Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-06-02

States by his tracks. and we hoped to
catch him before he struck a railroad.
Twill sou plug him on sight. Slm?'
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 n corner CT the trail gray
sombrero showed above the tangled
growth of vines and ferns that chung
TO the tcp of the rocks. Sim PIT Il
bullet through it neatly. The answer
laid Keno Davis out under the shade
of a scrub pine and we decided TO rest
and DO battle scientifically. as Larry
had n clear eye and mighty good
chance to take his pick Of hostile
force While the rest &c us engaged
his interest from the trail below the
rock, Sim took four others and started
on a detour 10 reach a point above.
1t was good fight. There was no
yelling or Apache war dancing, only
a steady, quiet Interchange Of con9li-
ments that meant business, and Il 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
n clear sharp cry rang ont, and every
man lowered his gun at the sound.
1t was cry for help, we believed,
and we sent back shout that echoed
in long leaps up the deep ravines and
gulches. For an instant the firing
from the rock ceased, then began
again, faster than ever, but not so
sure. All at once the voice of Sim
shouted from above.
"For Gods sake, boys, quit firing"
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 q strange sight. Back against
The rough. gray rocks stood Quita, her
eyes afame 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 a
dull, crimson stain soaking the right
side OF his gray flannel shirt.
"I1l shoot the first one that dares
to touch him. called Quita. you're
q pack of towards to follow and hold
us up like this. What's he done?"
"He stole you"
1t was Sim who answered her
Quita turned on him like a fash.
"He didn't steal me, Sim. ran
away with him because l loved him,
and il seemed better to go at the last
moment than to marry you and love
him all the same. ] thought Il girl
could choose the man she loved and
not have a whole camp chase her and
shoot him down You don't play fair,
boys
There was q dead silence. Her eyes
were full of tears, and Happy Chance
hid its head in shame. 1t is not pleas
ant to have a gallant rescue knocked
in the head by the scorn of n 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 a 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 were no hard feelings. As
Larry said, no laws had been broken
but the law of the heart. and each
heart has a 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. II
10 easter to saye the life OF the man
you hate than to stand by and see tile
girl you love as has wife.
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Enjoyed the Evening.
did you enjoy the evening OF CRANE