.
grasping Ned Esmond's hand. lit $
only a weeks solitude. I've had it
many a time on a lonely hunting eN-
petition, and my worst anxiety will be
dissipated when 1 know that Effie' s
fears are set at rest. There'll be no
trouble about the money. You can
easily raise that; and daresay I'll
find these fellows jolly enough COM
panions in the meantime. Tell my
darling how long to see her: That is
all. Goodbye. God bless you"
''Shot through the heart"
1t was this sentence which rang in
Ned Esmond's ears.
1T will be, after all. hut moment.
He will think some accident has over
taken me- If l save him 90 l not
doom myself to torture, which is to
that one moments facing the fatal
muskets as Tantalus to Paradise? l
will tell her he is already dead. and.
perhaps. consoIing her in her grief. l
may teach her the lesson she never
shall unlearn."
But no suspicion of hope and happi-
ness within his heart rested on the
white, impassive face with which he
awaited his friends betrothed. With
quiverine voice, he told his sad story:
how one was lost. the other saved. and
he, that other. had fastened to her to
unburden himself of his sad duty.
Il would it had been otherwise, Miss
Effie." he said at last, as the girl 5
pallid face, with eyes as We. unblessed
by tears, was lifted to his, strained
with agony; then silent, fearless, with
bowed head, she passed out of his
sight. while somewhere from the
shadow a voice seemed to say: ION
your brow you bear the brand of Cain!
Murderer and starting as though ex-
pecting to see the bright, boyish face
which last had smiled on him. now con-
front and bid him answer for his
treachery. he hastily left the room.
Six days aud nights, but the mes
senger had not yet returned. The
chiefs face looked grave as his eye
swept the distant hills. There had
been ample time. but somehow the
thought of ordering a bullet through
the heart of his young prisoner. who
had borne his lot so cheerily. in whom.
spite of his own lawless life. he had
recognized some traits such as were
planted in his own breast, smote him
with a keen sense of pain. But his
word had gone forth The example
must be made. At daybreak. unless
the messenger returned, the execution
must take place. But when the sun
had sunk to res. the scout sent forth
returned alone. The prisoner, then.
must die. 1t was as though the bullet
had already found its way to his heart
when he realized the man whom he
had trusted had deserted him. One
hope was left him. He asked to be
brought into the presence of the chief
and left alone with him.
My friend. the man I trusted has
not returned" he said. Either death
or treachery has kept him. Let me.
before / die, learn uhich. Let me
place on the lips of one to whom 1
have pledged my troth my kiss and
blessing; and 1 swear to you by the
love l bear her to return hlther in
three days. to lay my ransom at your
feet, or bare my breast at your bull
let's"
For a moment there was silence.
With the blue eyes raised to Heaven.
and as though compelled against his
will. the chief answered:
go! In three days l await you
herer'
"Efie, did all that l could. Will
you not think of Others in your grief?''
and Ned Esmond's voice saak almost
to whisper as he sat by the side of
her whose pale face and deep moan
ing sobs testified to her loss.
"Can 1 ever forget you were his
friend or shared his love?' she am
swered- "Oh, forgive me if seem
selfish. but his voice seems ever call
ing to me TO help him. Last night
heard it in my dreams" (sobs choking
her words): .Effie. Effie:' he said.
Hal! Hal. did You ever call before in
vain?"
"Efier'
Both started to their feet. Her name