The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-02-17

W AkNAA ~ JAW "
one Oh the outlaws fell dead.
Larkins and I hurried forward to pre-
vent the riders escape, but as we Llted
the saddle, by which the rider had been
~pinioned to the ground, the long CLOAK
and broad sombrero fell back, disclosing
the fact that u captive was O woman
At this moment one of the men came
galloping back with the news that BUCK
had been shot. This Of course put an
end to the pursuit, and we hurried back
to the ranch with the wounded man. ,
O'Flaherty and I took charge OF him,
while Harper was left in the outer roonl
to guard the prisoner. From the first 1t
was evident that Bucks wounds were
fatal. He was conscious, however, though
his mind seemed to wonder at times.
"I reckon I'm goin Shore" he said
feebly. II never was half decent; /
never knowGl how; but, Jim," with G.
pitiful, pleading look, 'if you see Mrs.
Buck Upper, I wisht you'd tel her
that tried"
| thought that the experience of these
months had effectually hardened me, but
this was too much, and III the pretense
of wishing to relieve Harper / left the
room.
1t was not until / was alone with the
woman that 1 looked at her. Then l was
transfixed with establishment. AS she
sat there, the lamplight falling on her
cold, rigid face, it needed no second
glance to convince me that she was the
original of Bucks picture.
This then was the angel of purity at
whose shrine the poor fellow had been
worshiping!
My first thought was he must never
know. And yet | reflected how much it
would mean to him to but see her face.
Going over to where she sat I hurriedly
told her the whole story.
"And you want me to go to him?' Her
face was cold and unfeeling, but there
was a singular sweetness in her voice.
eyes, only that he thinks you are"-
II understand" with a faint smile.
After explaining matters to OFlaherty
He'd her to the bedside of the dying man
and left them alone together.
When 1 returned some minutes later,
she sat beside him, and he was holding
her hand.
A change that | could notdescribe had
come over her countenance. There was
a subdued light that only tears can give
to q woman's face.
"You'll make q little pra'r for me-" he
was saying pleadingly.
IL can't"
'1low you do feel broke up, but I never
jest knowed how, an the angels'd hear
such as you"
The woman turned o hunted look upon
the rest of us, and then slipping from
her chair dropped upon her knees:
Now I lay me down to sleep;
pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If l Should die before 1 wake,
Ipray the Lord my soul to take"
AT first the words seem to choke her,
but there was something SO solemn about
it all that l do not think it occurred tc
n of us that there was anything incon-
gruous in the repetition of the childish
prayer at this moment.
Buck repeated the last words over after
her:
II pray the Lord my soul to take.
eyes, | 'llow he WILL" and he was
gone.
Of course we could not think now Of
dealing vita our prisoner, SO, after a
hurried consultation, we put her on
Bucks pony, and Harper and 1 rode out
to the trail with her, and the last we saw
of Mrs. Buck Topper she was vanishing
down the gorge in the gray morning
mist.
: = X y X y
The following summer / returned to
Boston, and as the years slipped away
my western experience became gradual
ly an uncertain memory.
One evening late in December as /
was walking up Duane street my atten-
ton was arrested by the sound of music
racks across the street.
have a friend in Jesus;
He's everything to me;
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my soul
/ crossed over and stood for a moment
in the crowd that surged about the door.
The singing had ceased, and a woman
was speaking. I could not see her face,
but her voice was a singularly musical
falsetto.
Though your sins be as scarlet-do
you hear that" she was saying. Scarlet
that means blood-an the Bible says
no murderer can enter the kingdom. But
he can wash the murder out of your
heart, bless his name! He says, Z will
make them white as snow"
Seized with a sudden curiosity, 1
mounted Il of the benches to get a
glimpse of the speakers face. A pale
face, with clear, gray eyes and waving.
brown ~hair-where had l seen it before:
What was the vague memory that for a
moment seemed only to tantalize me? ]
had gone back through the years and
the same face-only younger and fuller
was looking at me from the smoked
wall above the chimney piece.
Mrs. Buck Tupper!" I~nvoluntarily
the words came to my bps. At this mo
ment the woman's eyes met my own. 4
confused look overspread her face, and
I she faltered in her speech. Could it be
that she knew me: No, but she had