Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-08-02

perilous task, for he was accustomed
to such work in times of danger, and
in few minutes he was in the corral
getting ready for his trip.
1t was now nbout midnight, but
the moon had risen above the noun
tain tops and the whole valley was
almost as bright as day Bill had
finished saddling up and was leading
his horse to waterHt the stream, when
just as he passed into the shadow of
the willow trecs a woman's form Gid
ed quickly to his side. He saw at a
glance that it was Cad, and he
paused abruptly as the girl in soft
voiceaddressed him:
bill are you going away alone?"
"Going alone?" he answered Ger
tainly am. have made trips be
fore, why can't do SO now?"
"0h! | don't know" tremuousy
added Cad. 'I'm so nervous to-
night, and I'm afraid something will
happen to you"
Happen to me?" replied Bill, and
there was bitterness in his tone when
he asked "What difference would
that make toanybody in this world?"
"Please don't talk that way, Bill, !"
pleaded the girl, and then continued
earnestly;
"When Traced with you thelast time
Ididn intend to be mean. told you
hated you because you were sowild.
But only did it to make you better,
Bill, and now that you have reformed
am proud of you, and l couldn't
let you go away tonight thinking
that | had been unkind."
To these words Bill made no reply,
but dropping the bride of the horse
he had been leading, he threw both
arms around the girl, drew her to
him, and held her In one long pas
sionate embrace. She did not repell
his caresses, but gently releasing her
self, raised her lips to receive hisfare-
well kiss, and without either one say
ing another word, she left his side.
He watched her until she disappeared
in the house, then mounting his horse
rode rapidly away.
There was very little sleep in the
ranch that night, and by daylight
everybody was astir. 1t was dreary
Christmas morn, and there was none
of the gayety which had marked the
preceding day. Themen were serious
and had little TO say, and the girls
looked pale and haggard. Two or
three times during the day Indians
We're seen lowering in the distance,
but none of the ranchmen went In
pursuit, for there were scarcely
enough men at the ranch to permit
any Of theparty to leave.
The day wore wearily on, and just
as the sun was going down, soli-
tary horseman was seen coming over
the prairie at rapid gnit. AS he
drew near it could easily be seen that
it was Apache Bill returning from his
mission of mercy, and the men well
coined him with loud halloo. They
thought it strange that he did not
answer them in his usual CHEEKY style,
and as the horse dashed up and stop
ped short in front of the corral, it
was seen that he was deathly pale
and made no effort to dismount.
Several men rushed toward him he
reeled in the saddle and fell heavily
to the ground.
Willing hands bore him to a cot In
the house, where every effort was
made to staunch the blood which
flowed from two CHASTITY wounds in
his breast.
Cad was soon by the side of the
dying man, trying to nurse him back
to life again. Gently she raised his
head and tried to sooth his last mo-
ments with tender words Only once
he opened his eyes and smiled as he
looked into Cabs face, and then with
slight struggle he died
The girl sobbed bitterly as she was
led away by her companions, and
she kept repeating to herself, Thank
God, / didn't let poor Bill go away
without speaking to him."
1t was afterwards learned that Bill
had performed his task Of warming
ranchmen, and was on his way back
when he suddenly came upon n band
of Indians, and in the running fight
which ensued received the wounds
which caused his death. With won-
derful strength he had managed tc
get back to the ranch and look into
Cabs face before he died.
That night, when the moon was
up again, a sorrowing party Of men
and young women gathered by the
banks of the little stream, and there
with no requiem but Cabs half stifled
means, Bills body was laid to rest,
beneath the shadow of the same will
low under which he and Cad had
parted on the night before.-Pitts.
burg Chronicle Telegraph.