The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-07-22

they were in pursuit of had not taken
advantage OF g. The whole pursuit
seemed almost like dream TO him. The
snow. unbroken save by his horses foot
fall, stretched away mile after mile In
every direction. with here and there
a pine, through whose branches the wind
seemed to sob and sigh, making the only
noise that broke the ,stillness Of the win
try afternoon. 1t added TO this feeling.
Not a thing In sight. He began TO de-
pict In his own mind the manner OF man
they were pursuing He had dali almost for
gotten his name. After al; %hat mad the
should be seeking his bloodi Perhaps,
like himself. the man had mother and
sisters to grieve over any misfortune that
would overtake him; Ihese ana nun
his mind.
The sun was fast declining as he passed
from the cutoff" into the main road
again. The air was getting chilly with
the coming evening, and the snow in the
distance took on colors OF pink and pur-
pie where the rays OF the setting sun
touched the mountain peaks. He scanned
the main road eagerly 10 see II the man
they were in pursuit OF had passed. but
the snow that covered II was unbroken.
Then he rode back on the main road, in
the direction from which he had come. 70
meet his comrade and the fugitive. He
had Just assembled one OF the many rolling
hills when, in the distance, he discovered
a man riding a horse and driving anotner
At the sight his heart almost stood sun
He dismounted and, leading his horse to
one side concealed him In clump or
young pines. Then he returned to the
roadside and waited. The man was urg,
ing his horses forward, but they seemed
10 be wearied and made but SLOW progress.
Crandall felt his heart beat faster and
faster at the length OF time II TOOK the
man TO reach him. He examined his re-
volver and rife, cooking each 20 see that
they were in order II seemed TO relieve
the tension OF his nerves. After he had
done this he knelt down so that he could
fire with surer aim, and waited. lie did
not not care much now. whether the man
resisted or not II the fugitive resisted ne
would have 10 stand the consequence OF
Resistance. II was nothing 10 him. lie
could hear the football OF the approaching
horses In the snow, and ne cooked MS
rife so as TO be ready.
The setting sun shone full In the mans
face. but Crandall forgot TO look for the
scar that the notice had said was on the
right cheek, although he had resolved 10
do so particularly. When he first discoV-
cred the fugitive he scanned the road be-
hind him to discover Lansing, but the
nearer the man approached the less Gran
dali cared whether Lansing came or not;
He let the man approach, nearer ana
nearer. so that his aim would be the more
accurate He could not AFFORD to throw
away the first shot The race OF the man
grew more and more distinct. lie seemed
to be Obvious 10 his surroundings. cram
dali felt almost disposed 10 let him pass,
but the though that everyone would thlnk
him a coward II ne did so spurred him on,
and rising erect he ordered the man 10
surrender. The horse that the man was
| driving in front OF him. frightened az
| Crandalls appearance, swervei from the
road. leaving the two men racing edc"
| other ,o,,o1
For an instant Crandai looksu
straight into the others eyes. Then the
man raised his rife from the pommel OF
the saddle. and Crandall fired. The horse
which the man was riding sprang from
the road, and at the same moment lts
| riders gun was discharged. The smoke
| from Crandall's own gun blew back INTO
| his eyes. and he turned from 1t 10 tol-
| low the movements of the man AZ "n nom
| he had fired. As he saw the man sun
| erect in his saddle he felt the fevcrsn y
| haste TO fire again come over nm that
men feel when they have shot ana miss
Cd. and know that their ne may De o ore
| forfeit Of their failure. He threw an
other cartridge into the chamber OF ms
| rifle and raised II TO his shoulder, but
| before ne could fire the man feeleq IRON,
his saddle and fell, while ms irlg ,li
horse galloped off through the pines;
Crandall stepped toward him holding
his rifle prepared to fire again II necss-
sary. AS he did so the man raised MS
hand and said. simply;
| Don't tire-yOuve got me-, -,
The snow was already red with Dioou
where he lay. For the first time Crandall
| looked for the scar that the description
|
slant he did not see It, and his near,
seemed TO stop beating with the rear oil
having made a mistake, and wheh' Oh
| drawing nearer. he saw that IL wa
spread over the mans face mad MADE i
indistnct. he could have cried out WIN
Joy at the feeling Of relief that passed
over him.
Are you badly wounded?" he asked.
II don't know how bad II Is. II Is her.
| somewhere" the man said. placing ms
hand on his breast. as II not certain OF
the exact spot 1T feels numb ike NJ
buckled and took off the mans pisto
belt and threw II into the snow, wher'
lay his rife. and then he tore open IN
mans shirt. AS ne did so ms n hiscn
and he involuntarily drew back with
feeling of disgust.
"Did you ind III" asked the man. WHIT
was watching him closely ana VINO ha'
| observed the movement.
Recalled to himself by the question
| Crandall again tore at the shirt, eN
| posing the breast. Where the blood Oh
not cover il II looked like marble. despit
the wound on account Of the blood unit
he had wiped the latter from the breast
and then he found it.
what do you think OF IT, the maj
There it IS" replied Crandall. II
could not say more. The appealing ton
| in the mans voice for some hope
some encouragement-made him fee
faint and sick.
What do you think OF it?' the ma
| repeated in a querulous voice, and as n
| did so he coughed until his mouth file
with blood. and he spat 1t out on tn
| white snow.
Crandall shook his head and walked 70
ward where his horse was tied. He lei
that II he watched the wounded man an
longer he would faint. Noticing his walk
| cd
"For Gods sake don't leave me. NOV
that you have killed me, stay wit
me, and don't let me die like a dog"
The voice was one Of entreaty an
Crandall returned and seated himsel
in the snow by the mans side. Tn
sun had gone Gown and the twilight ha
come on. bringing with 1t the chill Q
night. Crandall covered the wounde
| mans body with his overcoat and raise
his head from the snow Almost uncon
sciously he noted that as the patch &
red made by the blood grew larger an
larger the face OF the wounded ma
his eyes from Crandalfs face. Will
his breath came quicker and shorter, a
II he breathed with labor. With eac
breath the blood seemed TO bubble frol
mans hands fell from under the coz
that covered him. As Crandall raised
from the snow its coldness sent q chi
through him. Once he had asked III
| WOUNDED man III he COulu w dis lnlllS A.
him, but the man had only shaken h
head in reply Crandall felt like revilin
himself for what he had done, aid VOL
dered why the wounded man did not y
proach him. Even when he expresse
his sorrow at having shot him the dyin
| man had said gently:
Don't mind ii. It's too late now"
The twilight gave way 10 darkness, an
still he sat there. He could not hear IN
| diving man breathe without leaning owe
his face. He dLd this but once though, an