Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-21
CHAPTER xxxIx.
Jack Iutervenes..


Jack Perry. amt you never comm to
bed7" There was no answer from the huge,
brooding figure by the window It had sat
there withut moving since darkness fell.
Jack, / wish't you'd answer me?'
What do you want, Marthy7'
DO you know It's most twelve o'clock?"
IT don't care II it's fourteen o'clocki'' was
the ungracious response.
'Marthy' sighed and turned again to her
pillow.
company of horsemen rode up to the
saloon below and alighted. At the same
time short, thick-set figure emerged
from the shadows into the light of the lamp.
Mat Kyle! What's he dom here?' eJacu-
lated the man by the window.
The group conferred earnestly, looking up
and down the street. Finally they all dis
appeared In the mysterious regions below.
Presently some one could be heard as
cending the stairs. There came rap at
the door. Jack flung it open and Mat Kyle
Numbered into the room.
Jack seized him by both arms. What's
happened? Out with It'll" he exclaimed saw
agely. Don't stand there like bump on
logi Out with It'll can hear anything
after what I've heard for the past three
days. Have they lynched him?'
No. no, Jack: 'taInt nothin' o. that Kind
answered the sheriff soothingly.
Then he's dead" said Jack simply ~
know. You needn't tell me. He's dead He
couldn't stand what he's stood an live.
God have mercy on US, what we can
stand?' His hold relaxed. He drew Off,
breathing heavily.
mo, he amt dead" returned the sheriff.
Hes just told me-he did mt do itl'
Jack was upon him again in fash, PIN
ming him to the wall
What? What7'' he gasped Didn't do
it7''
mo, sbe-she Jumped. An she told him
she hoped he'd swing for it-as he's likely
to. less we think o'something' putty tam
quick. Think o. somethin', Jack! For God 8
sake, think o somethini''
Think of something, with brain which
had been hammered sore with thinking,
planning, remembering. controlling, with
heart that ached the heart of Brutus
ached when he condemned his sons? Think
of somethingi
THE boys has tried once tonight to get
6 him to leave" faltered Mat. But you
screw. They're waitin' downstairs, they re
ready for anythin'. But the miltia's out
alter EN-; There's big resk. If you can
only think o somethin'."
Ihlnk? With a brain like punki
What airth-' came a ouerulous
voice from the bed room. A nightcapped
head appeared In the doorway and was sud
denly withdrawn. with an "Oh, my suz."
of CONSERVATION.
BY just such trihing interventions are
lives saved. Jack laughed. and that laugh
sent fresh currents of renewed power
through him.
Dick. 10. Tim-all the boys" answered
Mat.
Tell EN- to come up. Those three. I
don't want anybody else"
He was out of his coat had snapped off
his suspenders and thrown them into a
corner before Mat had left the room.
Marthy.' he called. bring my boots"
The nightcapped head again appeared and
rha Srrrr 1{r,oc
come along, he exclaimed good
humoredly. There amt nobody here"
We got to git on some Clothes" she
SAID petulantiy After an interval lasting
several minutes she emerged. arrayed in
chlntz dressing-gown covered with impos-
sible flowers. The nightcap was still on
her head The boots were in her hand She
handed them to him. He put them on.
Belt" he ordered
She brought 1t.
Corduroy coat"
1t was forthcoming
When Mat returned with the three young
men, he stood there, Jack Perry of old,
booted, belted, equipped and ready.
They came In. full OF excitement. Before
their busting entrance Marthy broke and
fed.
I'VE can pick him right up" said Tim.
He ain't heavy. to speak Of"
AN tie him on behind one of u.s." said
10. lie can ride behind me-
An go-like the devil, finished Dick.
There amt one of those militia fellers
can sit horse. They never'd know which
way he went
Be calm as hell! There amt no carryin'
off in this. It's goin' to be work, hard,
back-breakin' work, and you've got to stay
with itl'
That's all right" said Dick
"Betcher life." said 10.
We've got just ten hours to run to
Palisade. see the governor and get back"
said Jack. He's goin' to be there to-
night"
"The eleven-thirty's gone" 10 said.
II know that" said Jack. We've
got to take our own private con-
veyance. His voice had regained its In
and tell the station agen-he hunks there.
you'd ought to know him. names Jones'
that Jack Perry wants a handcar. 10. You
go dig up the telegraph operator-hes at
the station-and tell him Jack Perry says to
clear the tracks to Palisade. Tim. yen
go along with 10. l wanter talk with Mat"
The three hurried away. jack put his
head In at the bed room door.
80 long Marth!' he called afectionately
"TI be back-when l get here
The two men tramped heavily down the
stairs. Lights were out in the saloon. Pere
Hyacinthe was closing. There was no one
in the street. The curiosity, the agitation,
the anguish that had vibrated through the
town during the last three days were
hushed now. Every one was awaiting the
final act of the tragedy on the morrow
JACK ldlu his manu- on his lTienQ S arm.
IF you've got any more to tell me- he
said tell 1t now. I've got to know what
to say to the governor"
90 Twas this way" said Mat solemnly.
'Parson was givin' me his last words. He
was sayin' 'twasnt what a man did alwuz.
that thought could KILL d you ever look
at It in that light, Jack? What do you
Think
Go on, what did he say?" returned Jack
impatiently There amt any time to fool
away on what / think"
That's what he said" returned Mat with
emphasis. HE says, I hated her. con-
sequently I'm a murderer
But he said she jumoed?'
That's what 1 was tellin' YOU over n
over"
'All right, sir. Now" Jack gripped his
friends arm. you just more'n hOller for
a special Providence
Whats them?" inquired the sheriff, be-
wildered.
That's when the Old Gentleman steps in.
We can't get that blam-j jam handcar up to
Palisade and back without sornethin' more'n
four-man power. Parson says there is such
things-him and me talked 1t over once
but he said. too, that faint any sign the Old
Gentleman is down you II He does let
you be swung into eternity by lot of d--n
foolsr' Jack groaned. AN l a-pridin' my
self on seem clearr"
They were on n street now, where the en-
bankment runs sheer To he TRACKS haiou