The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-09-17

quite well. Wen 90 down the gulca
TO the valley and re~eh town that
way. It's farther. but it's not so
dangerous"
''You can't ride" she insisted.
II can If you'll tie me into the sad
die Come, get the horses"
1t was stiIl pitchy dark and the rain
was pouring. but the wind only sighed
weakly, as though tired by its vio-
lence, when she helped the Bronco into
his saddle. The effort wrenched a
groan from him, but he insisted upon
her tying his feet beneath the horses
belly. saying that the trail was rough
and he could take no chance Of fall
ing again; so, having performed the
last services she might for Strive. she
mounted her own animal and allowed
1t to pick is way down the steep de-
scent behind her brother, who swayed
and lurched drunkenly in his seat
gripping the horn before him with
both hands.
They had been gone perhaps half
hour when another horse plunged furi-
before the roadhouse door Its rider,
mud stained and disheveled, flung
himself in mad haste to the ground
and bolted in through the door. He
saw the signs of confusion In the out
er room. chairs upset and broken the
table wedged against the stove and be
fore the counter q shattered lamp IN
a pool OF oil. He called loudly, but.
receiving no answer, snatched light
which he found burning and ran to
the door at his left. Nothing greeted
him but he empty tiers of hunks.
Turning he crossed TO the other side
and burst through. Another lamp was
lighted beside the couch where Strive
lay, breathing heavily, his lids half
] closed over his staring eyes. Roy
noted the pool Of blood at his feet and
the broken window; then, setting down
his lamp, he leaned over the man and
| spoke to him.
| When he received no answer he
spoke again loudly. Then, in a frenzy,
/ Glenister shook the wounded man
cruelty, so that he cried out in terror:
I'm dying-oh, I'm dying" Roy
raised the sick man up and thrust his
own face before his eyes.
This is Glenister. I've come for
/ Helen-where is sheY' A spark OF
recognition fiickered into the dull stare
You're too late-Pm dying-and I'm
afraid"
His questioner shook Strive again
where is she?" he repeated, time
after time, till by very force of his
own insistence he compelled realiza
ton in the sufferer.
The Kid took her away. The Kid
shot me-" and then his voice rose til
it flooded the room with terror. THE
Kid shot me. and I'm dying" He
coughed blood to his lips, at which
Roy laid him back and. stood up. Sc
there was no mistake, after all, and he
had arrived too late. This was the
Kids revenge. This was how be
struck. Lacking courage to face {
mans level eyes, he possessed the foul
ness to prey upon woman. Roy felt
a weakening physical sickness sweeI
over him till his eye fell upon a solder
| garment which Helen had removed
from her brothers shoulders and re
placed with a dry one. He snatched
1t from the floor and in a sudden fury
felt it come apart in his hands like
wet tissue paper.
He found himself out in the rain
scanning the trampled soil by light o
bis lamp, and discerned tracks which
the drizzle had not yet erased. H
reasoned mechanically that the tw,
riders could have no great start of him
80 strobe out beyond the house to Sc
IL they had gone farther into the hills
There were no tracks here, therefor
they must have doubled back towar'
town. 1t did not occur to him tina
they might have left the beaten pat
and followed down the little creek I
the river; but, replacing the lgh
where he had found it, he remounte
and dashed his horse into stiff cante
up toward the divide that lay betwee
him and the city. The story was grow
ing palmer to him. though as yet b
could not piece it all together. II
possibilities stabbed him with sue
horror that he cried out aloud and beg
his steed into faster time with bot
hands and feet To think Of those tw
ruflans lighting over this girl as thong
she were the spoils of plllage! II
must overtake the Kid-he would! TIL
possibility that he might not thre7
him into such ungovernable ment,
chaos that he was forced to calm hin
self. Men went mad that way. II
could not think of it. That gaspin
creature in the roadhouse spoke all to
well Of the Bronco's determination
And yet, who Of those who had know
the Kid in the past would dream tbs
his vileness was so utter as this?
Away TO the right, hidden among tt
Swallowed hills. his friends reste
themselves for the coming battle. wal
ing impatiently his return and timin
II to the rising sun. Down in the va
ley to his left were the two he follow