, 1906-03-07

manned unbroken except now
and her when the girl bent
A. over the silent figure to ask,
Can | 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 m%anfully to keep
awake, but as the night deepened slum-
Der rose about him like a 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 he 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 p~ersons-in a rude
ranch house, alone with n strange,
rough man sleeping in a deathlike
trance before her.
The minutes elongated like bands OF
TuDDeE, Ill kHllllllS lie ltnSlh VI luai y
hours, aud the night stretched away
into horrifying distance as she sat
sensely waiting, hoping each moment
Tor deliverance, 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
howled.
At last immobility became intolera-
BILE, and, lowering Louis head to the
floor, she gently placed his doubled
coat beneath it and with Il mighty eff
fort of the will bent again above the
pallid man, so tragic in his supineneSs,
and whispered:
Are you still suffering? Can l do
anything for your
lie turned his head slowly and with
n glance which made her shiyer an
swered: NO; l have ceased to bleed.
l 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: ITS there, but it's weak.
Don't you feel it,"
Yes; it is more regular now," she
answered.
I'm moi going to die" he continued
in ii hoarse, fiat tone. Il could get up
and mount n horse right now, only I'd
bleed if | 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 a 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 u 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 Il 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.
Il shall not leave you" she firmly re-
piled.
You're mighty good" he said sim
ply.
The night wore on Unfortunately. AT
Il little past 3, faint and far, arose the
cheerful growing of Il 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 hen slowly, moving IN a
disorderly squad, the weary fighters of
flames came riding down the slope and