The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-02-22

| They had gone but short distance
when q shot took effect, and the horse Of
one ol the outlaws fell dead.
Larkins and hurried forward to pre-
vent the riders escape, but as we lifted
the saddle, by which the rider had been
pinioned to the ground, the long cloak
and broad sombrero fell back, disclosing
the fact that our captive was 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
10 the ranch with the wounded man.
O'Flaherty and took charge of him,
while Harper was left in the outer room
to guard the prisoner. From the first 1t
was evident that Bucks wounds were
fatal. Hewas conscious, however, though
his mind seemed to wonder at times.
'I reckon I'm goin Shore" he said
feebly. 81 never was half decent; /
never knowed how; but, Jim," with a
pitiful, pleading look, ''if you see Mrs.
Buck Tupper, wisht you'd tell her
that tried"
thought that the experience of these
months had effectually hardened me, but
this was too much, and on the pretense
of wishing to relieve Harper ! left the
room.
1t was not until was alone with the
woman that looked at her. Then was
transfxed with astonishment. 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
worshipingi
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 hurriedly
told her the whole story.
"And you want me to 60 to himY' Her
face was cold and unfeeling, but there
was q singular sweetness in her voice.
eyes, only that he thinks you are
81 understand" with faint smile.
After explaining matters to O'Flaherty
led her to the bedside Of the dying man
and left them alone together.
| When I returned some minutes later,
she sat beside him, and he was holding
her hand.
A change that could not describe had
come over her countenance. There was
q subdued light that only tears can give
to woman's face.
you'll make little pra'r for me, I" he
was saying pleadingly.
IL can'tr'
| eyes, little one," very tenderly. 81
Tlow you do feel broke up, but I never
jest knowed how, an the angels'd hear
such as YOU"
The woman turned q hunted look upon
the rest Of us, and then slipping from
her chair dropped upon her knees:
'Now lay me down to sleep;
pray the Lord my soul to keep.
II should die before wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take"
At first the words seem to choke her,
but there was something SO solemn about
| it all that do not think it occurred to
one of us that there was anything incon-
gruous i'm 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, I 'llow he WILL" and he was
gone. s...
OF course we could not think now of
dealing with our prisoner, 30, after q
hurried consultation, we put her ON
Bucks pony, and Harper and / rode out
to the trail with her, and the last we saw
of Mrs. Buck Tupper she was vanishing
down the gorge in the gray morning
mist.
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
| that came from the Salvation Army bar
racks across the street.
have friend in Jesus;
He's everything to me;
He's the fairest of ten thousand to my souli
crossed over and stood for q moment
in the crowd that surged about the door.
The singing had ceased, and woman
was speaking. I could not see her face,
but her voice was singularly musical
| falsetto.
Though your sins be as scarlet-do
You hear thatY 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 namei He says, i win
1 make them white az snow"
Seized with sudden curiosity, /
| mounted one of the benches to get q
glimpse of the speakers face. A pals
face, with clear, gray eyes and waving,
brown hair-where had seen it before?
What was the vague memory that for q
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.
i 'Mrs. Buck Tupper!" Involuntarily
the words came to my lips. AT this mo-