Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1906-02-12


 mained unbroken except now
 and then when the girl bent \ over the silent figure to ask Gan do anything for you?" Each time she listened with added fear, hop ing eagerly for his voice. "Oh. I wish we could do something,' she whispered now and again to Louis.
 The boy, worn out with his days ex- citement, struggled manfully to keep awake, but as the night deepened slum 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 lie slept, his cheek piliowed 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 ] sort of hystercal laugh ter Here HOW she sat-Ann Rupert. most conventional of persons-in q rude ranch house. alone with q strange. rough man sleeping in de2thlike trance hesoHe her
 The minutes elongated like bands of rubber. attaining the leHgth of quarter hours. and the night stretched away into horrifyfag distance as she sat te4sely waiting hoping each moment for deliyeranee. expecting eaeh inStant to hear the swift beating {. hoofs, the hoarse laughter Of the men; but only the wind serpents hissel and the wolf howIed.
 4st last immobility became intolera ble, and, lowering Louis head to the floor, she gently placed his doubled coat beneath it and with a mighty eff fort of the will bent again above the palid man, so tragic in his supineness, and whispered:
 Are you still suffering? Can I do anything for you:
 He turned his head slowly and with a glance which made her shiver an- swered: No; have ceased to bleed. am going to pull through if my pulse keeps down. Won't you take t:'
 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 a hoarse, flat tone. "I 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. can't afford 10 die now. You've reused the Theress s something ill the world for me to do You must not talk" she whispered. "Please-it will do you harm
 She put her hand impulsively on bis forehead as if he were q child. and he closed his eyes and lay Ill silence for several minutes When she withdrew her palm he muttered: Leave it there. It-is so cool and soft
 Would you like d wet cloth on your head:'
 "No-only your hand-if you don't mnd"-
 Her feeling toward him at the mo ment was ike 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 i'll soon, and then you can .-o to bed and rest. I'm sorry to troub!e y3u. You can go now. I'm all right" e said.
 T shall not leave you she firmly re piled.
 You're mighty gooa," he said sim ply.
 The niaht wore on interminablE. Al little past 5. faint and far, arose the cheerful cBowing of a 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 a dsorderly squad, the weary fighters o' flames came riding down the slope and across the meadow.
 The herGers did not ride up to the house, as she expected them to do, but turned aside toward the stables, ane she could hear them as they droppee their saddles and turned their tlret ponies loose Surely they will come now" Then all was still save the crow ing of the cocks and that sad hoWllns Of tue wolf on the hill.
 Euable to endure the suspense, sh' f.Dfoed across the floor and hurried ou toward the corrals. her heart Ill he ,..e,at with fear of the body on th' 1>9f. She ran as silently as possible zS sf U void rousing some fierce anl 1-a# Aae vas close upon the men De 1pte ts>ex ss W her.
 nlass shatT sze heard o9s 0ulx