The morning times., 1895-09-22
Author of the Luck of Roaring Camp"
1.-TWO Men of Sandy Bar" SC.
Copyright, 1895. by Bret Harte.)
CHAPTER RvuL(Conclrded. J

CoIiinson was already himself again. Th
man of simple directness and no Imagination
saw only his wife before him-a little breath
less, a little Hurried, a little disheveIled from
rapid riding, as he had sometimes seen he
before, bat otherwise unchanged. Nor had h
changed; he took her up where he had lef
her years ago. His grave face only broad
ened into 4 smile as lie held both her hand
in his.
Yes it's me-Lordyl Why, was csmir
only tomorrow to find ye, Sadie!"
She glanced hurriedly around her TO
10 find me?" she said increduIously.
''Sartinl That ez was goin' 10 ask abou
ye-goin' 10 ask about We at the convent.
AT the convent" she echoed with fright
ened amaZement.
Yes, why, Lordy, Sadie-dont you see
You thought was dead, and thought yol
was dead. that's what's the matter. But
never reckored you'd think me dead unit
Chivers allowed that it must be So"
Herfac whiiened in the moonlight "Chiv
ers?" she said blankly.
I'm course, but naturally you don't know
him, honey. He only saw you onc't. But Il
was along o. that, Sadie, that he told me ht
reckoned you wasn't dead, and told me hov
TO find you He was mighty kind and con
sarned about 1t and he even allowed I'd bet
Ter slip off to you this very night"
"Chivers." she repeated, gazing at her hus
band with bloodless lips.
''Yes. an awful purity spoken man Yen
have TO get to know him, Sadie. He's here
with some of his folks az hez got inter
trouble-I'm forgettin' to tell ye. You
see"
Yes, yes, yes!' she interrupted hysteri-
cally; land this is the mill?"
Eyes, lovey, the mill-my miIl-your
miil-the house l built Tor you dear. I'd
show it to you now, but you see, Sadie, / m
out here standin' guard"
Are you one OF them?" she said, clutch
ing his hand desperately.
mo, dear" he said soothinGly, mo, only
you see, Civ my word 10 'em as Civ my
house Tonight and I'm bound TO protect
them ard see them through. Why, Lordy,
Sadie, you'd have done the same-for
Chivers.'
Yes, yes," she said, beating her hands
together strangely, "of course. He was
SO kind To bring me back to you. And you
might have never found me but for him. ."
She burst into an hysterical laugh, which
the sinIple-minded man might have over
looked but for the tears that coursed down
her blo0dless face.
whats gone ~ ye, sadie?' he said in
a sudden fear, grasping her hands THAT
laugh amt our'n-that voice amt your'n.
You're the old Sadie. amt ye? He stopped
For a moment his face bIanched as he
glanced toward the MILL from which the
faint sound of baccbanalian voices came
to his quick ear. Sadie, dear, ye amt
thinkin' anything agin' me? Ye amt
allowin' I'm keeping anythin' back frUin
ye?"
Her face stiffened into rigidty; she dashed
the tears from her eyes. No" she said
quickly. Then after moment she added
with a faint laugh: You see we haven't
seen each other for so long-it's all so sud
den-so unexpected"
But you kem here just now calkilatin'
to find ME, said Collinson, ,gravely.
Yes, yes" she said quickly, still grasp
ing both his hands, but with herhead slightly
turned in the direction of the mill.
but who told ye where TO find the mill?"
he said, with gentle patience.
"A friend" she said, hurriediy. Per
haps," she added with singular smile, "a
friend of the friend who told you"
II see," said CoIlinson with relieved
face and broadening smile, Its sort of
fairy story. I'll bet. now, it was that old
Barker woman that Chivers knows"
Her teeth cleaned rigidly together in the
moonlight like deaths head. Yes" she
said dryly, lit was that old Barker woman.
Say, Seth" she continued, nioistening
her lips slowly, you're guarding this
place alone?''
"Thars another fellow up the trail-a
try-but don't you be afeaTed, he can't
hear US, Sadie"
"On this side of the nlill?'
"Yes. Why. Lord love ye, Sadie, tothcr
side o. the millit drops down straight TO the
valley; nobody comes that way but poor
Iow-down cmigrants. And it's miles
summit
You didn't hear your friend Chivers say
that the sheriff was out with his posse to-
night hunting them?''
mo. Did yuu?''
~ think 1 heard something of that kind
at SINNERS, but it may have been only a
warning to ME, travelling alone
That's So" said Collinson, with tender
soIicitudc. but none of these yer road
agents would have teched woman. And
this yer Chivers amt the man to insult
one. either"
mo, she said, with return of her ysteric
laugh But it was overlooked by Collinson,
who was taking his gun from beside the tree
f,ar he, ba1 ,,Io IL Not
lng?" she said suddenly.
'Ireckon them fellows ought to be warned
Of what you heard. I'll be back In mint"
"And you're going to leave me-when-
when we've only just met after these years."
she said, with faint attempt at smile,
which, however, did not reach the cold gilt
Ter of her eyes.
Just for a little, honey. Besides, don't
you see, I've got to get excused, or we'll
nave TO go off to SINNERS or somewhere
sadie, for we can't stay in thar along o.
hem"
$50 you and your wife are turned out OF
your home 10 please Chivers," she said,
It'll smiling.
That's whar you slip up, Sadie" said
,ollinson, with a troubled face, for he's
that kind of man thet if jest as much
Is hinted you was here he'd turn 'em allout
, the house for a lady. Thets why don't
propose to let on anything about you till
tomorrow.
Tomorrow will do" she said, stin
smiling, but with a singular abstraction in
Ter face. Pray don't disturb them now.
he is enough 70 warn them of any approach
rom the trail I'm tired and ill-very ill
Sit by me here, Seth, and wait! We can
wait here together-we have waited so long,
Seth-and the end has come now"
She suddenly lapsed against the tree, and