Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-03-07
CHAPTER v.

Il over the silent figure to ask,
"Can l do anything for your" Each
time she listened with added fear, hop
ing eagerly for his voice. ooh, wish
we could do something" she whispered
now and again to Louis.
The boy, worn out with his days ex-
element, struggled manfully to keep
awake, but as the night deepened SUM
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 pillowed 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 hysterical laugh
ter. Here now she sat-Ann Rupert,
most conventional Of persons-in rude
ranch house, alone with strange,
rough man sleeping in deathlike
trance before her.
The minutes elongated like bands of
rubber, attaining the length of quarter
hours, and the night stretched away
into horrifying distance US she sat
terisely waiting. '.;.,..g each moment
for deliverancc, expecting each instant
to hear the swift beating Of hoofs, the
hoarse laughter of the men; but only
the wind serpents Kissed and the wolf
hotvled.
At last immobility became intolera-
BILE, and, lowering Louis head to the
floor, she gently placed his doubled
coat beneath it and with q mighty eff
fort of the will bent again above the
pallid man, SO tragic in his supineness;
and whispered:
Are you still suffering? Can 1 do
anything for your
He turned his head slowly and with
glance which made her SILVER an
swered: mo; 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 little time in silence,
then said: Its there, but it's weak.
Don't you feel it?"
Yes; it is more regular now," she
answered.
"I'm not going to die" he continued
in hoarse, fiat tone. II could get up
and mount horse right now, only I'd
bleed If did. It's hard to keep quiet,
but I'm going to do it. l can't afford to
die now. You've reused me. There's
something i'll the world for me to do"
you must not talk" she whispered.
"Please-it will do yeu harm.'
She put her hand impulsively on his
forehead us 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
It's SO cool and soft"
would you like a wet cloth on your
headY
"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. Il don't mind, If it
helps you" she answered, but flush
rose to her face.
1.-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.
The night wore ON Unfortunately. AT
n N@+io ,,nck Faint op1 1roco fba
cheerful Growing Of 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 i'll q
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, and
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.
Unable to endure the suspense, SHE
tiptoed across the floor and hurried out
toward the corrals, her heart in hel
throat with fear of the body on the
floor. She ran us silently as possible
as If to avoid rousing some fierce ami
NAL, and was close upon the men be
fore they saw her.
whats thatY" 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 We're like bullets
"Shot! Who shot him?"
"Some one fired out Of the darkness
he was standing in the doorway. I'm
all alone. He must have help"
where's WatsonY
Gone for the Doctor"
Shaking loose from his bed, Baker
started on the run for the house. bu
Ann cried out sharply: "Wait! CT
quietly. You must not excite him.
And, walking beside him, she returned
to the house. and IN sort of daze tn,
other herders silently followed. Th'
jangle of Bakers big spurs, familiar
and penetrating, called Raymond to I
knowledge of his surroundings.
He turned his head and looked ut tn
men in a way that made them shrinl
and asked: Flows the fire? Did yol
stop it?"
Baker replied, ayes, we got her un
der"
Raymond half edged his eyes "I'n
glad you're here. This lady needs {
rest. Somebody did for me. Baker
you and Jones and Shuttle stay here
Perry, you saddle horse and get ABB
and his wife. Miss Rupert, you go t,
bed; the boys will lock after me now
l can't let you wear yourself out TO
me-"
But Ann could not so easily be pu
aside from her plain duty. mo, will
stay till the doctor comes"
At last, when the wounded man wa