The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-01
at last they could not dress the wouni
at his back
CHAPTER V.

| "A
and then when the girl bent
4 over the silent figure to ask,
"Can I do anything for you:" Each
time she listened with added fear, hop
ing eagerly for his voice. "Oh, l wish
we could do something she whispered
now and again to Louis.
The boy, worn out with his days ex-
citement, struggled manfully to keep
awake but as the night deepened slum-
Der rose about him like wreath of be-
numbing incense. His sense of what
had taken place dulled, his head nod
ded and dropped, and at last Ann low
cred him to the floor, where he slept, his
cheek piliowed upon her feet
Again the singularity of the chance,
the absurd unreality Of the situation,
came upon the self contained girl, IN
citing her to a sort Of hystarical laugh
ter. Here now she sat-AnIi Rupert,
most conventional Of persons-in a zude
ranch house, alone with a strange,
rough man sleeping in a deathllke
trance before her.
The minutes elongated like bands OF
rubber, attaining the length Of quarter
hours, and the night stretched away
into horrifying distance as she sat
tensely waiting, hoping each moment
for deliverance, expecting each instant
to hear the swift beating of hoofs, the
hoarse laughter Of the men; but oriy
the wind serpents Kissed and the wolf
howled
At last immobility became, intolera-
BILE, and, lowering Louis head to the
floor, she gently placed his doubled
coat beneath it and with mighty ef-
fort of the will bent again above the
pallid man, so tragic in his supineness.
and whispered:
care you still suffering: Can I do
anything for your
He turned his head slowly aud with
a glance which made her shiver an
swered: NO; I have ceased to bleed.
am going to pull through if my pulse
keeps down. Won't you take it,"
Timidly taking his brown wrist in
her soft finger tips she tried to count
the pulsing Of his blood.
He waited a little time in silence,
then said: "'It's there, but it's weak.
Don't you feel it?''
Eyes; it is more regular now" she
answered.
I "I'm not going to die," he continued
IN a hoarse. fiat tone. 81 could get up
and mount horse right now, only I'd
bleed if I did. It's hard to keep quiet,
but I'm going to do it. can't afford to
die now. You've reused me. There's
something in the world for me to do
"You must not talk" she whispered.
"Please-it will do you HARM
She put her hand impulsively on his
forehead as if he were child, and he
closed his eyes and lay in silence for
several minutes. When she withdrew
her palm he muttered: Leave it there.
Its so cool and soft.
would YOU like a wet cloth on your
head?'
"No-only your hand-if you don't
mind
Her feeling toward him at the mo-
ment was like that she manifested to-
ward her brother. 81 don't mind, If it
helps you," she answered, but flush
rose to her face.
THE boys will come in soon, and
then you can go to bed and rest. I'm
sorry to trouble you. You can go now.
I'm all right" he said.
81 shall not leave you," she firmly re;
piled.
You're mighty good" he said sim
ply.
Tie night wore on interminably. At
a little past 8, faint and far, arose the
cheerful growing of a cock. Her heart
burned with joy-the morning was
near! AS she waited the light came
and voices, faint and far away, touched
her ear, and then slowly, moving in
disorderly squad, the weary fighters OF
flames came riding down the slope and
across the meadow.
The herders did not ride up to the
house. as she expected them to do, but
turned aside toward the stables, ana
she could hear them as they dropped
their saddles and turned their tired
ponies loose. Surely they will come
now" Then all was still save the crow
ing of the cocks and that sad bowling
of the wolf on the hill.
Enable to endure the suspense, she
tiptoed across the floor and hurried out
toward the corrals, her heart in her
throat with fear of the body on the
floor. She ran as silently as possible,
as if to avoid rousing some fierce anil
NAL, and was close upon the men be-
fore they saw her.
Whats that?' she heard one quick,
keen voice Cry out.
Then each man rose from the heap of
blankets wherein he lay curled like al
arctic dog
Ann answered them breathlessly.
Come to the house, quick. Mr.. Ray
mond is shot!"'
Their responses were like bullets: