Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-06-30

Come, come, Bill" said Joe, a great
lump rising in his throat. Cheer up;
meDbe som thin II turn up; mebbe"-
faint no use. Joe. We've all got
ter go some time. 'Tain't no use in
hopln' when thar amt nothin' ter ex-
pect."
Joe made no reply. STOPPING down
presently he drew little box from UNI
der the bed and took out a small piece
OF dry, hard bread and laid it by the
side Of Bill.
4 saved hit fer We, BILL" he said,
turning away.
No, no, said Bill; hits better fer
one Nv us ter go, AN both of us. Mebbe.
as We say, somethin' IL turn up. an -
A muitied sound like footsteps in the
snow came from the outside, and some
thing like the sound of a human voice
mingled with the Kissing wind.
Joe listened, but the sound was not
repeated. He opened the door and
looked out.
a few feet from the threshold, half
buried in the drifting snow, was the
PROSTATE form of a man. a large bundle
OF something at his side a moment
and Joe was STOPPING over the PROSTATE
figure. He shook him. but he did not
speak. Then by q series of heroic ef-
forts he dragged the unconscious man
into the dugout. As he did so a bundle
that was strapped about the shoulders
Of the unfortunate became detached
and rolled over on the floor, displaying
a small bag Of flour and chunk OF
bacon.
Hits John Biggs come baclIp ex-
claimed Joe; an he's brought enough
peryisions ter carry us through, thank
God! but, pore feller, he's almost done
fer"
lie hurriedly stirred up the fire in
the little stove, and then turning to the
unconscious man he brushed the snow
from his wan face
Bill, he said, starting with surprise
hit amt John Biggs-h'it's the claim
jumper. He's saved our lives. Bill, an
alter we was going ter run him away"
My GOd!' exclaimed Bill, struggling
feebly out Of the bed, new strength
coming to his feeble frame. I'VE must
save him, Joe If he haint already
dead. We mustn't let him die
and weak from hunger, worked as they
never worked before. BY their COM
Gined efforts they lifted the poor frozen
eQuatter from the floor and laid him
tenderly in their bed.
He opened MS eyes and muttered
something in an incoherent manner
The two men bent over him and lis
tened
Hit amt much furder,' he NUT
tered, I've heard EN- say they didn't
have nothiu' to eat over thar-an' Ike
Dover. hits yer dooty ter help EN-.
No-nO-they wur goin' ter run me
Oif-h'it can't be much furder-Oh, if
I could only sleep little-h'it amt
cold now"
Joe took mold of his hands and held
them in his own. They were frozen as
hard as iciclcs. He looked at Bill and
uttered a groan.
He cant live, Bill" he said chok-
ingly.
Bin bent ever the bed, his face close
to that OF the dying man.
"Pardner,' lie said, his voice husky
with emotion. you've throwd away
Yer lie fer US that didn't desarvc Moth
in bat yer hate. You've iroze them
poor hands fer us onery wolves that
would a Griv' ye way from yer claim.
Oh. if We could only live ter tell me
how mean an onery I've been ter We
Here Bill broke down and wopt like
child.
Presently the dying man muttered:-
"H'it's all RIGHT see hit nOw-thar
is the cabin. right ahead" Asd with
these words his spirit fed.
For a long time the only sound that
broke the stiffness of that desoiate
prairie home was the sobbing of the
two men and the Kissing of the winter
wind.-B0ston Home Journal.