The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-09-12

furniture. He barred the single win
dow, brought me our basket of pro
visions and bucket of cool water
and departed.
"'I'll 'hobble' your horses where
they amt going to be found, and I'll
come to see you off at daylight, be-
fore anybody is stirring he said,
lingering in the doorway. Keep
those shutters closed, and don't you
call for help, never mind bow sick
your man may be-he would rather
die than have you risk what might
come to your CALI
During couple of hours l could
spare no anxiety from Rex, who re-
covered consciousness slowly, SO OPP
pressed by the intense heat that every
gasping breath foreboded hemor-
rhage. At length his wandering
gaze rested on the closed shutters,
and returned to me with CLEAN of
hope.
"'More air. he faltered. Open
the window
HE had heard nothing of our
hosts warning, and | could not ex-
plain to him danger whose mere
suggestion, in his utter helplessness
to protect me, would assuredly kill
him.
81 opened the shutters.
CATER time the gradual GOODNESS
of the night stole upon US, the frown
of suffering left his brow, and he
slept. l rose from my knees beside
the cot, and went to the water bucket.
1t was empty. l had used all its
scant supply in my despairing efforts
to allay his fever with bathing and
congresses.
eff he ehould wake presently, he
would crave water. Duly | consid-
cred this new need, for | was half
dazed from fatigue. Could [ risk
the chance that Rex might rouse in
my absence and grow uneasy, while
/ wandered about in the darkness,
seeking the spring without whose
neighborhood, in that arid land, no
ranch was built. Could l risk the
encountering of that other danger
which threatened me-?
Il turned sharply at some slight
sound, and | saw-oh, girls, | shall
renew that instant in dreams while l
live-I saw face and figure framed
by the black square of the open win
dow-a scowling, sullen face and
figure in convict's dress.
"With the realization of my help
fulness fear left me, and l gazed
straight into the wild light eyes of
the man who confronted me.
"a man whom God had made, and
who therefore possessed soul ca
pable of good could l but reach it.
81 walked softly to the window.
"'Whisper what you wish l MUIR
INJURED. My husband will die if he
wakes suddenly
mo answer. Merely the dumb
glare, fierce yet bewildered, of those
unwinking eyes.
"'If | can help you without leaving
my sick husband
"'You not afraid of me?' he inter
rupted in hoarse, foreign accents.
"'No, I am not afraid of YOU
Truly no longer feared those bold
eyes, that cruel jaw, those big fists
clinched on the window ledge-God
knows why!
Il stepped close to him. l laid my
hand on his shoulder.
"'You will neither hurt that sick
man nor me- | murmured. you will
help u.s.
81 brought the empty bucket to
him.
"'I don't know where to get water
for my husband. Will you fill this
for me?"
"Silently he took the bucket and
went away"
"You bolted the shutters at once7"
a girl interrupted, breathlessly.
a left them open," Betty replied.
my only dread was that Rex would
wake. But he slept profoundly, and
the convict returned speedily. With
awkward noiselessness he leaned
through the window and put the we'll
filled bucket on the floor. Then l
lifted my money bag, and the light
fickered upon the tiny hoard of
silver.
IAN evil purpose quivered over his
watching face, his coarse fingers
stretched out greedily.
"'You have helped us, l said. Let
us help you
HE drew back his hand, he
Strengthened his slouching figure,
L