Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-30

of a grewsome tragedy, the thoroughly
aroused lieutenant dropped upon his knees
beside them. his eyes already moist with
sympathy. his anxious fingers feeling for
possible heartbeat moment of hushed.
breathless suspense followed. and then he
began flinging terse, eager commands
across his shoulder to where his men were
clustered.
Here! Carson, Perry, Ronk, lay hold
quick and break this fellows clasp" he
cried briefly. THE girl retains a spark of
life yet. but the mans arms fairly crush
her.
With all the rigidity of actual death those
clutching hands held their tenacious grip
but the aroused soldiers wrenched the inter-
laced fingers apart with every tenderness
possible in such emergency shocked at
noting the expression of intense agony
stamped upon the mans face when thus
exposed to view. The whole terrible story
was engraven there-hOw he had toled
agonzed. suffered. before finally yielding
to the inevitable and plunging forward In
unconsclouSness, written as legibly as
though by pen. Every pang Of mental
haggard countenance. He appeared old.
pitiable. a wreck. Carson. who in his
long service had witnessed much of death
and suffering bent tenderly above him,
seeking for some faint evidence of lingering
life. His fingers felt for wound, for to
his experienced eyes the sad tale was already
sufficiently clear-hunger. exposure the hor-
rible heart-breaking strain of hopeless en-
deavor had caused this ending, this I'M
speakable tragedy Of the barren wateress
plain. He had witnessed 1t all before and
hoped now for little. The anxious lieu
tenant. bareheaded under the hot sun
glare, STROBE hastily across from beside the
unconscious but breathing girl and stood
gazing doubtfully down upon them.
Any life, sergeant? he demanded, his
voice rendered husky by sympathy
He doesn't seem entirely gone, sir and
Carson glanced up into the officers face
his own eyes filled with feeling: Il can
distinguish just wee bit of breathing
but it's so weak the pulse hardly strs'
What do you make of it?"
Starving at the bottom. sir. The only
thing I see now is to get them down to
water and food"
The young officer glanced swiftly about
him across that dreary picture of sun
burnt. desolate prairie stretching in every
direction his eyes pausing slightly as they
surveyed the tops of the distant cotton
woods.
Sling blankets between your horses" he
commanded decisively. Move quickly, lads
and we may save one of these lives yet
He led in the preparation himself, his
cheeks flushed, his movements prompt de-
cisive. AS If by some magic discipline the
rude, effective filters We're rapidly made
ready, and the two seemingly lifeless bodies
gently lifted from off the ground and de-
posted carefully within. Down the long
brown slope they advanced slowly. a soldier
grasping the rein and walking at each
horses head, the supporting blankets. Sc
curely fastened about the saddle pommels
swaying gently to the measured tread of
the trained animals. The lieutenant direct
ed every movement while Carson rode
ahead picking out the safest route through
the short grass. Beneath the protecting
shadows Of the first group of cottonwoods
almost on the banks Of the muddy Bear
Water. the little party let down their sense
less burdens and began once more their
seemingly hopeless efforts at resusctation
fire was hastily kindled from dried and
broken branches, and broth was made
which was forced through teeth that had
to be pried open. Water was used I'M
sparfngly, the soldiers working with fever
ish eagerness, inspired by the constant ad-
monitions of their officer, as we'll as their
own curiosity to learn the facts hidden be-
hind this tragedy.
1t was the dark eyes of the girl which
opened first, instantly closing again as the
glar1ng light swept into them. Then slowly
and with wonderment she gazed up into
those strange, rough faces surrounding her.
pausing in her first survey to rest her
glance on the sympathetic countenance of
the young lieutenant who held her half re-
Ginning upon his arm.
Here" he exclaimed kindly. interpreting
her glance as one of fear, you are all
right and perfectly safe now. with friends
to care for you. Peters bring another cup
of that broth Now. miss. just take sup
or two of this and your strength will come
back In jiffy. What was the trouble?
Starving?'
She did exactly as he babe her, every
movement mechanical, her eyes fastened
upon his face.
Il reckon that was partly it." she re-
sponded at last. her voice faint and husky.
Then her glance wandered away and finally
rested upon another little kneeling group a
few yards farther down stream. look
of fresh intelligence swept into her face.
us that him?" she questioned tremblingy. !
isis he dead?'
HE wasn't when we first got here but |
mighty near gone. I'm afraid. I've been |
working over you ever since"
She shook herself free and sat weakly |
up. her lips tight compressed. her eyes APP |
parently blind to all save that motionless /
body she could barely distinguish Let me |
tell you. that fellows a man. just the same; |
the gamest nerviest man 1 ever saw.
reckon he got hit, too. though he never said |
nothing about it. That's his style"
TIE deeply interested lieutenant removed
his watchful eyes from of his charge lust !;
long enough to glance inquiringly across