Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-16

had gone up to him, still dripping from the stream and bearing faint traces of blood from the wound in her forehead.
 T dasn't tell ye, Abe," she said. in answer to his question.
 t"Then ye needn't, for I know. It's one of Ike's love licks, d-n inn
 Abe knelt beside the girl, laid his arm gently about her waist and began bathing her face, having taken big handkerchief from about his neck, which he dipped into the water. Abe was realizing situation long dreamed of, and he prolonged the service he was rendering long after the flow of blood from Martha Ann's forehead had been stanched. Occasionally, Abe al- lowed his lips to come near enough to touch Martha Ann's hair, and his grip on her waist gradually frightened. For the girl, it was a moment of stolen joy out of a life of dread and suffer ing, and she yielded, without thought of consequences, to the temptation of it. And only the sound of commo- tion among the undergrowth on the hillside above them, and the hoarse  her from the sense of happiness that had been hers for five minutes. r Martha Ann sprang to her feet, and Abe Hawkins did likewise, releasing his hold upon her waist. Ike Sorrel, like some infuriated animal of the jungle, was coming down the hill to- ward them, leaping the bushes and utteri1g growls of anger that were meant to inspire terror in those who heard. Tn one hand he carried 8 pis-, tol, in the other his long-bladed clasp knife Rushing upon the two at the branch he slashed at Martha Ann with the knife and brought the pistol to bear upon Abe Hawkins breast. Mar tha Ann screamed and lodged out of his reach, while Abe's foot suddently went skyward, and Sorrel's pistol de- scribed a series of circles and fell far over his head in the swamp. Then, before the moment of surprise had passed, Abe's big fist shot outward and landed upon Sorrels neck. There was a distinct crack. The mountaineer's head fell limp to his shoulder, and his body sank to the ground.
 It all happened in the twinkle of an eye; and moment of silence followed. A mans fist has never been considered deadly weapon, but the body of Ike Sorrel, with a broken neck, lay there in evidence Of this miscon- struction of the law. Presently, Mar- tha Ann crouched toward Abe, realiz- ing what had happened to her tyrant of husband, and with sense of awe that made her shiver and long for further protection. Abe reached out and touched her, caught her by the arm and dragged her against him. We're safe now, Marthy Ann," he said.
 Martha Ann looked up into his eyes and crept closer.
 '.I'd have gone back west the min- ute I found ye'd married, gals if hadn't hyeard ye war ketchin' h-l all the time from that brute. reck- oned I'd stay an kill i'm, jest on ac- count O. the old days, Marthy Ann. though hardly thought Pdo 1t with my fist"
 i "But, Abe, I'm afeard the law will take ye."
 Well, let it. I'll have the satisfac- tion O knowin' ye've got no tormenter a hectorin' over ye, while Pm servin'. I don't see what ye married the coyote for, noway."
 Abe drew away from Martha Ann. But the girl shrank quickly toward him again.
 "Ye went off, Abe, an never hyeard a word from ye; an Ike kep' a pesterin' an pesterin' of me, till thought I jest as well.
 'I reckon twas my fault, Marthy Ann, not writin', but, ye see, didn't know the fellers out there much, an didn't want to ax any of 'em to do 1t for me. But thought ye might ha' waited anyhow"
 Martha Ann only crept closer. Pres ently Abe strode forward and turned over the body of Ike. Then he led the way up the trail.
 l Old Jerry Moore was the coroner; and by daylight the following day he had summoned his jury from the hill- sides and the ravines of Mooreheaven. The broken neck of Ike SorEel was curiously examined by the jurors, and glances of admiration for the neatness of the job were directed toward Abe Hawkins
 When the jury was impanelled the evidence taken was little more than a matter of attempted form, and con- sumed not exceeding 15 minutes. Then Bill Turner, the foreman of the jury, elected to that position on account of his knowledge of reading and writing, i canvassed the jury in the presence of the court and witnesses then labori- ous1y wrote down the verdict which he afterwards as laboriously read aloud:
 ''We find that Ike Sorrel, d-n cata- mount, met his death at the fist of Abe Hawkins in just and proper way; and we recommend that the widow and the cabin and Ike's long rife and his bowie knife be turned over to Abe as reward for the ser vice he's done for Mooreheaven."
 Martha Ann looked up at Abe, and Abe dropped his arm round her waist
 ''I eSAon, then, Uncle Jerry, as ye're | Y ,&