The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1907-12-25

a big, muscular Iellow swing glrIlsn
form to the saddle in front of him.
Quick as flash he spurred forward,
lifted his heavy Colts revolver high
over his head and brought it down on
the fellows skull with a force that
knocked him senseless without time
for sigh or moan. AS his arms fell
lax and he toppled in his saddle,
Langford caught the girl and swung
her free of ENHANCEMENT.
Poor little girl, she breatehed over
her as her white face dropped with
unconscious pathos against his big
shoulder. Poor little girl-I'm sorry
i didn't mean to-honest--Im sor.
ry." He chafed her hands gently.
And l don't know where your father
is either. Are you hurt anywhere, or
have you only tainted? God knows l
don't wonder. 1t was hellish. Why,
child, child, your arm. 1t is broken!
Oh, little girl, | didn't mean to-hon,
est-honest I'm sorry
Jim rode up painting, eyes blood
shot.
we can't find him, boss. They've
carried him off, dead or alive
rs it so, jim? Are you sure? How
far did you follow?"
I'VE must have followed the wrong
lead. If any one was ridin' double, it
wasn't the ones We were after that's
one thing sure. The blamed boss
thieves pulled clean away from us
way. And-there's a deader out there,
boss lowering his voice; Il found
him as l came back
THAT explains why no one was rid
ing double" said Langford, thought.
fully.
"Hows the gal. boss"
Il don't know, jim. don't know
what to do now
His eyes were full of trouble.
Amt no use cryin' over split milk
and that's fac Bout as sensible as
a tryin' to pick it up after it is split.
We won't find Williston this here
night, that's one thing sure. So Well
just tote the little gal home to the
Three Bars with US"
The boys were returning, silent,
gloomy, disconsolate. They eyed the
boss tentatively. Would they receive
praise OF censure? They had worked
hard.
YOU'RE all right, boys, said Lang
ford, smiling away their gloom, But
about the girl. There is no woman at
| the Three Bars, you know--
so you'd leave her out all night to
| the dew and the coyotes and the boss
| thieves, would YOU interrupted jim,
| with d fine sarcasm. Jest because
| there amt no srowed-up woman at the
| Three Bars? What dye think Willis
toms little gal'd care for style? She
amt afraid O us oil griz2led fellers.
hope to the Lord there won't never
| be no growed-up woman at the Three
Bars-yep, that's what / hope.
| think that mouse-haired gal reporter
d be just turrible fussy, and | think
she's goin' to marry a down eastern
er chap, anyway
Just pick up that fellow, will you,
boys, and strap him to his horse, and
We'll take him along" said Langford.
81 don't believe he's dead
What fellow" asked the Scribe.
| peering casually about.
Langford had unconsciously ridden
forward bit to meet the boys as they
had clattered up shamefacediy. Now
he turned.
why, that fellow over there.
knocked him out
He rode back slowly. There was no
man there, no the trace of man
They stared at each other a moment
silently. Then Langford spoke.
NO, am not going TO leave Willis
toms little girl out in the dew" he
said, with an inscrutable smile
While some of you ride in to get
some one to see about that body out
there and bring out the doctor, III
take her over to Whites for tonight
anyway. Mrs. White will care for her
Then perhaps we will send for the ga
reporter Jim