Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-09-11

itto hc'oS ptuHyIt lOI uuite hub touH- |
1cdrd.
him out of this horrible trance-and he
called to her across the pew and heard
her sweet voice again in answer. And
then a wave of Inconsistencies once
more submerged him.
He came back to life with sharp
tingling of his whole frame as if pierre
ed with a thousand needles. He knew
he was being rubbed, and in his at
tempts to throw his torturers aside he
saw family by the light of Pickering
fire that they We're Cinnamon, and he
was lying on the floor of rude hut.
With his first movements they ceased
and, wrapping him like a mummy in
warm blankets, dragged him out of the
heap of loose snow with which they
had been rubbing him toward the fire
hearth. The singing pain was sue
ceeded by Il warm glow. y pleasant
languor, which made even thought n
burden, came over him, and yet his
surroundings. He heard the Cinnamon
mutter something and then depart,
leaving him alone. But presently he
was aware of another figure that had
entered and was now sitting with its
back to him at n rude table, roughly eX-
temporiZed from packing box, appar-
entity engaged in writing. II was
small Chinaman, evidently the one he
had chased. The events Of the past
few hours-his mission, his intentions
and every incident of the pursuit-tlash-
ed back upon him. Where was he?
What was he doing here? Had Trixit
escaped him?
In his exhausted state he was unable
to formulate Il question, which even
then he doubted if the Chinaman could
understand. So he simply watched him
lazily and with certain kind of fas-
cination until he should finish his writ
ing and turn round. His long pigtail,
which seemed ridiculously dispropor-
tomato to his size-the pigtail which
he remembered had streamed into the
air in his tlight-had partly escaped
from the dish covered hat under which
1t had been coiled. But, what was sin
gular, it was not the wiry, black pigtail
of his Monaghan fellows. but soft and
silky, and as the freight played upon
it it seemed of Il shining chestnut
brown! 1t was like-like- He stopped
Was he dreaming again? A long sigh
escaped him.
The figure instantly turned. He start
ed. 1t was Cissy TriXit There was no
installing that charming sensitive
face, glowing with health and excite
ment, albeit showing here and there the
mark of the pigment with which it had
been stained, now hurriedly washed off.
A little bit of it had run into the cor
ners of her cyelids and enhanced the
brilliancy OF her eyes
He found his tongue with an effort.
what are you doing herc:' he said
with faint voice and Il fainter at
tempt to smile.
That's what might ask about you,"
she said pertly, but with slight touch
of scorn. But guess l know, as well
as do about the others. | came here
to see my father" she added deiiantly.
"And you are the-thc--one-I chas-
ed:" he said desperately.
! "Yes, and I'd have outrun you easily,
| even with your horse to help YOU" she
said proudly, ''only turned back when
you went down into that prospector's
hole with your horse and his broken
neck atop of YOU"
lie groancd slightly, but more from
shame than pain. The young girl took
up glass of whisky ready on the table
and brought 1t to him. Take that. 1t
Will fetch you all right in n moment.
Pepper says no bones are broken"
Masterton waived the proifcrcd glass.
"iour father! Is he hcre?' he said
hurriedly, recalling his mission.
| Not now. He's gone to the station
to--fetch my Clothes" she said, with Il
| little laugh.
"To the station?" repeated Master
ton, bewildered
! yes" she replied, "to the station.
or course you don't know the news"
she added, with an air of girlish i'm
portance. "They've stopped all pro-
ceedings against him, and he's as free
as you are"
| Masterton tried to rise, but another
groan escaped him. He was really in
pain. Cissy's bright eyes softened.
She knelt beside him, her soft breath
tanning his hair, and lifted him gently
to sitting position.
"Oh, I've done it before" she laughed
as she read his wonder, with his graft
| tude, in his eyes. 'rhc horse was al
ready stiff, and you We're nearly so by
the time / came up to you and GOT
| she laughed agan-''thc other China
man to help me pull you out of that
hole"
81 know owe you my life" he said,
| his face flushing.
1T was lucky was there" she re-
turned naively, perhaps lucky you
were chasing me-"
Pm afraid that of the many who
would run after you I should be the
least lucky" he said, with an attempt
to laugh that did not, however, conceal
his modification, but assure you that
only wished to have an interview
with your father-a business interview
perhaps as much in his interest as
my own
The old look of audacity came back
to her face. 81 guess that's what they
all came here for--cNcept one-but it
didn't keep them from believing and
saying he was Il thief behind his back.
Yet they all wanted his-~conlidencc,"
she added bitterly.
Masterton felt that his burning
checks We're confessing the truth Of
this. you excepted one" he said hest
tatingly.
"Yes-the deputy sheriff. He came
to help me-"
"You."
yes, met" A coquettish little toss of
her head added to his confusion. HE
threw up his job just 10 follow me
without my knowing it, to see that
didn't come to any harm. He saw me
only once, too-at the house when he
came 70 take possession. He said he