The San Francisco call., 1896-05-31

younger man, and he advanced up the
path. "Oh, you needn't go to get it, thank
you, we can help ourselves" he added.
Rita let go her hold on Ben's collar, and
in an instant he had flown at the intruder
and seized him by the sleeve of his ragged
coat. But his companion, with tremen-
dous oath, raised his mighty .cIub and
struck the dog a swinging blow between
the eyes. Rita saw him release his hold
and roll on the ground bowling with pain.
Quickly she stepped back into the room
and seized the pistol which was lying on
the table. The hand which grasped it was
cold as ice, but it did not tremble as she
held up the glittering weapon for the men
to gee.
"Come one step nearer, she said quietly,
''and 1 fire."
! In q moment both men hesitated and
the smaller one even drew back, but his
companion, with another vile oath, came
on up the path. Rita shuddered as she
realized that she must fire. She aimed
little below the mans knees and pulled
the trigger. Instantly the tramp jumped
| into the air and then fell, groaning and
swearing on the ground, while his COM
| panion ran Emping and STUN bling down
the road, followed by Ben Bolt, who had.
however. but half recovered from the blow
and soon gave up the chase.
AS soon as she realized that the man
was wounded, Ritas fear of him was
changed to far worse fear of herself, and
of what she had done. Overcome by re-
morse, she knelt beside her victim filed
with the tenderest pity for his sufferlngs.
''Oh, oh, am so sorry!" she said. II
must bind up the wound at once" And
i - L
wounded man into the house. Her strange
guest said not word until he caught
sight of food. For Gods sake give me
something to eat," he said, "Im starv-
ing" And Rita did not doubt it as he
selzed and ravenously devoured the bread
and meat which she brought him.
He looked up gratefully as dog might
do when he finished, although he said
nothing, and he was very docile and
patient while Rita washed and bandaged
the wound and made a neat tourniquet
above it to stop the flow of blood, as she
had fortunately learned to do at school.
Nor did her ministry of mercy stop there,
for she discovered that the poor
wretch's feet were in pitiable condition,
swollen and cut and bruised from what
must have been a long journey over stones
and stubble. They were tied up in old
bits of rag IN lieu of shoes, and these Rita
removed and bathed the poor bleeding
mem bers in warm water. It was not
pleasant nor an easy task, but she looked
now and then at the little silver cross on
her watch chain and worked bravely on
in His name. When she had made her
patient quite clean and comfortable he
fell asleep, evidently from sheer exhaus-
ton.
As Rita moved softly about the room
she stopped now and then to glance at the
sleeping man, and she remembered almost
with smile how short time before she
had regarded him as her mortal enemy !!
Poor fellowl
Softened by sleep, his face was still hard
and weather-beaten; but not SO altogether
! bad and cruel as Rita had thought it when
! she had first seen it inhamed by evil pas
sions. And then, as she glanced at him,
she was conscious OF having seen just such
a face somewhere before. Like flash she
remembered the notice in the postoffice,
the pictures of the two thieves and the
description of their appearance. With a
beating heart she softly approached a little
} closer. The sleeper's right arm was thrown
above his head, and on the back of his
!, George Lewis was the name of the older
thief. Yes, it must be be, and the small,
dark man, who had made his escape when
his companion was shot, must be his con-
federate, the other thief.
Rita was so frightened by this discovery
that she trembled violently. To be alone,
perhaps until late at night, with an es-
capped convict. with another desperate
character hiding somewhere near the
house, was enough to have alarmed a
much braver girl than Rita Allison. But
little thought soon made her see that
there was but little danger of the return OF
/ The second thief, who had evidently been
! badly frightened by the attack of Ben
t Bolt and by Rita's pistol. As to her guest,
,iia looked fearfully at him as ne Law
sleep, and then she realized that this
rong man was completely in her power,
As soon as her brother returned, or early
next morning, he could ride into town
: and inform the Sheriff of the identity OF
E their strange guest. And Rita remem,
e bered the reward!
Concluded nert Stnddy)