The Winslow mail., 1900-05-03

have company on that long journey
into the great unknown.
The grim smile that accompanied
this thought had not yet left his face
when he spied in front of him a net
work of deep gullies that had been
worn there at some former time by
the water that poured from a cloud
burst, and instantly the smile became
one of satisfaction; his escape had be-
come certainty. Hidden in the guI-
lies, he would be able to battle his pur-
suers until night came to cover his
movements.
Throughout the time that had
passed since he assumed charge of the
child the little fellow had lain still
and quiet, as Indian babes are trained
to do, but now he began moving un-
easily, then to squirm and twist
about, and the man gave him shake,
exclaiming: stop that kickin'. you
little imp!" But the child squirmed
all the more, and finally he opened
the folds of the blanket so that he
might see the little fellows face.
What he saw there caused him to
come to a sudden halt. 1.-The kids
sick, or I'm a greaser!" he exclaimed.
bad sick, too he added, scanning
the child's pain-distorted features.
A few steps further on large yucca
cast it's shadow on the ground, and,
going there, he laid the child down,
and, kneeling beside him, gazed with
fY-n11lo1nd t0 hic EEXNn11d or.
what ails you, kid?" he muttered.
''Must be collie, an if only had a lit
tie red licl1er-but L amt got it, so
there's no use tal<in' about it. No,
collie don't make 'em swell up that
way" he went on, in puzzled tone,
IAN I'll be blamed if l know what
does. If [ was woman, now-but
then amt. What he needs is doc
tor, an he needs him bad, but where's
he's to come from"
He broke off, and, Strengthening up
to his full height, stood gazing across
the desert with round, wide-open eyes
that saw nothing. And as he stood
thus his mind became busy with mem
cries of his past life; of a time when
he had not yet earned the sobriquet
of "SiX-Shooter Pete" His heart filled
with bitterness and hatred as he
thought of the faithless wife, the un-
natural mother, who had deserted him
in the hour of their childs utmost
need of mothers loving care. A vi
sion of fair-haired, blue-eyed baby,
his face flushed and hot with fever,
tossing restlessly about in his little
bed and constantly calling for the
nanny who never came, passed be-
fore him, and his eyes filled with
tears. ooh, if only she had stayed to
nurse him!" he murmured, sobbingly.
Then his face hardened, and he added,
bitterly: "But she was DEVIL an if
there's hell, may she roast there
forever!" His mouth closed with a
snap, his teeth gritting, and his hands
unconsciously sought the butts of his
revolvers-habitw was strong upon him.
He stood silent a few moments
longer, then his attention was again
directed to the quivering bit of hu-
manity at his feet. poor little kid"
he said, kneeling beside the child,
"you've got just one show for your
life, and I'm goin' to give it to you;
I've seen one baby die for want of
care, and [ can't stand to see anoth-
er! It'll cost me-but never mind
that-nobody'l cry when pass in my
chips"
His lips quivered with half-sup-
pressed emotion as he spoke, and a
tear ran slowly down his cheek, but
his hands were busy wrapping the
child in the blanket again. That done,
he picked him up and started back in
the direction whence he had come,
walking straight toward a gap in the
southern mountains. Soon, far ahead
of him, tiny cloud of white dust
rose sluggishly and hung low against
the mountains. He was quick to see
it, and muttered: Its the boys"
Then he added, grimly: Il reckon
they'll be right smart surprised to
find me comm to meet 'em."
Now an idea occurred to him, and
he paused to unbucl1le his belt and
lay his revolvers and rifle on the
ground; then he went on, leaving
them there. The child had ceased
struggling and now lay quiet in his
arms.
An hour later he was threading his
way along a ravine that cut through
a range of low hills; and. rounding a
short curve, he came suddenly upon a
party of mounted men. His uneXpect-
ed appearance created a sharp stir in
their ranks; instantly there came an
ominous clicking of locks, the swift
pointing of grim muzzles in his direc-
tion and the stern, quick-spoken com
mand: "ThrOw up your hands, Pete!"
81 amt got my guns, boys; honest
to God. [ ain't--left en- back yonder!
An L can't put UP my hands-don' t
you see?" Pete hastily answered,
holding out the child. 81 give up;
that's what I'm here for-thought
you'd have sense enough to sabc that.
Here, Doc. get down an come here;
I've got case for your pill box stead
of your gun-come quicl-he's mighty
SICK
"What?" the leader of the party be-
gan, wonderingly, 81 say, boys" he
called to the others, ''he's plumb To-
coed, or he's up to some game; keep
him covered, while I see what he has
there" Dismounting, he walked to
Pete and took the child; and Pete, as
became one in his delicate position,
Strengthened his arms vertically above
his head.
Quickly Doc uncovered the child's