Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-06-22
REssIE's
- BANDIT
By KATE N. CLEARY
Copyright, 1905, by Kate NJ. Cleary
Observation-Disclosures

dark with terror. Tins must be be
now coming up the avenue! And no
one at home but me!''
Involuntarily her swift glance meas
ured the distance to the gabled frame
house, then her frightened look went
back to the man limping up the path
from the gate. No. she could not reach
the house before he was beside her
And of all things she despised COW.
ardicc. So she hastily picked up the
magazine She had dropped in her first
shock of alarm and gripped it very
tightly to keep her hands from trem-
bling he was near-quite near her
now. He stood still. and their eyes
met.
She saw Il muscular looking young
fellow, with wavy blond hair, good,
square chin and dark blue eyes. direct
and intelligent of glance. He held his
handkerchief to Il wound on his tenn
pie, and she noticed the square of
linen WAS crimson. His appearance
was singularly disheveled. His clothes
were muddy. us though lie had waded
through creeks. His hat was battered.
Ard the hating way i'll which he drag
ged his leg indicated injury.
He saw Il young and very pretty
girl dressed in Il soft wooden gown Of
crimson cashmere Her eyes were
gray, but just now so dilated were the
pupils they appeared TO be black TIE
wind had ruiiied htg Gusky hair about
her forehead There was no color in
the piquant, frightened face.
Il beg your pardon" the man sliG,
| and took OF his hat Il fear | have
startled you. I've had quite au-an
experience and an accident. Have you
any objection if l go into the house?
should like Il drink of water-and 10
rest for Il little while"
! Bessie Hammcrsly strove TO speak,
| but no words came to her lips. She re-
| called what her uncle had told her Il
| few hours before when he had gone in
| to the house for his revolver, mounted
| his gray horse and had drawn rein to
| explain before he joined the posse Of
determined looking farmers and towns
| people at the gate.
Held up the bank at the county seat
all by himself and got away with
| cool thousand. This isn't his first OK
| plot. He's ncrVy ruiiian. The la *
| er is dangerously wounded =. shot
through the shoulder. He thiuks-in
| fact, knowS-hc hit the robber when he
| fired by the blood that marked his es-
| cape. 1t isn't likely he'll have got far
| before we strike his trail And when
| we do
He had nodded grimly there and gal
| loped off.
And now here was Il travel stained,
injured, grimy individual confronting
her ana asking aid II only the sery-
ants had not gone in by special permits
| sion to the annual fair in the nearest
| town, If only her aunt had not gone
to spend the morning with neighbor!
! I'm afraid" the man said. with a
smile, surprised evidently at her ST.
| lence and her air of tense agitation,
that you consider me too disreputable
an individual to admit to your homew
| He glanced down deprecatingly at his
soiled and disordered attire IF YOU
have objections he said, with what
sounded like an infection of offense. Il
shall wait here if you will be good
enough to bring me the water"
| He sank down on the seat. and as he
did so groan burst from his lips. She
saw drops of sweat start out around
his handsome mouth.
"Oh | wilr' she cried comDassion-
ately. You are suffering | am sorry.
| Just wait Il moment"
| And pity was the sensation para
mount in the mind of Bessie Ham
merSly as she sped across the tawny
grass. looking like flash Of flame in
her vivid gown
Surprising he were bandit twenty
times over! He reminded her of Char
lie-her beloved young brother Bran
dy Some was always kept upstairs in
| the medicine chest for emergencies
SO up the stairs she flew. dashed a
quantity of the liquor into the glass
she held and, adding wat n at the kltch-
en- sink, sped out again into the autumn
sunshine and across the lawn.
Here she gasped, take this -
quickr'
He was deadly pale His head, with
eyes closed, rested against the brown
tree trunk His handkerchief had fall
en- to the ground. and she saw that
the blood was trickling from a Jagged
cut across his temple.
Without the slightest shrinking or
hesitation she leaned down and held
the glass TO his lips.
You must drink this at oncer' she
| said speaking loudly "tpf thra VOC
way go into DE house if YOU wish
You can 20 mp In the attic and lie
| down. No one goes there" Her touch.
her voice, the strong odor Of the LIQUOR
reused him. He opened his eyes. sat
erect and took the glass with slight
bow of Acknowledgement and swift
| smile.
You are very good" He drank the
mixture gratefully. Almost AT once
Is effect was perceptible. The color
came back 10 his cheek He CROPPED for
his handNerchef Il shall not intrllde.
Ii is nothing shall be al right pres
only.