Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1901-02-16
CHAPTER III.

cied that he saw his victim move one
Of her hands. The motion was so slight
that he could not, at first, be sure his
strained sight had not played him
trick. Soon, however, 1t was beyond
question. Her long, white fingers that
had been outspread, closed slowly, clutch
ing handful Of leaves. He prayed.
raved and shouted to her to wake up"
but though he was near enough to hear
the faint rustling Of the dry leaves stir.
red by her hand, she was deaf to all the
sounds he could make. lie would have
oiven years of his life to he able to get
where she was and try to revive her, but
that would have been no less practica.
bile. had she been upon another planet.
instead OF stretched out almost beneath
his nose.
The period Of the girls Inconsistencies
seemed intcrminable to him: for, while
1t lasted more vivid emotions ran riot
through bis perturbed mind than In all
his life before he had experienced. but
In reality its duration was only few mo-
ments. Eventually he saw her SILVER,
draw herself together and sit up, looking
about with dazcd expression. There
was blood on her neck and breast, but she
did not notice II.
"Hetty Mulveil" he gnsped, in blank
amaxement. "who would "a thought
she'd have been up to such deviltries2
I'd "a sworn 1t was Danny"
It had not escaped Johns observant
eye-which had often rested upon her
with pleasure ut church, singing school
and other public gatherings-tha Hetty
was a very pretty girl, but never had she
v,<.l nrI
as now. The temporary palencss, conse-
Quent upon her swoOn, seemed to accen.
tuate the lines Of her lovely features; her
great mass Of wavy, chestnut brown hair
fell loosely upon her shoulders; add her
involuntary gesture, placing both her
hands to her temples, made most effec.
tive pose for exhibition Of the graceful
modelling Of her perfect form. What an
unspeakablc horror to him now was the
thought that his rash act had come near
to cutting short the life Of one that had
suddenly become dear to him.
"Hetty" he cried, ''are you much hurt?
Speak to me! Tell me! Great gosh!
I'm gettin' wild away over here, where
I can't half tell you how sorry am!'
She looked at him with smile, as the
color came back to her cheeks, and re-
piled:
"Hurt? No. I'm not hurt. What are
you sorry forf'
For shootin' you"
''Shootin' me? Why. no."
II tell you, yes. Can't see the blood
on your neck? But I didn't mean to-
Lord knows never thought It was you"
She started, when he spo.e Of blood
on her neck, put up her hand, and finding
that he said truly, had no little difficulty
to keep from fainting a second time. But
her nerve was good, and after feeling
gently with her finger tips for the wound,
she forced a light laugh, as she replied:
"Pshaw! That's nothing. Just lit.
tie chip of the end Of my err and teeny
skclp of the side Of my neck"
my God" thought John, with a thru!
Of horror. IAN inch to the right would
have sent the bullet through her head.
Only blind chance saved her."
II didn't really mean to shoot at you,
Miss Mulvcil." he said, In q tone Of very
earnest apology, because, you see,
didn't know 1t was you. thought it
was that limb Of SATIN, Danny, who had
been heaving rocks down ut me, and
just wanted to drive him off,"
''Indeed, don't wonder ut It," answer
ed Hetty, alphabetically. 'for a more
provoking boy don't walk the earth.
Many's the time I've told him something
would happen to him. II Judgment
didn't overtake him first. But he has
gone to get help for you now, and that's
something In his favor"
II don't know" responded John. doubt.
fully. He may not come back In a
week."
"Well, guess We needn't wait for him.
II this hickory were to be felled, with the
fork into that tree you're on. couldn't you
climb upY'
"Sure. But who's to fell the hickory -
II am. I've got a good, sharp AK here
and l can chop as well as any man on
RaccoOn creek. Get down where you'll
be safe. and see how soon Ill have this
tree cut"
I'm climb down soon enough, but I
want to stay here as long as can"
"What for?"
ITO look at you."
"You just want to laugh at my chop.
ping"
"Indced I don't. just can't any more
get enough Of seeing You. That's what
IL the fact"
Hetty's cheeks burned. but her eyes
sparkled with pleasure. Affecting ia
laugh, she turned away, picked up the
AK and set to work on the doomed tree.
John admiringly watched, while the
chips few from beneath her vigorous
strokes, until the hickory was half felled
Then, before descending out Of the way
he said, heartily:
"You do handle an AZ as we'll az ]
could myself"
With what pleasure Hetty heard that
commentator Of her ability! She had
been told the same thing often before
but what. to her. were the praises OF 9TH
ers compared with Johns approval
When the tree was cut almost through
she set her shoulder against the trunk
like thorough w0Odman, and threw II
in exactly the position desired, with a
nice precision that could not have been
surpassed. Hardly had the crash Of its
fall and the rattle OF breaking boughs
among the now commingled tops died
away when John was nimbly making his
way to her side, which he quickly reach
ed In safety.
II can't tell you how much obliged ]
am" he said, hesitatingly.
Strangely enough, the nearer he came
TO her. the more awkward he felt. He
could not speak as freely as he had from
his perch In the tree top; could hardly, In
deed, venture to look squarely into hel
beautiful, big blue eyes.