The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1902-10-17
By n. s. CANFIELD

By n. s.
Asthsr Of "A MAID OF THE WEST" "FERuY,
Copyrighted, 1901, BY
CHAPTER TX.
Mr.. John Britton Weston, Citizen-at-
Large.
The captive was conscious but did
not speak. He looked from one to an
other in the gloom as he lay upon the
ground, which was soaked under him.
The left side Of his shirt and canvas
jacket showed dark with blood, the
bullet having torn its way through the
shoulder.
Now you've got this rascal" asked
Maude. : little impatiently. what are
you going to do with him?"
Harding did not answer, but spoke
to four Of his men, directing them to
make . litter and attach it to two OF
the horses.
what are you going to do with
him?" Maude repeated.
The Captain wheeled to face him, his
right hand raised half threateningly.
dor" he said angrily. Why. put
him up at ten PAGES. wounded and
bound. for you to murder over again.
What else should l do with him."
Maude said nothing further, but re-
mounted and sat motionless, with his
English cavalry seat, staring out over
the river. During the colloquy the
prisoner, still upon his back, had
shifted his head and looked at the
Englishman steadily. He still looked
ut him for q while when the two lit
ter-horses we're put at the head of the
column with q trooper on foot leading
them. Then he shifted his regard to
Harding. but only for = moment. The
motion val rough. but no moan came
from him. Before . mile had been
traversed inconsistencies came to him
mercifully. The troop. riding at q
walk, reached the ranche-house just at
sunrise.
Naturally enough the ranche-house
wa plunged into turmoil by the ar
rival Of the troops with . vo4lded
prisoner-a bandit, . smuggler. q cat
~tle-iifter, possibly . brigand, q de-
lightfully romantic. mysterious GRIM
inal from the neighboring republic.
The m~aid-servants gathered about. ex-
citedly peering and whispering a. the
captive WA lifted from the litter and
borne. still unconscious. into q room
prepared for him under Glynn's short
directions. The Mexican cow-hands
looked on alphabetically. They were
ven used to seeing men injured In n
way or another, and conspicuously
among Thorn was the dark, quiet face
Of Juan Garsa, the decoy. This fellow
had slipped Into the cactus the moment
the alarm had been sounded at the
ford and made his way directly to the
rancho where he awaited the return of
the soldiers. He argued that he had
done his work and It was 40 part Of
his duty to remain TO tight and, pos
sibly, BE- hlled-An unlearned, but SEN
aiblo man was Cara. For the nrst
morning IN many mornings the lady Of
the rancho was aroused from torpor.
She glided shout IN : becoming wrap
Per. not helping any one and much in
tho way. but genuinely busy. Lois.
aroused BY the hustle, had dressed has
THY and. having been told the cause
Of the stir In = few words by Allyn,
q . volunteered her services.
Il 3 thought 70 be . professional
nurse" abe said simply, land 7 an
derstand : good deal about the treat
ment Of hurts. Ny place. Of course,
viii be In the sickroom."
'But." interjected the Hon. Clay
brough. .'the chaps . rufian, don't
yon known" :
TT doesn't make any difference" she
responded shortly. Hes . wounded
rufnan, Isn't he, and past doing harm?'
She turned to assume direction Of
the maids who were carrying hot
water, soap. towels bandages. lini-
ments and 20 forth into the prisoners
room. Meanwhile q conference was in
progress between Robert Harding and
the ranchman.
You can't take him with you," the
latter was saying. "The fellow would
die II subjected to 4 litter-haul from
here to Fort Clark In this sun. Leave
hims with MI. I'll be responsible for
him and when no gets well we'll try
him and put him In the p~enitentiary.
/ should say that he's English or
American, and we cant let him die
like : dog. Probably he 10 the lieuten-
ant Of the vavara forces. Of whom we
have heard rumors They say that the
smuggler owes much Of his success to
his skin and daring.r
'Undoubtedly." the Captain replied
nonchalantly. Hes the same man.
III leave him here willingly, more by
token that I can't carry him and have
no relish for riding the twenty miles
to the fort at = walk. I'll zee II 7 can
get Thompson. the post surgeon. to
come out this afternoon. Il guess he's
At. Owing to q brandy bath taken, he
raid. to relieve rheumatism. he put q
bandage on the wrong leg the other
day. but that doesn't often happen.
Gcod fellow, Thompson, and 40 better
surgeon anywhere. Express my adieus
fTr = - --.L 49, 49, - FL 49,