Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01

the stage road. and the stage road was
| ilned with wagons and boys on the burros,
while out Of the town and over the valley
| men and women swarmed like ants.
IT'S awful for you to have to die for
| me-" said the messenger as the two men
leaned upon their elbows and looked at
each other. His shirt was pasted to his
shoulder His shoe having filled up, the
blood was now oozing out between the
! lacings.
1T is not awful said the dark man.
rubbing the ends of his fingers over the
| OF wasted life. 1 never dreamed that
should die SO nearly satisfied. And such
| sport. Why, that fight between you and
| the-and Huerfano Bill. as you call him.
| was the best thing l ever saw. And the
last wild plunge Of the maddened horse.
What climax. 1 wonder where the soul
plunges to at that last leap? Stuff there is
| no soul, and no place to plunge to-Iye all
ways said so. And yet" he went on, look
ing steadily at his companion, when
was near fainting a moment ago, thought
me END mad come, and instead of darkness
| there was dawn-an awful dawn-the dawn
| or new life. and the glare and uncertain
| ty of 1t frightened me. 1 can't remember
ever having been frightened before. Did
you ever see the sky SO blue?" he asked as
ne leaned against a rock and turned his
face toward the heavens. And the hills
SO green and the air so fresh and cool and
sWeet!' And again there was silence and
1
nsten to the life-blood that was trickling
INTO MS lung, and wondering how long it
| would take it to filter away. The messen-
| ger dozed. The black horse bit off a mouth
full of bunch grass, and holding 1t still.
| raised his head and listened. The men sat
up and reached fer their arms. The sound
| canon. ~ 'e
They've heen reinforced" said the dark
| man. But you're all right can square
you IN Two mlnutes-and, as I've got to
Gash IN anyway, it makes no difference.
Look out-there's woman," he said ex.
cltedly, as the warden's daughter emerge!
from the canon and galloped toward them.
. hello, gal" said the dark man.
| Where is he?" sne called
| Here! here" crieu the messenger from
| behind the rocks, and a moment later she
| was bending over him. For brief moment
she suffered him to hold her t. his breast,
ana then, pushing him away, she looked
| MIN full in the face and asked in 4 tone
that almost froze his blood: Are Won
guilty. or innocent? Tell me quickly" But
the messenger appeared to be utterly I'M
apie TO answer or even to comprehend
her meaning.
She stood up and glanced toward the
| canon.
Hes all right gal you've made no mis-
| take, SAID the stranger.
! ne saved my life,' said the messenger
! polntlhg 10 ms companion-"why don't you
How can II" she asked. turning to the
STRANGER and Offering the glovei hand.
| rake THIS package to Mrs. Monaro in
| me White cottage on the river, down by the
sine tef-she's my wife; you'll find her
| ana II you'll take the trouble to be kind to
| her snail die in your debt and remain
| SO, SO long as I'm dead. Nov take this
gun and protect that boy-they won't fire
III you ana don't care to Kill anybody
| e,se' now that I'm already overdue in am
| other world" " "
| she took the gun, mechanically. and
| lurf ca to face the posse that was at that
| canon. ie
are you mad?" shouted the warden.
! Drop that gum cried a sheriff with his
| left arm in q sling.
| The messenger, utterly unable to under
stand what the row was all about. at
| tempted to rise, and in his excitement
stood on his broken ankle and a quick
| pain caused him to fall i'll a faint
| Look after the boy" said the dark
| man, and the warden's daughter dropped
| the ugly weapon and lifted her lovers
| mead from the ground.
Drop that gun repeated the sheriff
| COW boy SHED rope at the dark man.
| but he lodged it.
One minute" said he. opening his shirt
and showing his death wound, you'll have
| no trouble arresting me-"
| where's the murderer" shouted an ex-
| cit3.. citizen.
There's the chief" said the dark man.
| if sec wled.
| is the express agent here?" asked the
PRINCIPAL speaker, and fat man with a
| red face came forward.
| mis- messenger is innocent l mean to
XIII the first man who offers to lay a hand
on him; after that you must protect him
| j his letter, which have taken the liberty
10 open, explains 1t all. The sack of gold
ne left in the tank. you'll fad where L
| cached 1t in the river opposite the en-
CINE The paper, suppose, is all there by
| MS SIDE. He was afraid of being robbed
ana was trying to reach the junction when
& HOG
ntstook for robbers, and how well he
| Fought his own wcIrds and the dead man
down in the gulch will show you"
| Inc messenger, having regained con-
| EclousresS, sat up and looked wildly about
| Inc agent realizing at a glance what an
awful mistake had been made fell upon
tne bewlldered nesser ger and wept like a
| woman. Every passing seco2d added to the
general confusion and excitement. Cries of
hang them, hang them" came frequent
| crowd e''t's
The warden, who also understood. lifted
his daughter, held her in his arms, and
| kissed away the tears that were filtering
| through her smiles.
| Il don't believe It," said the sheriff tn
his companion.
Because you're chump," said the dark
| man.
What's 1t all atout?" asked the mes
| senger Of the agent
| Where is the murderero" cried nev
conner, brother Of the dead deputy. and
then catching sight of the messenger, he
ran straight toward him, holding out a
cooked revolver as though it had been a
sword with which he intended to run him
through. When he was within four or five
1eet or the wounded man, the dark man
struck him a fearful blow with As. The
man went down, the dark man couehed
and great flood of blood gushed from his
| mouth, he clutched at his throat and fell
| forward upon his face
| dead.
My poor frend,'' the messenger almost
moaned. dragging himself toward the pros
name" -'-S
y! do" said Sheriff Shores, who had lust
| arrived upon the scene and pushed him
| self through the crowd. ITS Huerfano
| Bill, the bandit"
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