Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-28

he took to be despised sreaser, to enter, say
ing CURLY:
sit down. I'm busy now, but IN speak to
sirani me chanically took seat on one Of the
The sunlight streamed in the western win
dow, on the bare walls and rafters and scattered
rubbish on the floor, broken bottles and gunny
bags. Above . cooking stove was Q shelf where
o'clock licked restlessly. A rough bunk stood
In corner covered with . brown blanket. On
1t lay, In confusion, travelling bag, old boots
and q revolver.
Sirani seemed to waken from . long dream
during which consciousness had slept, and he
mad been but rs an instrument, a lash, with
Mnlcn the furles were pursuing their victim.
Why was he here? Could the big hearty man
sitting there with the sunlight making an oriole
OF bis yellow curls ever have committed das-
tArdly murder This man seemed kindly and
genial. He hummed to himself as he wrote
and slipped a tumbler Of whisky and water
standing beside the inkstand. The clock licked,
and the minute hand moved on to the hour
of6.
The moments fell YEARLY on Siranis tense
strung heart.
Ratclire threw down his pen and turned.
Was II the same face?
We'll, my friend" he said, "what can I do
for your
sirani sat without replying, with pale face
and lips, and strange brillisncy in his dark
eyes. Ratcliffe grew angry under the silent
scrutiny.
You must be loco" he said. rising to his
feet What do you mean by sitting there and
staring at me. You fool?'
He was excited and had taken enough whisky
to make him quarrelsome. Sirani also rose and
stood watching him, motionless and alert. Il
have seen you before. Who are you? Curse
You. Why don't you speak?'
The livid scar stood out on his forehead.
'Naples-five years ago." said sirani, softly and
breathlessly, in italian. ''Do you remember?
My poor Luigi-now die!'
His voice rose to a cry. With a spring like a
wildcats he caught the larger man BY the
throat, drawing his knife with the other hand.
The slight shanty shook with the struggle.
Heavily built as was the Englishman, in his
half-inebriated condition he was no match for
the active young italian. He had had no time
to reach for his revolver. OF no avail was mas
sive strength against the feline tenacity Of his
antagonist.
There was mad rocking to and fro. a gush
OF blood, Q relaxed grasp and q heavy fall. How
still 1t was save for the ticking clock! But q
moment had passed. The garish sunlight
streamed in the window. On the table stood
the half-empty tunibler, and the ink was yet
undried on the pen.
Where was the man who had sat there and
sung, the spirit that had dictated to the will
ing hands the written words? Not here. not
the heavy lump of flesh that lay PROSTATE, i'm
potent.
Sirani mounted and rode madly through the
undulating monOtOny.
This country was enchanted to him. The
glow of sunlight on the brown rocks was q
lurid light. blood-red mist. On the sum-
mits ct hills, masses of stone, were grim
castles from which, when an owl hooted, he
heard the cry of q lost soul.
1t could not be remorse which he felt He
was persuaded that 1t was but justice which he
had executed. 1t was the he llish country he
thought, which weighed upon him like a pail
The yearning for a human face to break the
awful loneliness seized upon him. Let him
but once get with people and this weight would
pass away.
Suddenly he uttered cry and stopped the
mare. Before him he fancied ne saw in the
gathering dusk the same cabin which he had
thought lay behind him at Gopher Gulch.
There was the same corral; the same red wagon
was before the door.
1t struck him with horror that he was in hell
His punishment was to consist in an eternal cir
cult, ever trying to escape, ever to return
against his will to this shanty and its CHASTITY
occupant.
He saw with glow Of relief that it was not
the same cabin.
Three or four horses were hitched to the
fence. bright light shone from the window
and open door, and he heard the heavenly
sound of laughter and voices.
He rode to the window and looked in. Four
men were sitting at a table on which was
lamp. woman was standing near the stove
whence arose the savOry Odor of fried meat
They were laughing heartily at something the
woman was saying.
Sirani felt that he loved these people Never
before had the intercourse Of his own kind ap-
peared 30 sweet. He was about to enter when
one of the men, hearing the dogs bark, came
out to find the cause.
under the broad-brimmed hat, the red sash
around what he thought the dandy greaser's
waist, and his own mare Betty with the white
star on her forehead.
He put his hand to his belt and sprung for
ward to seize the bride, shouting:
I've got yer now, hev II You ID horse
thiefr'
Sirsni felt the hostile movement There was
no time for thought but it came to him with a
flash of consciousness that he had committed
an offense against the laws Of man and that
now the hounds were upon his path. He dug
his spurs into the mares TANKS. She started
knocking Higginson over, and tore off,
Siranl had but moments advantage.
Quickly the four men were mounted and after
him. He had wild sense of speed, of being
hunted thing.
Upward they rushed toward the mountaine
looming before them darkly in the twilight
Plains passed like q swift dream. Hills rose
and sank, billOwy sea, behind him. With
ever increasing speed, gaining upon him, came
the beat Of horses hoofs. He heard shouts and
voices and bullet whizzed past him.
The mare was tagging, wearied with her
mornings work, but the bullet made her fran
tic with excitement With spasmodic energy
she rushed forward.
Another whizz! The mare lurched and
heaved under him. Before her, where the road
made a sharp curve, rose the narrow, rocky
walls OF q canyon, the entrance to which seemed
impossible for stones. He urged the mare for
ward and she sprang into the shadows of the
ravine.
Two large owls sitting on its banks rose, dark.
tapping shapes, with hoarse cries. 1t seemed
the entrance to hell, of which Dante told
On the mare stumbled in the cool darkness.
Behind him he heard the stamping Of hoofs and
the voices Of his pursuers as they passed on
ward.
Walls seemed to reach indefinitely above.
like the narrow sides of a grave. How alive
it was! Dim, misshapen shapes like carved
COLLINS in the churches jumped about in the
shadows. Suddenly the light grew brighter
and tho sky seemed to open overhead The
mare stumbled and paused. She had passed
out Of the canyon to o narrow ledge A steep
cliff lay at her feet. Weak with the loss OF
blood from her wound she staggered and sank,
wounded unto death. Sirani was thrown for
ward, striking upon q sharp stone, tearing the
smooth, olive cheek where Ellinor's lips had
rested. Below the foothills and plains stretched
out like map in the twilight. The horned
moon hung low in the deepening sky. Above,
the mountains rose awful shrouded in the
gloom OF the gathering night.
Sirani lay facing the dim tract Of hills.