The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15
A Story Of Early Life
in the State Of Nevada

I'll get off here: the rest of you can
go on to the station" He dropped from
the car and clambered stiffiy up the
slope.
big gray mule. Placing himself
directly lin the path of the startled
, traveller, he fiourished his pistol and
shouted, Get down and gimme that
mewlw
Why, Jack Perry What the deuce!
called the rider. He was a miner whom
Jack had known in Virginia City.
That's all right exploded Jack. L m
In too damn big hurry to answer any
fool questions. You can come around
TO the jail and get the critter!"
He swung into the saddle.
ROW about this hangin 2? the miner
called after him, but Jack had astonish-
ed the mule into a gallop and was al
ready nearly out of sight.
He reached the Jail just as the clock
In the tower was striking ten. The
little company-sheriff. guard and pris-
oner-were setting out from Vaughan's
cell, for In spite of all Mats efforts
everything had gone like clockwork
that morning, everybody had been on
time.
The clock had finished striking the
hour and was beginning to toll when
Jack flung himself from the mule and
dashed up the steps. Along the gloomy
hall he few as If his great, bulky body
had been endowed with wings, and
came upon the sad group is they turned
the first corner. He caught from his
breast folded paper and held 1t high
above his head.
"Reprieve. Reprieye! Repriever he
shouted, until the walls rang.
The three men stopped abruptly; the
one In the middle threw up his hands
and fell as If he had been shot.
My God, I've killed him now" Jack
cried. and threw himself on his knees
beside the prostate form.
Stand back, can't you." he exclaimed
fiercely to Mat and the guard, who were
bending over him.
Here. out of the wayr" He picked
up the senseless body as II it had been
child's, and carried 1t down the hall
to the cell 1t had left few minutes
before. They followed him.
open lne doori" he ordered savagely,
and they opened 1t.
He laid the limp form tenderly on
the bed.
Now, get out of herew he command
ed. and stay out! An If any damn
son-of f-a-gun shows his head here, I'll
smash his facet
They retreated in disorder and told
the Jail. whence the news spread
through the town, that a reprieve had
SoIic, thc SOIl Idu oIOpPcO Qcstus diio
Jack Perry had gone crazy from over
exertion and grief.
Only one of these statements was
true. Jack had not gone crazy and the
Parson was not dead. A faint fiutter
could be detected at the wrist when
Jacks big finger pressed it. He stretch
ed himself on the cot and dragged
Vaughan's body over on his own. There
it lay, relaxed and helpless, on the
great. generous frame that throbbed
from head to foot with desire to give
and give and give.
Beyond any outline or impression of
AT length, outlines and impressions be-
gan TO shape themselves into thoughts
and feelings. He thought he was
tight. He felt secure. But resting upon
1T, stretched at fpll length, he could feel
the tide rise unssss, him, could feel the
motion Of she x7ses. Gradually. the
outlines h1led. tsss Impressions grew
distinct. He saw through parting eye
lids the gray walls of his cell The
raft on which he lay-was Jacks great,
generous body; the rising of the tide
was his breath; the motion of the
waves-was the beating of his heart
He stirred and sighed. Jacks free
hand went to his hip-pocket and drew
out flask. He pulled the cork with
his teeth and put the bottle to
Vaughans lips.
What is it?' Vaughan asked family
ITS life, Parson," said Jack solemn
ly you've got to take it, even IL you