Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1903-11-21
CHAPTER XVII.

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When Paul Miller leaped from his
pallet and rushed from the door Of
the hut, he was as insane as any
inmate OF a madhouse.
'oh, stop! stopI stop!" shrieked
Kate Willis. Where are you goin'-
where are you goin'?"
Laura! Laurai" he shouted.
'Iaural On, my goodness sakes
alive, does ne know herr" cried Miss
Willis. clapping her hands as a new
and wonderful thought burst on her
mind. 1T can't bet must be-he is
the girls lover! He must be her
PAUL" She shouted to some Of the
Indian porters left to look after the
camp:
stop himi"
The Indians were soon on him. had
him tied with mooseskin thongs and
carried him back TO the shanty, where
he was lain on the bed. Kate followed
them, sobbing frantically and groan-
ing:
Hes dead! They've killed him
ard I'm to blame for IT. Oh, what q
fool I've played all the way through"
He breathed and, placing her head
on his breast she discovered that his
heart still beat She placed the kettle
over the little OIL stove and prepared
some nourishment, bound up his head,
which was slightly bruised. and soon
had his eyes open. No sooner was he
rational enough to recall what had
happened than he began to sob.
Don't take on sol" the kind-hearted
woman said. Il tell we. We couldn't
have got a mile away from here! Ye
would have died and ye must know
it,"
But Laura, my darling, In the
power of that mani"
Say, let's you and I understand
each other, an then there won't be
any danger Of making mistakes. Are
you Paul Miller. who's been dead SO
long?"
II am Paul Miller and they may
have reported me dead"
From Fresno. Californian"
Yes. from Fresno. California;
Have you a sweetheart called
Laura Kean7"
"Yes-yes! II was she you told
me had gone on-and will"
Now, look herei l am your friend.
I am the best friend you and Laura
ever had aside from yerselves. If yen
list listen { me, we'll outwit the
whole caboodle an show 'em what's
what yit."
Kate told him he must pretend. to
be a great deal worse than he really |
was, and she would report that she
believed he was going to die. he
at once fell in with the Itan, with the
assurance that as soon as he was
strong enough he was to start secret.
ly for the camp where Laura was
waiting for her companion to Join
them.
Meanwhile there was q change In
guard. Cummins was relieved and
four men sent to take his place. The
Indians went with Cummins, and
Kate had four white men to contend
with.
she often eavesdropped the four
men when at quarters. and gained
enough of their plans to realize that
they must act promptly.
The very night the "old Man of the |
Mountains" as he called himself. so |
suddenly appeared in the tent where
Laura was expelling her unwelcome |
sutton. they set out On and on they |
fastened over the frozen snow, and |
Paul's heart began to beat with pleas |
ure. But harkI What are those omi- |
nous scunds In their ears? They have |
been four or five hours on the route
when they hear the sound of feet
crushing the hardened snow.
PAUL" Kate whispered. we are
Can you rum
81 can-and l can do more-f can
shoot"
Run first and shoot when you have
to. Gimme yer hand"
The strong woman took his hand In
her own and they ran along the snow
covered trail swiftly as hares. They
we're almost at the point where the
river was crossed on the ice when
a voice behind them cried:
There they gol"
"Halt-stop. or wen fret
Paul wheeled around and leveled
his rife at one OF the dark objects
coming toward him. but just \. his
finger was ready TO press the trigger
he was struck a blow between the
shoulders. which sent him sprawling
in the snow.
IL was Cumnins. going alta. rein
who came up at this In J
opportune moment. {