The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-27

Cling to get clear of his horse, and then
at the man, who had just mounted. The
man seemed TO notice me then for the
first time, for he shouted: "Oh, it's ycu
is It? Then take that!" There was a
flash; report; and / felt something
sting my ear for a moment-he had fired
at me.
"Shoot him, you fool!" exclaimed The
sergeant. "or If We don't like to, shoot
the horse" / saw my way then. No. ]
couldn't shoot man. i raised my re-
volver and fired.
The bay horse reared and plunged.
and then, answering to the fierce stroke
of his riders spur, bounded off and dis
appeared amongst the gum trees. The
sergeant struggled to his feet, and
turning angrily to me exclaimed: 'Why
the devil didn't you shoot hIm?"
"Shoot him?" answered, sullSily, I
dare say. for at the moment felt halt
ashamed that hadn't. "You can shoot
men If you like-I don't like the job,
ond I'm not used to il either"
''Well, young fellow. your friend isn't
80 particular; another inch and he'd
have taken your head instead of an ear"
put up my hand and found that
was bleeding where the bullet had car
ried away piece of my ear. For the
first H.. : remembered the sharp sting
that has followed the mans last shot.
l''Didn't know il, ch?" he continued, OBJ
serving my look of surprise. "Well,
you'll know better another time. It's
q case of you or me with fellows like
that, can tell you. You'd better bear
"a hand now and let's see what can he
donr--do We think you hit the horse"
'sure of it," said, shortly.
"Ah, il all depends whereabouts. If
you were lucky, we'll have him yet.
let's have look at the hut first,
though" he added.
j followed him across the open patch
10 the hut, the door Of which he pushed
hastily open. The place was n poor one,
end the few scraps Of furniture of the
rudest kind. The floor was of earth,
and upon il, crouched in heap near the
fire, was the figure of the woman we had
seen. She sprarg TO her feet at our en-
trance, and pushing back her hair from
her face confronted us like lioness.
For a moment she seemed 20 gasp for
breath, and then the words came
brokenly: "And dii yez-did yez shoot
him? Did yez murder him entirely?
Oh, Mike, Mike, and is IL to this ye've
come at the ind ov /, alp"
The sergeant looked at her for q mo-
n,ent 'Oh," he said. ''it was Mike, was
it2 Thought as much. No. We haven't
shot him-not yet, anyhow, though It's
about time"
GLORY be TO God for that same" she
exclaimed in a very different tone. "Au'
it's fool was 10 behave that the likes
oy We could do that same-nor I
wouldn't, nather, but for my dreams
the last night as iver was
"You dreamt he was killed, did ys,
Blddy? Well, it's likely enough yet"
he said. as he walked 10 the table on
which there were set out damper loaf
and the greater part of n ham, as II
ready for a meal not vet partaken OF.
81 see we disturbed his breakfast he
~tN'bs but Nt III itht IL uIlcT MIN III
case he should want it,"
The woman glared at him and made
10 half motion as IL she would have
thrown herself upon him. Then she
stopped suddenly. and could see her
hands clench themselves with the great.
ness OF the effort. "'Tis yersilf will
make the hoighth ov a foine robber
wan ov thin days. and 'tis the lone
wimen wild no one nigh 10 purtect thin
yen be hardest on. I'm thinliu'. Bu,
SIRE nm yer wilcome. an We can ate II
lyersilf, an the black naygur that's wild
.yez, for it's little yer like to sec ov Mike
for day or two"
The sergeant looked keenly round the
bare apartment, then picked up ia.
danper and threw il 20 me with th,
lremarlc: YOU'D better take charge ol
that. youngster." Then without worc
he wrapped the ham in piece OF news
paper that lay on the floor and turnet
away. We left tho woman STANDING
by the smoldering remains OF the fire
her eyes blazing with fierce resent
ment, yet pathetic with the forccas
lnf the future. II was the last we saw