Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1897-11-04

door, filings it wide open. letting in
great sweep of drenching rain. There
is another sound outside than the rivers
brawling with its powders, and the roar
of the wind with the pine trees.
Guy hears a horses hoofbeats clat-
tering down the canyon, coming nearer
and nearer; and as he strains his ears
to listen, he catches a shout, very
faint one, half drowned in the noise OF
the storm
In another minute the horse and the
rider flash into sight in the bar OF red
light that shines through the cabin win
dow, and Guy springs out just in time to
help a reeling, swaying figure down
from the saddle, and support it in his
strong arms inside the door.
Jack Dangerfield! Good heaven: is
it you, old fellow?"
Jack Dangerfeld's face, in truth
ashy white, wet with the rain that has
drenched his bare head, hollow-eyed,
haggard, touched with the finger OF
death.
When Guy half lifts, half drags him
to the bunk in the corner and tears
open the coat buttoned tight across his
breast, he finds dark red patch stain
ing the gray flannel shirt.
Drink this down. Jack. Don't say
a word, old man." he orders, briefly End
business hke-no wondering or ques-
tioning for minute.
He holds up the heavy head and puts
the brandy to the stiff. white lips,
watching eagerly till he sees a shade of
color creep into them.
"Give me more" Jack whispers,
hoarsely. closing his hand over Guys
wrist. Keep me as long as you can.
rve-rve come to-tell you something.
Oh, heaven. for half an hour longer!"
You'll be all right in half an hour.
There, lie down and let me get off these
wet things and tell me, old fellow, for
heavens sake, what brings you back
here, and what's happened?"
LET me alone" mutters Jack, turn
ing his haggard face and wild eyes upon
the kindly, troubled face above him.
Don't bother with me. Only stop this
COMPOUNDED bleeding just till I've told
you, and then it's all up with me, Nc
Leod. 1 was shot at dawn by Fire
Forks. 1--we been riding day and
night. I came back here to find you
and Give me your hand. l can't see
you clear, Guy"
Guy kneels by the side of the bunk.
and, with such rude surgery as can be
improvised on the moment, he binds
the ragged bullet hole, from out whose
lips the soul of Jack Dangerheld is
wavering already for its flight. Poor
old Jack! a kind-hearted, gone-to-the-
dogs fellow, who stood by his side in
many a rough place through their camp
Iife-who never left him in trouble, but
turned his back at the first streak OF
luck, and set his face homeward again
four months ago-who comes back now,
riding through the night and the storm,
with the death damps thick upon his
wan face and a bullet in his breast.
There" Guy says, bending down,
"take one more swallow, Jack-there!
I'm close to you, listening to you, dear
boy"
I've been home" the dying man sobs
out between the breaths that come so
hard-"home! And I've seen her-Ive
seen Ethel Mason"
,"Ethel Mason?"
There isn't but one, is there? Only
one for you and me, too, Mcleod. [
found her in my mothers house, and
YOU know the old story. She was sorry,
and she would be my friend and help
me. And she loved another man."
"Why are you telling me this, Danger
feld?" Guy asks, hoarsely, the color
wavering in his bronzed face. by
heaven! 1 don't know what you
meant"
You don't?' Jack lifts his head,
rises with great struggle on his arm,
and stares full into McLeod's blue eyes.
You don't know that face? Tell me
the truth, as you hope for Gods mercy,
Guy Mcleod"
His weak hand has CROPPED and found
something in his breast-inside the
gray shirt. 1t is a woman's picture,
the edges Redeemed with that spreading
stain, and Guy looks at it and mutters
a great oath under his breath through
trembling lips.
You don't know it. It's she-your
Ethel-my cousin Ethel. For heavens
sake go back to her, Guy-go back and
tell her l sent -because-becaus
she was sorry"
Your cousin?" stammers Guy.
Il knew you were the man." Jack
whispers, very weakly. Il saw your
face in her locket and your name, and
so L came to tell you. She said-wait,
remember every word-'she never
could give another man what she had
given him-the only man she ever cared
for, or ever could And she meant
you, Guy. She thought you'd never
know, but I've come to bring you the
message for her-just for her sake
because-she-loves you"
Jack, Jack! Dear old fellow!"
Guys face hides itself in the blanket.
The rough couch shakes where his
strong arms rest upon it.
I've been in the saddle these three
days riding, with all the powers of evil
trying to drag me back. L though was
gone when that accursed gang stopped
me tonight. rode through them and
rode for my life, though, and-and-
and-you see, I've told you, Guy. But
I've got a bullet in here, and it's all up
with me-"
The words die on his lips.
The heavy eyelids droop and close,
and Jack lies breathing short and hard.
while the icy whiteness creeps and
creeas over his face, whose old cynical
fashion has gone forever.
NO. no, Jack, dear old man, ii can't
be. You shall not dieI" staring up and
facing the grim fact in helpless protest.