The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1904-11-26

| went at him to make an end OF it.
''I'll make you squint, you young
cub" he Kissed, lunging at me.
He ripped my blouse at the Shout
der, and gods of war! we made the
sparks fly. Then he went down, wrig-
Cling | had caught him in the side,
poor fellow Like fash was off
in a thicket One of the enemy got
OUT of my way and sent a bullet after
the muscle as Ii rubbed my ribs. |
kept foot and made for my horse. He
had caught his reins, and | was or
him and off in the bush, between bull
lets that came ripping the leaves about
me. before they could give chase.
Drums were beating the call to arms
somewhere. | struck the trail in a
minute, and, leaning low in the saddle.
went bounding over logs and rocks
down a steep hillside as If the devil
were after me. looked back, and was
nearly raked off by bough. | could
hear horses coming In the trail behind
with quick and heavy jumps. But
was up to rough riding and had little
fear they would get sight Of me.
However, crossing long stretch of
| heard crack of pistols far behind;
a whiz of bullets over my head.
shook out the reins and let the horse
go, urging with cluck and spur, never
Stacking for rock or hill or swale 1t
was a wilder ride than any | have
known since or shall again, can
promise you, for. God knows, have
been hurt too often Fast riding over
a new trail is leaping in the dark and
worse than treason to ones self Add
to II a saddle wet with your own blood,
then you have something TO give you
a turn of the stomach thinking of it,
When | was near tumbling with a
kind of rib-ache and could hear no pur-
suer | pulled up. There was silence
about me, save the sound of O light
breeze in the tree-tops. rolled OF
MY horse, and hooked my elbow IN
the reins. and lay on my belly, g;lnt-
Ing with pain. | felt better, having
eot my breath, and rod of beech to
bite uron--a good thing II one has been
badly stung and has Journey TO make
In five minutes | was up and of at a
slow jog, for knew was near safety.
thought much OF poor D'ri and
how be might be faring. The last J
had seen of him. he was making good
use Of pistol and legs. running from
tree TO tree. lie was dead shot, little
given to wasting lead. The drums were
what worried me, for they indicated
big camp, and unless he got TO the
siirrups In short order. he must have
been taken by overwhelming odds.
II was near shutdown when | came to
a brook and falls could not remem-
Der passing. ] looked about me. Some
where | had gone off the old trail
everything was new TO me. It widened,
as rode on, up steep hill. Where
the tree-tops opened. the hill was COW
cred with messy turf, and there were
fragrant ferns on each side of me.
The ground was clear OF brush and
dead timber. Suddenly heard a voice
sweet girl voice that thrilled
me, do not know why, save that |
always longed for the touch of wo-
man if badly hurt But then | have
felt that way having the pain of neither
lead nor steel. The voice rang in the
silent woods, but could see no one
nor any sign Of human habitation
Shortly I came out upon smooth
roadway carpeted with sawdust. II
led through grove, and following it,
| came suddenly upon big green man
sion among The trees, with Dorlc PHI
lars and a great portico where ham
mocks hung with soft cushions in
them. and easy-chairs of old mahog-
any stood empty. have said as little
as possible of my aching wound. !
have always thought it bad enough
for one to suffer his own pain But !
must say was never so tried
to keep my head above ME as
when came to that door Two
figures In white came out TO meet me.
At first did not obserye--I had enough
10 do keeping my eyes open--that they
were the Miles. de Lambert.
God save u.s." heard one of them
say "He is hurt; he is pale. See the
blood running off his bootleg.
Then, as one took the bit. the other
eased ME down from my saddle, calling
loudly for help. She took her hand
kerchief-that bad a perfume ! have
not yet forgotten-as she supported
me, and wiped the sweat and dust from
my face. Then | saw they we're the
splendid young ladies | had seen at
the counts table. The discovery put
new life in me-; II was like a dash of
water in the face. | lifted my hal
and bowed to them.
Ladies, my thanks TO you" ] said
in as good French as knew. I have
been shot. May | ask you tc send
for a DOCTOR
butler ran down the steps a gar
iener and stable-boy hurried ont OF
the grove.
ITO the big room -iha Louis
Quinze. said one Of the girls. excited
~. as the men came TO my help.
The fat butler went putting upstairs
and they followed. on each side OF
me.
Go for a doctor. qulcl " said one of
them to the gardener, who was coming
bahina-a Franchrnan a,iio waved To a