Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1904-06-16

L
and she's the one I'm interested in.
wanted to give her time; think I'll &C
and see her tomorrow. No need tc
! rush things, you understand"
1t was late in the afternoon when
/ Roger Hawley re-entered the cottage
followed by Owen Jaggard. The wick
er-covered bottle was produced again
and Jaggard found in one of his peck
| cts greasy pack of cards; they
| played desultory games to while away
the time. At last Roger Hawley, with
that idea of keeping Jaggard in sight
for future use If necessary, suggested
casually enough that he should stop in
the cottage.
you might as well sleep here as to
/ go anywhere else" he said. There's
1 some liquor still left, and suppose
you're not above sleeping on rug at
a pinch, eh?"
/ I've slept on the bare ground many
a time said Jaggard. Yes, will
stay. After all. we're working togeth,
er, in way, and your ethe only com.
pany I can discover for myself just al
| present. So Wen make night of it. y
| 1t was quite late when Owen Jaggard
drained his last glass; pulled an old
| rug about him and dropped to the floor
| He was asleep in less than a minute
| The other man, more restless, moved
softly about the room for little while
| and even went to the door once to look
out into the night. But presently he.
too, stretched himself out and slept
also.
Curiously enough, Hawley slept the
sounder, after all; it was Jaggard who
wakened. He had an uneasy dream
| that he was flying for his life again
over the hot, dusty plains, with Joyce
racing along beside him; he had had
that dream on many and many night
| since he lost her in Nevada Only on
this occasion he was not pursued by
| men, but by fire; the very dust seemed
to rise at him, swept up by strong
hot wind that roared after him, and
turned by the wind into flames as 1t
rose. Gradually the flaming dust gain
ed upon them and scorched their
clothes; gradually got in front Of them
and beat into their faces, so that it
was hard to breathe. And then Owen
Jaggard fought himself awake and
found the dream had grown into a real
tity.
The place was filled with thick. suffo-
eating smoke, and he could hear the
roar of the flames in the thatch over.
head-could see light of them licking
up the crazy door. He sprang to his
feet and caught up chair, dashed
dashed straight at the window. and
with three or four heav yblows sent
the rotten shutters and the window
frames flying outward. Then, as he
stumbled over the PROSTATE form of
Roger Hawley, he literally kicked him
into consciousness and dragged him to-
ward the window. The two men
scrambled out together, just as one
crumbling wall came topping in and
covered tae place where they had lain
but minute or two before.
They sat on the ground at a little
distance away, painting and looking
into each others faces, and smiling
somewhat family. THAT was near
thing" said Roger Hawley at last, as
he drew deep breath, Seems to me
you saved my life," he added.
Lucky to save my own" was the
retort of Jaggard. II wonder which
OF us was responsible; mean which
one dropped match or spark. 1 don't
think did. hadn't been smoking for
a good half hour before dropped
asleep
Well, I swear wasn't" said Haw-
ley. Why, remember putting nv
pipe in my pocket cold and going to
have look at the weather before /
dropped down. It's very strange"
Well, it's no use sitting talking
about it, said Owen Jaggard; Eve
shall have some one from the house
here directly if they see that light, or
else have half the town up to try and
, put 1t out. Seems to me we'd better
| clear"
Il want to have a look at 1t first
replied the other. The wind has car.
ried the fire away to the back Of the
cottage; I want to have look at the
! front. . IS
They both went cautiously near to
the blazing ruin; Roger Hawley walk.
ed straight up to where the door had
been, and stirred up heap Of smol.
lderIng rubbish with his foot, sending
up 2 little shower Of sparks. Then
with 9 very grave and thoughtful face
he came back to where Jaggard was
| standing, but said nothing. Jaggard
jerked his head down toward the direc.
ton Of the town. and then stood to
listen.
thought so-a mob Of EN-, he
said. We'd better get out. Lucky It's
fine; We must finish our sleep out In
the woods. 4
n Nothing more was said until Owen
IJaggard and Roger Hawley lay on their
| backs IN the scented woods, looking IN
ct the branches overhead and listen
ing to the rustic Of the wind in the
trees. Then Jaggard spoke abruptly.
You know something about this
ire: you found something when YOU
went back; Whist was it :. he demand.