The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1902-06-06

flashed and be backed his way into a
corner with a CLEAN In his eyes that
proclaimed he would make his bluff
good. But PiEey, dash Of red on her
cheeks as bright AS the red on her
dress. demanded he put up his weapon.
For a moment he gazed In her eyes.
the scowl on his face giving way to a
smile, then he Quivered an instant and
sank in heap on the floor.
For a month after that he was loco
with fever, dealing out to his nurses
all kinds Of wild talk OF fairy with
eyes that laughed into his Ike the
star spangied night laughs In the faces
Of ripples that dance on the Pecos.
But when the fire got out Of his veins,
and the wheels In his Uranium ceased
| their revolving, he never once men
toned her name, although his gaze
often wandered appealinsly out of the
| window to where her home stood on
the banks Of old Phantom.
Autumn stampeded and winter
frozs to death on the prairie while
MelQuiades tossed on his bunk with his
pain never soothed by the presence of
Piney. She had no time to waste on
wounded cow-puncher while the
plain and the valley were dizzy with
boys who could dance and could ride
and make love In the moonliI I.
THE wild flowers held up their pity
ing heads. when Melquiades, pal~-faced
and crippled forever, dragged himself
down to the banks OF the river. Great
were the wounds IN his flesh, where
the knife of the greascr had chawed at
his vitals. but greater than these was
the wound In his heart, for, little by
little, he had learned Of Piney's be-
trothal to Jose Dunondo.
at was Of this that he thought as
he dragged himself onward. hearing
the mur;:uring ripples and watching
the moonlight asleep on the water, and
suddenly, through the gloom and the
silence. there came to his ears the
sobbing voice OF woman. He listened
a moment, then onward ne hurried
with all the strength that was left him.
He found her at last, laying fat
on her face IN the grasses, her won
derful eyes dripping wet with her
tears, her misty and magical tresses
unkempt and unbraided, falling pathet-
ically over her shoulders that shook
with her anguish.
He knelt by her side and rested his
hand on her head, but spoke not
word moment she glanced in his
face then, like a child, clutched his
arm and buried her face on his Shout
der
ga long time they sat on the bank
of the Pecos, and, little by little, she
told him the story of Jose's desertion,
of her shame and her sin AMI her sor-
row. She told him, for she knew that
no man from the Platte to the Rio had
more honor than Lopez.
Never a word did he speak, and
only the warm clasp of his hand told
of his love and compassion. And when
she had done. he arose and led her
back to the door OF her cabin. Dumb
were his lips when he bid her good-by,
but the flash in his eyes was more
potent than words, and she knew he'd
avenge her dishonor or die in the try
/ ing.
4 $50 he bid her good-by, and the
morning sun found him riding straight
towards the north. his cheeks gleam-
ling red with the fever Of vengeance.
4 Long was the trail that he followed
ana slow was his progress. but sure
as sure as the course Of his bullet
Gawdi 1 would rather a panther had
tn claws in my throat. than have Mel