The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-07-16
For Aud Lang Syne.
by Jessie G. Bowman.


through tho sage brush. From ;
distant grove OF cottonwood which
marked the course Of river the dis
NAL howl of q coyote rose on thu
gently moving air. Sapey turned
painfully on his hard, gravel couch
and his fevercd eyes looked east
ward. The wound In his side bled
afresh at the motion, and Saplel
tried feebly to staunch 1t with his
shirt sleeve.
To the wounded man, stretched
upon the hard ground, the night had
seemed interminable. For five days
he had eluded posse of officers and
led them a wild chase across the
plains OF Arizona. His course had
been southwark toward the Mexican
line, and the fugitive reiolced that
he would soon be within friendly
! borders, when long shot from the
! rife of the Yuma county sheriff had
! siclened him. IT was dusk when the
! leaden messenger had found its
mark, and under cover of the night
! Sapley had effected a temporary es-
cape. The wound had made him
sick, however. and soon, faint from
loss of blood, he halted and, picket
Ing his horse, strove to staunch the
blood He was successful, for clot
slowly formed and the red stream
trickled smaller, and finally ceased
altogether, but his head felt dizzy
and soon he drifted into a weary
slumher When he awoke his horse
was gone and unable to crawl for
ward he had been compelled to lie
at full length throughout swelter-
ing day, and seemingly endless
night
A raven wheeled slowly overhead,
and Croaked ominously. The sage
brush rustled and the gravel ratified
under moving feet A coyote poked
its head through the bushes and
eyed the PROSTATE man hungrily;
then another came, and vet another
More ravens gathered overhead. I'M
til they formed a black cloud, like
the shadow Of death Sapley's tired
eyes observed This, and he wondered |
vaguely Then ii came TO him They
were waiting for Death to deliver up |
the srois. They were waiting to de-
your him, With an Indifferent gaze.
be watched the oircling ravens,
Mort Williams pulled his mount /
into walk aud shaded his eyes |
with his hands
Wonder what those ravens have I
got" he muttered. Whatever It is, |
st must be alive for they're afraid 10
settle"
Hang IT,, he muttered, eve got I
to see what It's all about Something
seems 10 he calling me Wonder If I
in trouble"
sapley lay az in dream. while /
the steady pounding Of a horse's
hoofs drew nearer and nearer, until
Il stopped beside him The rider
and bent over him. Sap |
leY looked up and tried to smile, but
the strangers jaw dropped and be
Htared open-mouthed at the wound
cd man Finally he spoke:
"Sapley. Joe Sapley'" he eiacu-
lated We'll. never" he scratch
ed his head helplessly.
Say, joe" he said at last; Il sup
pose YOU know they're after you.
1riggs has been securing the whole !
country for YOU"
I'll know 1t. Mort" said Sapley, c
through his swollen lips, ]
but water, Mort, water; | must
lave water" /
Williams bent over him and look +
Il at the wound Then stripping off
MS outer shirt, tore it into band
lgas and bound up the wounded
tides Can YOU ride?" he asked
Sapley nodded, and the plains
nan lifted him tenderly into his sad
Ne. The man swayed unsieadily, and
Williams walked beside him, guard
ne the horse and supporting the
Wounded one Thus they plodded on
n silence Hair an hour later they \
cached the river hank, and Sapley {
Uttered a CRY Of delight. :
Well, Joe said he gravely. \
when the wounded man had ceased
Thinking. of course Won know I'll
ave 70 turn YOU over 20 ~" authori
ie~ Yor fssiit haven't carepr to
10 p-o5u Of. you know"
SaUlcy Laughed mirthlessly, As he
lung to the saddle horn for support .
Pm in rather poor condition to
tand State prison life. at present"
e remarked. How far is It to Mex
coz"
About thirteen miles"
win YOU help me across tho =
Inc?
Williams shook his head. y
THE sheriff wants YOU" said he,
noodily. Il know my duty"
DO you remember our school
lays at Cambridge. Mort?" asked
iapley after a silence. I'VE were
lways together, you and l. You fell
If the bridge one night; do you re-
member? Your head hit on pile,
nd you came near drowning.
Iarely managed to get sou out.
Tort. ] am drowning now. VIII you =
elp me? Give me- this chance for |
ny life. Mort 10 il do IT, inst for
MD lang svne
Williams gaze softened Tie cszed
n down the river. winding snake =