Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-20

you know that. Somehow what | felt from his
preaching-well, everything got sort of mixed
up with him. and he waS-was different. 1t
was like the long dream of Walt and the baby,
and he a part of it | don't know what felt,
or what | might have felt for him. I'm
woman can't understand. But I know
what | feel now. | never want to see him
again on earth-or in heaven. 1t needn't be
necessary even in heaven; but what happened
between God and me through him stays. Tim;
and you must help him get away safe. It's
in your hands-you say they left it to you
g don't trust that too much. Suddenly
town See. I'm right! There they are.
dozen of EN-, mounted. They're off to run
him down.
Her face paled; she glanced toward the Hill
of Healing He's got an hours start she
said hell get into the mountains and be
safe
If they don't catch him before that"
"Or if you don't get to him first she said
with nervous insistence.
He turned to her with hard look; then as
he met her soft. fearless. beautiful eyes, his
own grew gentle. 1t takes lot of doing,
Yet III do it for you. Laura he said. =" But
it's hard on the pioneers.
Once more her humor flashed. and it seemed
to him that getting religion was not so
depressing after all-wouldn't be, anyhow,
when the nasty job was over
The pioneers will get over it, Tim, she re-
joined. They've swallowed lot in their
time. Heavens gate will have to be pretty
wide to let in a real pioneer. she added" he
takes up SO much room ah, Timothy Dentonl
she added with outburst of whimsical
humor
ct hasn't spoiled you, being converted,
has it," he said, and gave quick little laugh
which somehow did more for his ancient cause
with her than all he had ever said or done.
Then he stepped outside and swung into his
saddle.
1t had been a hard and anxious ride: but
Tim had won, and was keeping his promise.
The night had fallen before he got to the noun
tains. which he and the pioneers had seen the
Faith Healer enter. They had four miles start
of Tim. and had ridden fercely, and they en-
tered the gulch into which the refugee had dis
appeared still two miles ahead They had seen
Tim coming; but had determined to make
sure thing of it, and would themselves do what
was necessary with the impostor and take no
chances So they pressed their horses. and
he saw them swallowed by the trees, as dark
ness gathered.
Changing his course. he entered the familiar
hills which he knew better than any pioneer of
Jansen and rode diagonal course toward the
trail they would take. But night fell suddenly,
and there was nothing to do but wait till morn
ing, There was one comfort IN this the others
! must also wait. and the refugee could not go
far In any case. he must make for the settle
ment or perish. since he had left behind his
sheep and his COW.
1t fell out better than Inn hoped The
pioneers were good hunters as was he, their
instinct was sure. their scouts and crackers
were many; and he was but one. They found
the Faith Healer by a little stream eating
bread and honey and like ancient wood
lander drinking from horn, relics OF his rank
imposture. He made no resistance. They
tried him formally. if perfunctorily. He adj
mitted his imposture. and begged for his life.
Then they stripped him, tied bit of canvas
round his waist, fastened him to tree, and
were about to complete his punishment when
Tim Denton burst upon them.
Whether the rage he showed was all real or
not. whether his accusations of bad faith came
from so deeply wounded a spirit as he would
have them believe, he was not likely to tell;
but he claimed the prisoner as his own and de-
clined to say what he meant to do. When,
however. they saw the abject terror of the
Faith Healer as he looked at Tim, and as he
begged not to be left alone with Denton for
they had not meant death. and he thought he
read death in Tins ferocious eyes, they
laughed cynically. and left it to Tim to uphold
the honor of Jansen-and the pioneers.
As they disappeared, the last thing they saw
was Tim with his back to them. his hands on
his hips, and knife clasped in his fingers
:" He'll lift his scalp and make a monk of
him chucked the oldest and hardest of
them.
Dat Tim will cut his heart out, l t'ink.
bagoshi' said Nicolle Terasse, and took drink
of white whisky.
For LONG time Tim stood looking at the