The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-04-23

~ AN VI lllC Slll1Sll IS III -
in front. and her pace was not slack
ened for more than a mile, after the
party had entered the woods. But at
last she began to move more slowly,
frequently clasping her hands above
her head, and almost stopping. Evil
IDENTIFY, she was puzzled about the; way,
or was Juggling at some mental ques-
ton. The officers suited their pace
to.that of the girl, and sometimes were
only creeping along the trail.
Finally, the girl stopped and stood
motionless for a moment. Then she
turned to the officers, who We're waiting
in uncertainty near her.
IL don't reckon I'm a dom Exactly
right IN leadin' you-uns to Bills place."
she said in a low tone, then paused.
The officers waited. An owl hooted
far down the hollow, the. solemn tones
OF his weird call breaking dismally
upon the silence of the woods.
But Bill hadn't ought to treated me
the way he did about goin' to Ann Bax-
ter's party. 1 told him he'd regret it
an he'll regret it in a way he amt
VII. L ISCkOu.
The girl again started forward at a
quick pace, her last few sentences hav-
ing been uttered in a tone which be-
tokened a return Of the feeling of re-
sentiment, which she had nourished
with a determination until after the
party had entered the trail, which they
had been following.
Mag had gone only a few hundred
yards farther when she again began to
walk more slowly. and at last a second
time stopped and turned aboutiin the
trail.
Bill Burl is my husband," she said,
an l reckon a wife ant got no bust
ness a-gittin' her husband into trou.
Die; an maybe I ought not to got so
mad at him for sech a little thing
n last part of the speech Mag
had addressed more particularly to
herself. But Higgins caught the
girls wavering words, and FASTENED
to suggest:
But you told him that he would
regret it, did you not?"
That's what 1 did, an I must keep
my word, too," answered the girl,
with another slight return of her re-
sentiment expressed in the tone of her
voice, as she started forward again.
But thar's M thing, afore we go
another STEP" she said, stopping
again; you've got to promise me
right here at you'll capture Bill Burl
without hurtin' him ai.y single bit,
do you hear?"
She was facing the officers now,
her bright, black eyes looking
squarely into the face of Higgins.
"We promise faithfully" said Hig-
gins, without hesitation, and the
others echoed his words.
Once more she led the way, and a
hundred yards farther on stopped
against a tall, granite bowider, be-
You'd whose edge could be seer the
faint glow of a freight.
Hits jest about ten steps on
t'other side o. this rock" said Mag
and the next moment she would have
given the world to have been able to
undo her nights work of betrayal.
Higgins now took the lead, and the
officers filed cautiously around the
edge of the rock and came in full
view of the furnace fires inside of
the rude still-house. Mag crept slow
ly after the men, keeping within the
shadow of the laurel which bound
the little pocket of the mountains.
And suddenly a cry of warning ran
out from Mays lips, a cry she could
not withhold when the whole posi-
BILE consequences of her act came
rushing upon her.
"Run, Bill, rum" we're the words
which rang out on the stiffness of
the night in Mays clear, shrill tones.
The officers were started; and three
cleaning revolvers leaped from their
holsters, just as the wizard of the
way Of the still-house. One swift
glance around and Bill Burl realized
the full peril of his situation. With
a dexterous and desperate movement
he snatched his own revolver from
q belt about his waist. But before
he could bring it to a level with the
breast of the foremost officer, the
report of Higgins pistol rang out
through the night.
But the bullet intended for the
moonshiner's breast pierced another
form. Mag had sprung from the
shadow of the laurel and shielded
her husbands body with her own;
and Bills head reeled as he listened
to the dying words which were whis-
pered into his ear. cit is all my
fault, Bill" whispered Mag. 81 was so
mad; but I know you will forgive
me, you are sc good"
The mans arms closed about the
form of his wife in a frenzied en-
brace, and he strained her to his
breast. Lower, lower, lower sank
the little head upon his shoulder;
and closer, closer, closer chung the
thin arms about the moonshiner's
neck, until at last he could no longer
feel the faint heartbeat against his
own.
For a few moments there was deep
| silence in the vale. The moonshiner
stood in the glare of his furnace fire
with his dead wife clasped to his
breast. and the officers looked unon