The Western news., 1903-10-14
MlREY.
By
FRANK NELSON
Copyright. 1908. BY Daily Story Pub. Coz

tn suns shinin' right in my eyes
The girl tenderly adjusted the pill.
low and with masculine strength
lifted the rude chair with its paralv.
TIC burden to shadier spot under
the apple IT,
4e amt treatin' Jake right
Mlrey," grumbled the old man. "He
amt said nothin' but l kin see it:
an you a goin' to marry him this
fall''
Mebbe l am-mebbe 1 amt" the
girl said, impatiently.
The old man looked up at her anx-
iously.
Il knowed it," he exclaimed. "I'ye
SEED 1t comm ever sence that Evans
come snoopin' round here, a pizen-
IN yer mind with his stories bout
nne houses, an great ladies, an
dresses, an dimunds. What brought
MIN way up here in this wild place :?
VINO knows what he is, ennyhow
Like as not he's one Of them reynoo
spies"
"Ye've got no call to slander him
that way, pap" retorted the girl
hotly Lots of them city folks
spends their vacations in tn noun
talns. An ennybody kin see he's a
gentleman. He amt no spy"
There were hot words over the
young city man, leaving the old man
sullen and dissatisfied and the girl
defiant. AS she turned to go he said:
Mirey, they's sumthin' l clean for
got to tell Jake when he come by, an
l must see him. He amt more'n
hal1 way TO tn stll, yit. Run, Mirey,
ye must bring him back"
The girl hurried obedently down
the steep path and along the base of
the mountain. smiling as she went.
Il kin coax him into it after while"
she murmured, "an' then l kin be
sumbody Rob says l kin have emmy
thing /"
A crash, a rattle of descending
stones, smothered ejaculation and
TWO struggling, interlocked men
rolled down into the path below her
One OF them, wrenching the revolver
from the others hand, arose painting,
tall and powerful. His opponent Law
IL
wound on the curly, handsome head.
With choking ory Mirey sprang
forward and raised the wounded head
in her arms.
we've killed him." she moaned.
Hes only stunned leetle,"
growled the tall man. He was a
follerin' me, an when s'prised him
fn uas
Mirey."
"You lie, Jake!" the girl cried, de-
family. "An' this won't do ye no
good, nuther."
The tall man bent down and from
the inner pocket Of the stylish coat
drew long, otficial-loolsing envelope.
Look at that, Mirey," he cried,
with note of triumph "Frum tn
Internal Revnoo DEPARTMENT."
THAT amt his name on tits fer
sumbody eise,' she protested, wildly.
LET me read what's inside"
She reached up a trembling hand,
took the opened sheet and her sun
Drowned face turned pale. The
wounded head dropped from the en-
her feet, swaying, crushing the let
ter in her hands. The man at her
feet stirred and sighed. The tall man
knelt and with his handkerchief
bound the unresisting hands cruelty
tight.
"What We goin' TO do with him,
Jake?" asked the girl. quietly. al
most inau'ibly.
"Ye've heered rumors of what went
with 'tother one" the tall man NUT
tered, with significant glance
''But tain't fer me to say. Th' boys'll
decide that"
The girl shuddered and turned
away.
you'll have to go an tell tn boys,
git away"
II kan't-bring them, Jake I'll
watch him. He'll not git away" saw
agely. Give me tn gum
Jake's eyes looked searchingly
into hers. She met the scrutiny un-
fiinchingly.
"Kin ! trust ye, Mirey?"
"Don't I know what'n happen eff he
gifts away" she cried, Indignantly.
Dye think I'd send pap and-and
you-to prison? Ill kill him first.
Go-an' hurry"
She seated herself on nearby
bowlder and with drawn face and
cold, pitiless eyes regarded the un-
conscious captive. The bees, home
going, heavy-laden, droned musically
among the blossoms, loath to leave.
From the distant river came the
faint whistle of passing boat. A
great, black buzzard tapped heavily
down upon the dead limb of a
sycamore wiped his hooked beak on
his sable plumage and cooked his
baleful eye inquisitively at the fallen
man.
The captive heaved q long, quiver-
ing sigh, opened his eyes, struggled,