New-York tribune., 1893-12-10

/ the country. You had better take H. ana rice
on ahea1 until you strike the road were on
again. Then. If YOU can't find his tracks you
| had better ride back to meet me until YOU do.
/ l will follow the trail up
The young man tried to expostulate with Ian
sing for the great risk he assuming. In thus
! following the trail alone but his companion was
/ obdurate. and cutting the argument short bv
again warning the young man 70 be on his guard
/ he rode on. following the trail in the snow,
while the younger man. finding objection use
! less. took the "cut-off'' road. He had off
hculty in following 1t. and he wondered why The
man they were in pursuit Of had not taken ad-
! vantage Of IT, The whole pursuit seemed al
most like dream to him. The snow. unbrokcn
save by his horses football. stretched away
mile after mile in every direction. with hero
and there a pine, through whose branches the
wind seemed to sob and sigh, making the only
noise that broke the stiffness of the wlntry
afternoon. 1t added to this feeling. Not
thing in sight lie beg2n to depict in his own
mind the manner of man they were pursuing.
He had almost forgotten his name. After all
what had the man done that ne. Frank Gram
dali, should be seeking his blood? Perhaps. like
himself the man had a mother and sisters TO
gIicVe over any misfortune that would ovcr;ake
him. Those and hundred kindred thoughts
passed through his mind. The sun was fast
declining h passed from the "cut-0fi into The
main road again. The air was getting chilly
with the coming evening ana the snow in the
distance took on cOloIs OF pink and purple where
the rays Of the setting sun touched the noun
tain peaks. He scanned the main road eagerly
to see if the man hey We're I'm pursuit Of had
passed. but the snow that covered II was un-
broken. Then he rode barl; on the main road,
In the direction from which he had come, to
meet his Comrade and the fugitive. He had
Just assembled one Of the many rolling hills,
when. in the distance. he discovered man
riding one horse ana driving another At the
sight his heart almost stood still. lie dis
mounted and leading his horse to one side.
concealed him in a clump of young pines. Then
he returned to the roadside and waited. The
man was urging his horses forward. but thcy
seemed to be weared. and made but slow
and faster at the length Of tine it took the man
to reach him. He examined his revolver and
rifle. cooking each to see that they were in
order. 1t seemed to relieve the tension Of his
nerves. After he had done this he knelt down
so that he could fire with surer aim. ana waited
He did not care much now whether the man
resisted or not. II the fugitive resisted he
would have to stand the consequence Of re-
sistancc II was nothing 10 him. He could
hear the football of the approaching horses IN the
snow. and he cooked his rife 10 be ready.
The setting sun shone full in the mans face.
but Crandall forgot to look for the scar thai The
notice had said was on tae right cheek although
he had resolved to do particularly. When be
first discovered the fugitive he scanned the road
behind him to discover Lansing. but the nearer
lnr man approached the less tldnua! tdlfl
whether Lansing came or not lie let the man
approach nearer and nearer, that his aim
would be the more accurate. He could not ar.
ford 10 throw away the first shot. The face of
the grew moro and mere distinct He
seemed TO be Oblivicus TO his surroundings.
Crandall felt almost disposed to let him pass.
but the thought that every one would think
him a coward If be did 50 spurred him on and
rising erect he ordered the man to surrender.
The horse that the man was driving In front Of
him. frightened ~ Crandalrs appearance.
swerved from the road leaving the two mon fac
ing each other For an instant Ciandal looked
straight into the others eyes. Then the man
raised his rifle from the pommel Of the saddle.
and Cranda fired. The horse which the man
riding spranC from the road. and at the
same moment lis riders gun was discharged.
The smoke from Crandal1s gun blew back
into his eyes, and he turned from ii to follow
the movements OF the maj Il whom he had
fred. AS he saw the man still erect In his sad
die. he felt the feverlsh haste to fire again come
over him tnat men feet when thcv have SHOT and
missed. and know that their life NAV be the fCr-
felt of their failure. lie threw another cartridge
into the chanibe" Of his rifle. and raised II t.
his shoulder. but before he could fire the man
reeled from his saddle and fell. while his fright
ened horse gaopcd off through the pines.
Crandall stepped toward him holding his rife
prepared to fire again If necessary. AZ he did
the man raised his hand and said. simply:
Don't iire-youve got me-
The snow was already red with blood whore
he Law For the first time Crandall looked for
the scar that the description said on the
right cheek For an instant he did not see It.
and his heart seemed 10 stop beating with the
drawing nearer he saw that It was there that
only the pallor which had spread over the mans
face had made 1t indistnct. ne could have cried
out with JOY at the feeling Of relief that passed
over him.
Are you badly wounded?" he asked
Il don't know how ba! IT IT, 1t IL here some
where the man said. placing his hand on his
breast. If not certain Of the exact spot. "It
feels numb-like" he added. STOPPING down,
Crandall unbuckod ana took Of the mans pls
,ol-brlt and threw il into the snow. whore lay
his rifle. and then hc tore open the mans shirt
As he did so his fingers came In contact With the
warm blood and he invountarily drew back
with a feeling Of disgust.
Did you find it, asked the man. who was
watching him closely. and who had observed the
movement.
Recalled to himself by the question. Crardal
again tore at the shirt. exposing the breast |
Where the blood did not cover 1t II looked like |
marble despite the dark hair on IT, lie could |
not see the wound on account Of the blood until |
ne had wiped the latter from the breast and |
then he found 1t.
What do YOU think Of it'' the man asked.
say nor more The appeaiins tone in tho mans
voice for some hopc--somc encouragcIncnt-nlndc |
him feel faint and sick,
What do you think Of it?' the mar repeated. |
In q QueruOus voice and as ne dd 80 he c0ughcd |
until his mouth filled Win blood, and he spat It
out the white snow.
Crandall shook his hcsd and walked toward
whore his horse was tied lie fol' that II he |
watched the wounded nan any Longer he would
faint. Noticing his walking away the wounded
man said:
"f'or Gods sake. don't leave mo. Now that
You have Killed re stay with me. ana don't
let die like dog
The voice was one Of entreaty. and Crandal;
returned and seated himself in the snow by the
mans side The sun had gone down. and the
twilight had come on, bringing with II The chill
Of night Crandal covered the wounded mans
body with hs ovcrcO&t. and raised his head
from the SNOW Almost uncOnsciOusly he hDtcd
that as the patch Of red made by the blood
grew larger and larger. The face Of tho wounded
man grew whittier ANA winter lie never took
his eyes from Crandalrs face while his breath
came quicker and shorter, az If he brcat thed
with labor with each breath the blood seemed
to bubble from the wound in the breast. one
of the mans hands fell from under the coat
that covered him. As Crandall raised II from /
the snow its coldness sent a chill through him.
Once he had asked the wounded man If he