The Western news., 1904-05-04

States by his tracks, and we hoped to
catch him before he struck a railroad.
"WilI you plug him on sight. Sim?"
asked Keno Davis in mild interest.
II don't believe there'll be any shak-
ing hands," said Sim grimly. and we
gloried in the coming fight.
Just before sunrise we came upon
them half way up Bald mountain. AS
we rounded a corner of the trail gray
sombrero showed above the tangled
growth of vines and ferns that clung
to the top of the rocks. Sim put
bullet through it neatly. The answer
laid Keno Davis out under the shade
of scrub pine, and we decided to rest
and do battle scientifically. as Larry
had clear eye and mighty good
chance to take his pick of /, hostile
force. While the rest of us engaged
his interest from the trail below the
rock. Sim took four others and started
on detour to reach point above.
1t was a good fight. There was no
yelling or Apache war dancing, only
a steady, quiet interchange Of compli-
ments that meant business and grad
ually closing in around the rock.
We knew Quita must be with him,
but whether she had tainted or been
bound we could not tell, until suddenly
clear. sharp cry rang out and every
man lowered his gun at the sound.
1t was a cry for help, we believed,
and we sent back shout that echoed
In lon" leaps up the deep rayines and
gulchcs. For an instant the firing
from the rock ceased, then began
sure. All at once the voice Of Sim
shouted from above
"For Gods sake, boys, quit firingw
1t was hard to obey with victory so
near and the bullets flying wild around
our heads from the hidden hand be-
hind the rock. But we stopped, they
did also, and we scrambled from ledge
to ledge up over the ragged, splintered
stones until the top was gained, and
we looked down on Larry and his cap
tive.
It was Il strange sight. Back against
the rough, gray rocks stood Quita. her
eyes atlame with reckless courage and
defiance. Larry's two revolvers were
gripped. still smoking in her hands.
At her feet lay Larry, his white face
upturned to the dawning light and
dull. crimson stain soaking the right
side of his gray flannel shirt.
"Ill shoot the first one that dares
to touch himr' called Quita. you're
pack of towards to follow and hold
us up like this! What's he done?"
"He stole YOU
It was Sim who answered her.
Quita turned on him like flash.
"He didn't steal me, Sim. l ran
away with him because l loved him,
and it seemed better to go at the last
moment than to marry you and love
him all the same. l thought girl
could choose the man she loved and
not have whole camp chase her and
shoot him down. You don't play fair,
boys"
There was u dead silence. Her eyes
were full Of tears, and Happy Chance
hid it's head in shame. 1t is not pleas
ant to have gallant rescue knocked
in the head by the scorn Of woman's
will.
But Sim stood without shame or an
ger and stared at the white, young
face at Quita's feet, and at last with
out word he went down and lifted
Larry in his arms and made his way
with him to the trail, and Quita fol
lowed slowly.
At Prospera we left the three, and
Sim never gave up his guard until the
wound was healed, and Quita rode in
to camp beside her husband as Mrs
Larry Carroll.
There We're no hard feelings. AS
Larry said, no laws had been broken
but the law of the heart. and each
heart has law of it's own
But when it was all over Sim sold
| out his mine to him and went back
over the mountains to the States We
understood and did not blame him. 1t
Is easier to save the life of the man
| you hate than to stand by and see the
| girl you love as his wife.