The Van Buren press., 1897-11-27

/ IsuuDurnt lace, anu, stepping u haS
door. filings il wide open, letting in
great sweep of drenching rain. There
! Is another sound outside than the rivers
brawlingwith its powders, and the roar
OF the wind with the pine trees.
GUY hears horses hoofbeats clat-
tering down the canyon, coming nearer
and nearer; and Us 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 Dangerfeldl Good heaven. IS
1t You, old fellow?"
Jack Dangerheld's face. in truth
ashy white, wet with the rain that has
,lrenched his bare head, hollow-eyed,
haegard. touched with the finger OF
death.
When Guy half lifts, half drags him
10 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
word. old man.. he orders, briefly md
business like-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
coler creep into them.
Give me more" Jack whispers.
hoarsely. closing his hand over Guys
wrist. Keep me as long as You can.
rve-I've 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
vet 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
oonfounded bleeding Just till I've told
YOU. and then it's all up with me, Nc
Leod. | was shot at dawn by Fire
Forks. live been riding day and
night. I came back here 10 find You
and Give me your hand. ! can't see
you clear. Guy"
Guy kneels by the side of the bunk.
aud, 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 Dangerfield IS
wavering already for its fight. Poor
old jack A kind-hearted. gone-to-the-
dess fellow. who stood BY his side in
many a rough place through their camp
life-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 bullet in his breast.
"There," Guy says. bending down,
"take one more swallow, Jack-there!
I'm close to you, listening 10 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-I've
seen Ethel Mason"
sEthel 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
heavenl / don't know what you
neanl"
~You don't?" Jack lifts his head,
rises with a great struggle on his arm.
aud stares full into McLeod's blue eyes.
~You don't know that face? Tell me
the truth, as you hope for Gods mercy,
Guy McLeodl"
His weak hand has sroped and found
something in his breast-inside the
gray shirt. It IS a woman's picture,
the edges Redeemed with that spreading
stain. and Guy looks at il and mutters
a great oath under his breath through
trembling lips
You don't know IL. Its she-your
Ethel-my cousin Ethel For heavens
sake 20 back to her, Guy--go back aud
tel her sent you-beeause-beeauss
she was sorry"
"Your cousin2' stammers Guy.
i knew sou were the man." Jack
~ Ahispers. very weakly. 4 saw your
face in her locket and your aame, and
% 1 came to tell you She said-waii,
| remember every wOrd-'she never
could give another man what she had
given him-ihe only man she ever cared
TOR. OF ever could And she meant
voa. GUY. She thought you'd never
know, but I've come TO bring you the
message for her-jUst for her sake,
beeAuse-she-leyes you
Jack. Jack. Dear old fellow.~
GUYS face hides itself in the blanket
The rough couch shakes where his
strong arms rest upon it.
1--we been IN the saddle these three
DAYS riding, with ali the powers Of evil
tryins todrag me back Though Twas
gone when that seeurSsd gang stopped
ne tonight. rode through them and
rode for my life. though. aHd-and-
aud-you see. I've told you, Guy But
I've got bullet in here, and it's all up
with me-
Tie words die on bis lips.
The heavy syslids droop and close