The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-22
THE ADVERTISERS
DAILY SHORT STORY

| They had been gone for hours oeavIc
busy Mary realized Ssn ts e.s % bS no sudden
overpowering loneliness: she stepped o nS
upon the sun-warped platform ana
scanned the distance; but there was
nothing moving save the waves Oh neat
Midday. midsummer. ana aiohe IN
the middle Of a desert! Truly, John Lar.
ned named it rightly-Desolation There!
/ mustn't think; and I must tax TO some
Mikes wife was the only other woman
at the station. Her shores were audible
oven before the girl reached the thresn-
old. where she stayed her steps. renect-
Poor soul! She works hard. an9 !
can't disturb her needed rest just pc
cause I'm whimsical. And IN hurry IN
again. for this heat Is killing.
Hugh had made rude shutters loI .I tha
staff IN was refreshing in comparison WIN
the to-rid glare without, though, for
time, the girl could see nothing save TIC
sun spots on her eyeballs. she sat WIN wa
then opened them-to find the giant fcrm
of Big Lip sitting opposite.
For a Nme she could neither move nor
speak, ncr did he. Then he came ana
'o "G,rloa TD alone! Here am II 1t is by
my will they, have gone. l know place
among the hills where the rocks SHADE
and the stream flows. You are IN my
He clasped her shoulder. and the pro-
flaming touch of his fingers reused her:
She must reach Hughs revolver. Aias!
she could not use 1t II she did, ana ne
lay. She was in his power. and that
power was evil. DEMONSTRATION! Mike
Must I. at once! While the sun scorch-
esq" she parleyed. with a CHASTITY at
tempt at q smile,
Now; before one comes.
She smiled again, and not so wanly.
"Wait 1 will be good to. YOU"
She turned to the wall cupboard behind
worn under her bodice. He watched. but
knew she could not escape him. Besides.
he had a task still to do-to rine tne
little trunk which hessuspected to hold
| much gold. all Of the station master
while he was still fumbling with its
| fastening she came and uplifted before
| him a great. transparent bottle, mice
have told its name. but he knew 1t. for
| his hearts delight. He forgot the trunk
and snatched at the flask, but she held
| It aloof. coauettishly. ,,
mot so, Big Lip. Little by little, rs
| the white men do. So"
| She filled a glass and gave 1t him,
| though her hands were like Ice ana her
heart cried out: 20. God. forgive mel"
| "
his glittering gaze riveted itself upon
| the tumbler which she filled and he emp.
| tied, filed and emptied, till 1t seemed
| to her that for all her life she had been
doing this one awful thing.
| 1t was a costly liquor. in effect much
| slower than the fiery stuff familiar to
the Indians palate, but he gradually in
creased in amiabiiity. His native frown
| became a leer: the leer passed into a
| vacuity that frightened her anew.
"I want only to make him helpless.
wonder Y i would XIII him II he .d tSoE
Yet it's my only weapon. Here. Big LIP
| moreT
It was a half-gallon fiagon, and, though
| Mary did not know It, even to the In.
dams capacity there was limit. Hill
head dropped to the table. then his whole
| body to the floor. just when she heard
| the rumble of an approaching train and
ran, screaming. to meet 1t.
1t was John Larned who first stepped
from the car and lifted the half-faintine
girl from where she had fallen beside
the track.
! "rve come after my little Prohibition.
ist'' he announced, as soon as she re.
vived. Chicago Is too empty without
| YOU Will you go. Mary. sweetheart? BY
the next Eastern overlandT'
| She released his clasp. spoke few
facedly toward the station. now filled
with wondering crowd gathered about
the PROSTATE Big Lip.
| He has since atoned for the smile
which. despite his profound gratitude
Larned's city home is headquarters for
| all her Temperance sisters. Though its
| charming mistress still feels that there
! Is a scar upon her conscience which even
time cannot efface.