The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-16

the gang of cattle thieves. Willard went
to him privately and told him that he
would be given a chance to redeem him
self, il he then and there renowned all
association with the band. Even Daskin
did not know of his partners great
leniency in this case. Medford had been
moved to tears by his neighbours mercy
and, after confessing to Willard that an
ambition for sudden gain to provide a
comfortable home for an only and beloved
child had led him to connect himself with
the robbers, he promised never to break
the laws again. For months he kept his
word inviolate. when repeated threats of
personal violence from his former accom-
pliceS forced him one night to join them
in running off 4 small herd of cattle. Will
lard and DasEin discovered the plot in
time TO circumvent its accomplishment.
The cattle robbers We're given a spirited
chase down the pass. Wild shots had been
exchanged, none of which. however,
seemed TO have taken effect. except the
last one. fired at a long range by Willard.
who had singled out one of the gang to
pursue as his especial victim. Willard and
Daskin had found the wounded man in
dead faint by the side of the trail. where
he had fallen from his horse. The man
was Dave Medford. and he had been car
red at once to his own cabin.
At his own expense Harry Willard had
q
made the wounded man as comfortable as
possible. But while Willard was intent
On having his victim nursed back to life,
Daskin was just as indefatigable in his
efforts to make sure that the sick robber
should not escape prosecution when he
was recovered. He had notified the County
Sheriff. and a deputy and assistants were
watching Windy Pass closely to prevent
any action on the part Of the accomplices
to carry Medford off from his cabin. And
Willard had agreed with his partner that
arrest and prosecution, as soon as Medford
should sufficiently recover, We're perfectly
right-until now, Avis Medford had
changed his purpose. Her presence gave
the situation an entirely different bearing.
Not for the whole ranch would Willard
have appeared in court and witnessed
against her father now. Even though she
treated him with great GOODNESS when he
called Mt the Medford cabin to inquire
about the sick man, he was still unceasing
in studying plans to save her further
trouble in her fathers case.
As soon as she had learned that Willard
was the man who had shot her father,
Avis Medford told herself that she hated
the young ranchman. In his presence she
preserved depressing cOnstraint. and
certain favOrs and little kindnesses which
he sought to bestow for her pleasure. had
been rejected with an unrelenting GOODNESS.
Though sorely wounded by her treatment.
Willard still persisted in doing things for
the fathers comfort. Avis, smarting
under what seemed to her heavy obliga-
ton to a man whom she regarded as her
greatest enemy. tried to stop this. She
even dismissed Mrs. Barnes from her post
as nurse. being placed there by Willard.
but had her orders vetoed by Dave Med
ford himself, who had formed singular
attachment to the man who had caused
HE SicEnaSS "a yyoull dearly ha
loved Avis. allow her to interfere with any
of Wizards arrangements.
There was only one person besides her
father in all Windy Pass in whose pres
ence Avis felt her natural self. and that
was AlkaE. The awkward, good-natured
COW puncher had won her sincere liking
Behind his rude exterior she had dis
covered in him sense of de1icacy and a
beauty of chivalry toward her sex that she
had thought wanting in men of his oceupa
ton. She learned that story-writers had
invested cowboy character with rather a
false identity. Alkal was the only one
from whom she would accept any fayors.
With him she would occasionally take
rides on horseback over the mountain
trails to see some particularly fine view
which he had found for her.
Sometimes Willard would cross their
path and wish he dared join them for the
mere pleasure of hearing her bright chat
with Alkali. But that unforgiring light
in her dark eyes flashed upon him re-
proachfully for second, kept him back.
and he could only gaze longingly after her
wishing that the shooting affair was mere
ly hideous dream that Knocked his IN
happiness. Then he would redouble his at
tacks upon Daskin and try to persuade
him to abandon the prosecution of Med
ford. But with an obstinacy even greater
than that couched in the characteristic
simile of Alkali. his partner would refuse
to be persuaded.
'!Why. your reasoning is all rot. Harry:
pure rot Daskin would say. Give up
arresting and prosecuting that thief just
because he has pretty daughter come
here to live with him. No. sir; my back
bone wasn't built Of such soft mud as that.