The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-29

iy and drinking harder than usual. For some
to lot me see hor, and l was mad with jeai-
ousy, though Of whom 4 did not know. As
passed In my chips, California Jack, who had
been dealing for me, leaned over the layout
'DrIfter, takc a tip from me, will youi Bos-
say to you. He was your friend when you
needed one In, camp. Have a word with him be-
""Biily and I walked out into tho night to-
Rethor. / guess we walked as much as two
miles, side by side, without exehsnging a word
Billy turned to me and said;
"Drifter, you're a damn fool, but you're my
friend. You've simply gone crazy over that
planning even now to leave the camp with that
other she devil and the Engli,hman who, IS
inside up at the Countess's house ever since he
struck town Sly weeks ago; knew that shed
the man is IN the case. He's out there now.
Hos always there whom you're not. II you say
the word wen run him ont Of the camp, and as
restrained myself With ,Htf aliniGnIty. ,.ou.
there It's simply a part Of the Countess's game.
She sahS,Yh has made q, tool Of him and poor. S]onfdInG
Lena is to be tho victim. No one knows this
ySur friendship has ever been. BY Reavensi
"Biliy and l shook hands, walked back to the
centre of tho camp, and proceeded to load up
at the bar at California Jacks. It was evident
that Billy did not intend mo to shake him, and
a table, dead TO the world from the effects Of
Jacks tanglcfoot, that l felt safe To carry out
my project. l hltched my little black mare 10
Bnly's covered wagon, examined my six -shooter
saw that every chamber was loaded, and fool
to the last bestowed a loving kiss ON that rayep,
no nssS designs ' upon aVG her life, but determined to
see for myself II the Countess had put up u job
on me with The ei AID d., OF the h.,d EnThIi sr nnn h If So
Lena safely In the wagon, and drive across the
prairie MS far from Boomtown as my mare
"Crazed with love, jealousy, and rum, I drove
furiously across the prairie. some guardian
angel must !ny;o watched oyer me thai night
for Dritter. l dashed the black mare into fury.
She plunged into one ditch after another; threw
standing In a brick kiln, knocked down u sur
veyor's tent, and we only escaped by good luck
from a flying bullet sent cn,s after =, us ny ny one OF The
cottage ! was ragged, bruised, torn, and bleed
ing. The little marc was covered with foam
and seemed possessed OF tho spirit OF a demon.
Gripping my six-shooter l paused at tho
'What a fool you are. Drifter,' ! thought,
to oven for a moment suspect that poor girl Of
being false. she's the victim OF u plot. and you
know 1t. You ought to be by her side comfort
praying for your arrival at this moment
II know 1t would not do to show myself in
w"nid spoil ali. I knew where Lens's room
Was and luckily a light shone from her window.
Tho window opened out on a vcranda, and u
ladder was placed against the side OF the house;
window. ! heard voices which ! could dis
tinguish as those of the Countess and my black.
haired darling. l heard Lena say 'GooI
| night n door closed, and l stepped to the win
MY Godi VIVA is that, Am / crazyl
Surely it was the graceful form o. Lena that
stood in the contrc OF the room with her back 10
the window. She wore a scarlet silk neglige,
one of my latest gifts. but where was that ebou
crownl, Where. was that wealth OF raven
trossesi Gone! Vanished with its wealth
OF triukrts. Sot a serpent: not u dagger; worse
than al. not a spear OF hair ON that head. -,
1T was absolutely as bald as the baldest bill
lard ball in the Ioolroom down at the Palac,
and l almost stopped breathing. couldn
speak to her in The face Of that awful revela
Love fled with tho vanishing OF Lena.
the window, crept down the ladder, and threw
my gun far into the darkness. ] tore iron
my pocket the little black curl which had lonI
nestled close to my heart and stamped u int
wild ride back TO town. Billy rad come out o
and | called AL hands 20 tho bar.
" Gcntlench,' | said, in your presence
want to humhly beg the pardon Of my tried am
has been. FIN M the glasses, Jack. Here's Il
Billy, my friend; here's 70 al! Of us Bo"m.own
crs, and heres to my Lena, my beautiful Lena
my Raid. Headed Queen OF the Prairie
The boys drank In wondcrTent. ENplane
tons followed.
"And there was a wild time in Boomtowl
that night.
THE NEXT boat down the river took tn
Countess and Roomtowu's dethroned queen on
OF our life. IT was manv years after that bcfCF
l could look without dis,rust at Il woman wit
u beautiful head OF hair"