Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-01-30

y. over the silent figure to ask.
! time size 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-
element, struggled manfully to keep
awake. but IS the night deepened SUM
Der rose about him like wreath of be-
numbiIg incense. His sense OF what
| had taken place duled, his head nod
ded and dropped. and at last Ann low
| cred him to the floor, where he slept, his
| check rillowed upon her feet.
| Again the singularity of the chance,
the absurd unreality of the situation,
came upon the self contained girl. in
citing ler 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 a deathlike
trance before her.
The minutes elongated like bands Of
rubber. attaining the length IF quarter
hours, and the night stretched away
into horrifying distance as she sat
:e,.sely waiting hoping each momen,
Cor deljverance. expecting each instant
to hear the swift beating of hoofs, tho
hoarse laughter OF the men; but only
the wind serpentS Kissed and the vol
howled.
At last immobility became intolera-
BILE, ard, lowering Louis head to tho
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 l do
anything for your
He turned his head slowly and with
a glance which made her SILVER an
swered: NO; l have ceased to bleed.
l am going to pull through if my pulse
keeps down. Won't you take it?"
Timiilly taking his brown wrist in
her soft finger tips she tried to count
the pulsing Of his blood.
He wail>. a little time in silence,
then said: Its there, but it's weak.
Don't you feel it?"
Eyes; it is more regular now" she
answered.
I'm not going to die" he continued
in hoarse, fiat tone. 81 could get up
and mount horse right now, only I'd
bleed If l did. It's hard to keep quiet,
but I'm going to do it, l can't afford to
die VOW. 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 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.
It's so cool and soft
"Would you like 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. II 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
The hight wore on unfortunately. AT
a little past 8, faint and far, arose the
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 III
disorderly squad, the weary lighters or
flames came riding down the slope and
across the meadow.
The herders did not ride up to the
house, us 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. "SureIy they will come
now" Then all was still save the crow
ing of the cocks and that sad howilng
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 her
throat with fear of the body on the
floor She ran as silently as possible,
as If to avoid rousing some fierce AMI
NAL, and was close upon the men be-
fore they saw her.
"What's that?' she heard one quick,
keen voice cry out.
Then each man rose from the heap OF
blankets wherein he lay curled like an
arctic dog.
Ann answered them breathlessly.
"Come to the house. quick. Mr.. Ray
mond III shot!'
Their responses were like bullets:
"Shot! Who shot him?"
Some one fred out Of the darkness
he was standing in the doorway. I'm
all alone. He must have help"
"Where's Watson?'
Gone for the doctor"
Shaking loose from his bed, Baker
started on the run for the house, but
Ann cried out sharply: "Wait! 60
quietly. You must not excite him."
And, walking beside him, she returned
to the house, and in a sort of daze the
other herders silently followed. the