The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-10-25

Icard.
him out of this horrible trance-and he
called to her across the pew and heard
then wave of Inconsistencies once
more submerged him.
He came back to life with O sharp
tingling of his whole frame as if pierce
ed with 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 were Cinnamon, and he
was lying on the floor of a 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
that glowed upon the large adobe
hearth. The stinging pain was sue
ceeded by a warm glow. A pleasant
languor, which made even thought a
burden, came over him, and yet his
perceptions were keenly alive TO mis-
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 it's
back to him at a rude table, roughly eX-
temporized from packing box, appar-
entity engaged in writing. 1t was d
small Chinaman, evidently the one he
had chased. The events of the past
faYrp hnIyJ.c-hiS mis- Ia INT
and every incident of the pursuit-fash-
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 a 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-
tiOnate 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
it had been coiled. But, what was sin
gular, it was not the wiry, black pigtail
of his Mongolian fellows, but soft and
silky, and us the freight played upon
it it seemed of 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
mistaking that charming sensitive
| face, glowing with health and excite
ment, albeit showing here and there the
mark of the pigment with which it had
)een stained, now hurriedly washed off
A little bit of it had run into the cor
ners of her eyelids and enhanced the
brilliancy of her eyes.
He found his tongue with an effort
What are you doing here?" he said
with a faint voice and a fainter at
tempt to smile.
'Thats what might ask about you,"
she said pertly, but with a slight touch
Of scorn. ''But l guess 1 know, as well
as do about the others. l came here
to see my father" she added defiantly.
"And you are the-the-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"
He groaned 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 a moment.
Pepper says no bones are broken"
Masterton waived the proffered glass.