New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-11

over. but was quickly recalled by the needs OF
| sick baby. Happily Helen had steady nerves ana
! "A controahlp Imagination. OF real danger there
was very little and she was glad to he alone. -.
! OF what was going on about her she knew noun
| ing She had never taken much interest IN the nap
I pcnings OF the country. and gave no thOught 10
/ the subject that had lccn llarryS great interest
tor long. sam LccS work being DONE ne had
sauutcrcl or 10 the cabins down IN the timber
/ Helen was swinging in her hammock rs usual
dreaming dreams and seeing visions in such dreary
fashion as her past gave reason lor sun; W ,hnt
! was not wholly pain, and with the silence ana
the starlight and the slow. monotonous rocking
Of her swinging cradle, she fell asleep.
YES" She said drowsy, and fell asleep again.
Helen word was spoken little louder ,
n hand touched her: she sprung up broad awake
now. Payne Morse stood before her
lie was barcheadcd. without his coat, blood
stained sling held his ri7ht arm torn handker
| chief WIS knottcd round his bead; he was hagSard
and chastity She knew it all at 0nce-t was two
hours since she had heard shots IN the timber, ana
| had lain idly spcculatinG about echoes ana thc
distance the sound had come.
/ They are after Inc. Can YOU help me- he
''' Wat " oan d do '-but it was not question
! Of hclplcSsneSs: she thinking hard.
"Thcy will come here. he said
Yes, suppose so-yes, | will do my best
slowly
most unmirthful laugh The rope broke and the
fool that fired didn't break anything. | ought 10
! get on after that
| She answered him not a word but, after mo-
| mcntS thought: You can come In hcre,' open
! ing the door Of her room. One end had been par
utioned of as closet and Stor"-roon She dragged
| down mattress ana blankets.
Il VIII do my BEST she SAID again slowly.
She did not look at him; she spoke as If her
lips were Stlhcncd.
You're plucky little soul" lightly The
mans daredevil rcflessness was uppcrmost again
| You know who you are entertaining ?-not an
angel uneworeS; lm Captain Gordon
80 |
An right, then. Mind one thing: they are
not Likely to use yoou-a womanIroughly., II it
| comes Ia that | shall appear on the scene. .
I'm not afraid Don't talk any more please, y
in n tire sort Of way.
leisnrcly. TIE occupation had lis object; sitting
still was impossible while she waited.
But when sharp rap sounded peremptoriy
through the house, Sc started with every nerve
! Her voice was steady enough, however, as she
went 10 the cuItaincd window.
WHO is il
Morgan. from over Point
Captain Morgan Yes / know II you will
find your way in I will Join YOU presently
She heard the tramp of feet making their way
| uncertainty into the uuli1hted room. She did not
! hasten. every soft fold of lace about her throat
WAS settled carefully 10 lis place and she went
! back 10 adjust Nl.Dplrg braid Of hair as II the
most critical and l1.tidiou, of morning callers
| awaited her Something of the dramatic instinct
| must have been born IN uer She stood in the
doorway presently. hoding the lamp far above her
head t!"l she might see her. visitors graceful;
! whitehall shane. with shining eyes and flashed
cheeks The men rose luvonutary
Il am Mrs Morse" she said quietly. MY
brother Mr. THon is not at home
Don't Doe alarmed Captain Morgan said re-
! assuriug.y. We are the Vigilance Committee
searching for the captain of the horscthcf gang
He escaped lis a few hours ago and came this
! way
She thought Of the shooting and hanging. while
this soft voiced Vgantc was making his cN-
PLANTATION. She moved forward and put her lamp
I down on a table before she answered
H.. .tf.. fttta DIttg Ytstft ], hale
smile. "Nou know we lost all our horses.
knew Nou were here alone, and thought he
might take advantage OF the fact. Nobody knows
how much Information he has.
"Captain Gordon hasn't frightened me-" she
said calmly Then She glanced AT the men. They
were all spla>hc,l and tuycl-torn.
"Coul / offer Nou amy rcircshmcnt,' she said
! halftimdly. Tor yourself or your horses? | have
heard my brother speak of Nou frequently with
the smile that years ago Payne Morse had found
80 bcwItching
She looked SO fail and slight, 50 entirely diff
fercnt from the southwestern feminine develop
mcnt, that Morgan, a great, good naturcd giant.
they stool with their guns in the hollow of their
arms, holding their hats awkwardly and uncasy
They were rough riders and straight shots, but
this slender woman upset their nerves.
We're about played out, MORGAN said. the
horses AT least He wont he likely to get far to.
night" with significant glance at the man
nearest him. land we couldn't do much anyhow
# is going To- bc blackcr than pitch II YOU
don't mind Our camping on tine place YOU don (
look much like work, Mrs. Morse. bat I'm not
bad hand at iNingpan myself
Certainly. Gentlemen, with sweetest courtesy
You know the way to the cOmcrlbs aud-puttins
ont pair of slender brown hands" I'm not a,
helpless as | look
80 she and Captain Morgan made coffee. frc,
bacon, and baked biscuit. whllc the men fed thc
horses and arranged sleeping places for themselves
Don't that beat anything You eyer saw in yop
/ life IN the way of woman one OF them sal,
/ after long reconnaissance through the kitchen
] window. And there's MORGAN" with awe in hi
voice. talking away to her as clipper a jay
bird
They rode away in the gray Of the morning
All day long she miniStcrcd to the man who ha,
wrecked her life There was little tllk-thr,
could not venture on that. He slept like a worn
out man, who makes the most of his chances il
safety. When night came again and again San
Lee left the house alone. clad in Harry liyon,
garments and riding Rebccca Payne Morse mad
lis way II a signal station on the railway, lei
Good by" he said You'll not he likely Il
see or hear of me again. For your sake its al
NEST pity that they didn't make an end of me.
Don't say that, Payne Well live ont on
lives. Yours might have such chances ii you chos
TO them.
"Good-by, my girl." lie stopped and klsse,
her cheek. " ii could 20 back agoin-well, W,
Harry Tryon came back three or four DAYS later
lie knew about the dispcrsng. of the gang an,
the hanging of .wO Or three of its members
And Payne" Helen asked
They told me he escaped" not meeting he
eyes,
Then she told him
4" ~ love, Helen They never suspected that,
certain AFTER that | wonder il there's nnvthin,
You can't stand. Listen. Payne Morse is dead
He had risen. aud wa, holdinr both Lrr %onh
as she sat before him.
d" | know -, tue" hr said earnestly 81 s,v
him. Tie was taken ont of tar train nj the iunc
tion where waited. Died Of heart disease Tho,
said, withou, a struggle or \ word "
He spoke slowly. MS if T. give her time To IN h
ihp Sio niticancp of