The National tribune., 1892-05-26

| game and he soon withdrew declining the in
| vitation to pass the night at Jacks shanty.
:" don't want to meet him, not now, at any
rate" he said, as he rode off, "I'll watch him
| like hawk, for every word he said was meant
to wound me- And the way he talked about
| Bess that settled the whole matter. The man
| will try to supplapt me there; but, hang it all.
| I've never said word to the girl about love,
| and l may be counting my chickens before the
| shells are broken; but l reckon have right
to think that / won't lose the game when
! play out my hand He's hunted me up; that's
| just what he's done. I c~uld see by the way
he talked that he knew what he said about
Bess was gall to me, and-I won't talk about
it any longer If do 1 will be going back to
him and picking quarrel with the man
hate"
Sam Chester stood in front of his shanty, and
saw the soaring vultures as they spread their
wings over the plain and swooped down upon
the fresh morsel which the night had brought
forth for the carrion feast.
1t was the day after his sudden interview
with his old enemy.
After breakfast he rode his ranch, as was
his custom, and then galloped toward the little
railroad station where Bess held down the
keys
"Godsl' What was that?"
He drew rein, and then stood erect In his
broad stirrups.
There's trouble at the station !" he cried,
sinking the spurs into the black steeds bowels,
and in an instant was off like the wind.
Horror came to his face when he rode out
from the cacti and saw the little station-house.
Smoke was curling over mass of ruins, and
as he hasened on he heard reports of firearms,
and then caught sight Of some men who were
not Indians circling off over the sand.
"Banditsl"
1t was raid and when he thought of Bess's
beauty. when he comprehended all that
border foray meant he grew pale, and for an
instant seemed to totter in the saddle.
Down upon the ruined station he came with
the fury of storm, and, drawing rein in front
of the scene, looked around for glimpse OF
Bess.
But the girl was gone, and, though he looked
everywhere, he could see nothing that would
remind him of her safety.
He turned to the bandits riding of, and now
dark specks against the horizon.
"There was fight here" he said, "but who
resisted them-Bess?"
The rascas had cut the wires, and Sam saw
that some sanguinary work had taken place,
which probably accounted for the burning of
the office.
"This was a premeditated attack. They
knew the girl was defenseless and that's why
they came. They wanted to get even with the
company for issuing that merciess order against
bandits last Summer. think / know who did
this piece Of work, and he shall pay dearly for
It,"
Sam rode from the scene of ruin with heavy
heart
He locke up at the c1oudless sky and thought
for a moment of the sacredness of the day.
There were to be no Memorial exercises for
him, though he knew that his comrades scat
tered over the land would keep it sacred and
strew flowers in more than thousand places.
But for him hunt for vengeance!
Sam struck q trail and followed Ii.
81 don't know what this MEANS" he ejacu-
lated. Here am going toward Jack Daw-
sons ranch. The trail leads from the station
and he said that Bess vas beanty-curse him
! wonder what this means, anyhow"
On, on. over the arid waste, and at last
through the cacti pass which would let him
out upon the ranch tenanted by his old foe.
Sam was breathing hard when he emerged
from the bushes and rode into the open. He
looked forward and saw the little shanty where
he had encountered his rival. The door was
open, and he caught sight of figure standing
like statue there in the hot rays OF the sun.
"Great heavens! it looks like Bcss" cried
Sam, feeling his blood in his hot temples.
He shut his eyes and then opened them, but
the vision was still before him. Bess was in
the door, but she had not seen him. and be rode
on, wondering what she would say and how he
should meet her. Bess in Jack Dawson's shanty.
All at once the girl turned and faced him.
She looked at him moment, and then
bounded from the shanty.
"Don't" cried SAM holding up his hands.
81 see all. You We been won by my old enemy,
and"-
He did not stop her, for she came on and
then he saw how white she was and how the
hand trembled when it was laid upon his knee
while the blue eyes of the girl were lifted In
mute appeal.
go in and see him." she said. 1t was all
for me. Sam. He came to the station just
ahead of the bandits and faced them with the
Winchester, fighting the whole band until they
gave him the wound which has just finished
him."
Something seemed to mount up into Sam
Chester's throat and choke him.
He looked toward the ranch shanty and then
down into the eyes of Bess.
"You don't tell me he's dead?" he stam-
mered.
Come and see," was the reply. "He saved
me from the bandits. but it cost brave life."
Sam seemed to shrink from the ordeal but
he dismounted and crossed the threshold of the
lone shanty, where with uncovered head, he
stood gazing down upon the sunburnt face
which, despite its shadow, wore the hue of death.
Bess stood aloof and looked on.
cit was the day before Gettysburg, and we
were marching along the pike when we
0uarrele0. i guess WOulu nave uuISueu DIN
then if the Captain hadn't interfered; and if
had he wouldn't have saved you from the ban
dts, Bess."
The girl made no reply.
81 know what can do, and that's not very
much" continued Sam.
She watched him as he left the shanty, and
after awhile he came back to her.
"Pve found quiet spot" said he. II don't
think the coyotes will ever find it, and the
yultures will miss feast. You needn't help
me. Bess. l would like to do it all myself.
We're not enemies now"
She saw him carry tho body off on his horse.
She stood in the door with her hands folded
and something bright in her eyes She won
dered, perhaps, what the mans thoughts were,
and when he came back with a tiny flower in
his hand, she greeted him with smile of
thankfulness.
II could find but two flowers, Bess," he said.
zone of them / laid upon his grave-for this
is Memorial Day-and the other have brought
you"
She took the fragile bud and pressed IL to
her lips, and when thcir eyes met again there
was no need for Sam Chester to ask that ques-
ton which on many a former occasion had
trembled On his lips.
A Considerate Child.
[Street & Smiths Good Netus.