Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-16

| glanced at George, and shudfered, Tor
| he was awful to behold. Bis right arm
hung useless by his side, but with his
| left hand he clutched the grass, or dug
his nails into the soil as he dragged
himself along or sank upon his stomach
and wiggled forward like great snake.
Great drops of sweat stood out on his
forehead and rolled down his cheeks;
his teeth were set. and his face, deadlv
white from loss of blood, wore look OF
fierce determination as he rallied after
each desperate effort.
All at once, in the midst OF that
CHASTITY crawl, / heard the SOUND OF
hoofs far away. / never looked around,
but knew what it meant, and thrill
Of hope shot through me.
"Give il up, George" cried breath
lessly. 1.-THE Squire and his men are
coming. You've no show, even II you
do shoot me-" Not word said George,
only he kept straight on. Nearer and
nearer came the thunder OF the gallop-
ing horses, and nearer and nearer we
drew to that deadly revolver, as we Ia
bored along, painting, gasping, groaplpg,
crashing. Nearer and nearer-I could
hear the SQuire's shout borne family
through the clear air. Nearer still, and
my heart began to throb exultantly as
realized I was the closer to the
goal, when all Of a sudden
felt as II all the pain In the
world had concentrated itself In my leg.
/ could not go on, and fer one moment
at least had to lie still; and that mo-
ment gave George the advantage, for,
as / looked up again, he had reached
the revolver. But the terrible strain
he had undergone overcame him, and
In the very act he sank swooning to the
ground. Another instant and 1t would
have been in my grasp. when, with
dying effort, George writhed forward.
Our hands met with a shock; but before
l could seize his wrist he snatched the
revolver and with gigantic heave roll
ed over out Of reach and lay still.
Grooming with pain, l slowed myself
round. The Squire and his men were
not far away now, and coming on like
demons. II could only reach George
before he revived! But 1t was useless;
exhausted nature gave way, and l sat
still and despairing.
On came the Squire, shouting like
mad. In moment we should be sur
rounded; in moment the danger would
be passed. Hurrah! tried to shout,
but my parched throat refused its Of
fee, aud the word died away In a crack
ed shrek. On Numbered the Squire-a
couple OF hundred yards more and
Just then George stirred, heaved long,
shuddering sigh, and sat bolt upright,
the blood gushing from his mouth and
nose, and the revolver tightly clasped
in his hand.
1 saw 1t was all up, and steadled my
self, determined to meet my fate like
man. Behind me heard the Squire.
In front of me sat George, holding the
revolver and looking deathly as he
swayed unsteadily to and fro.
Suddenly he spoke. reused by the
shouts that were now almost In our
ears. "I'm done for" he gasped. 'If
IL were only you, I'd have break for
freedom; but there are too many. Look
here, Sergeant, I was born a gentle
man-rve come down good deal-but
I'll die like one. You shan't put the
rope around my neck. You shan't."
He raised the revolver to his head, and
then. catching sight Of my amazed face.
he lowered it again and broke into
low gurgiing laugh. why, bless you,
Sergeant" he said, ''it was for myself
not for you. So long! So" There
was sharp report, and, even as the
Squire leaped frsm his reeking horse
and rushed forward, "Gentleman
George" fell on his face and lay still
still forever, this time.
Yes, they took me back to Toombur-
ra, and nursed my leg well again, and 1
got the reward; but, somehow, when
ever remember George, l am glad he
got hold of the revolver first.-Chdm-
berS' Journal.