The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-07-17

tried to live right ever since. He Is
old now, and not able to defend him.
self, but his daughter is both abl. and
willing, and the man who raises his
hand against him must answer TO her
for it."
"No one, looking into the earnest
| young face, could have doubted the
genuine grit that backed her assertion.
He doesn't like Hearst?"
mo: that is my one sorrow. I have
often seen Harry's face go white at
the jeering things daddy sometimes
says to him, but he has promised me
he will never quarrel with my father" "
Daw Simpletons supreme hour had
come.
Your idol can break his promise
the same as other men, for he shot
Ben Garrettson dead not more than
| twenty minutes ago."
A sharp pain made its way through
the depths Of the mans degradation
as he saw the small brown hands grasp
snowy whiteness steal over the
pretty face.
Charlie Garrettson, delicate blue
eyed boy who had crept into the en-
brace Of his sisters arm, looked up
irto her face with quick apprehension.
He petted the hand on the gate for q
moment with his own wee ones, than
went back to the house with hop,
skip and jump that spells boy the
world over
Kentucky's voice was quite steady
when she AIDED: where and what
| for?"
1t was characteristic of the man that
she no more doubted his word than she
would have doubted the evidence of
her own eyes. His faults were many.
but it had always been said of Daw
Simpleton that nothing would induce
him to lie..
AT Oontier's saw-mill-he called
Hearst a coward"
Good by Daw. You must go now,
I've got man to kill, and my father
to bury-quite enough work for one
small woman in one day Is it not?"
All the soft gentleness seemed to have
fallen from her. Her step was firm
and her head thrown proudly erect
as she walked back to the house.
Charlie watched her with anxious
eyes as she picked up pistol lying
on the table and examined it.
why, Charlie, my pistol is not lead
ed. | didn't think you ever failed to
keep it in trim
Must load it now, sis?' There
was note Of agony in the boys voice.
mo, my Winchester will do as well,
maybe better-it's sure"
Charlie took as tender care of his
sisters gun as many people do of
their children. Doctor Hearst often
took him for hunt, but could not
persuade him to shoot at the game.
81 just can't" Charlie once said, 81
love the feel of the gun-to squint my
eye down the barrel, and hear the noise
it makes, but l just can't kill any
thing"
The next time Doctor Hearst came
he put box of cartridges in the lads
hands and sair: They only make q
noise, Charlie"
Gontier's saw-mill was only a mile
from the Garrettson cabin, and Ken
lucky was not long in reaching it.
The mill was quiet and a number Of
men were standing near a stretcher
on which Ben Garrettson was lying.
Doctor Hearst knelt beside him, put
ting the last touch to some bandages.
The men started when they saw Ken
lucky, and one of them calculated,
Fine thing fur him he lit out fore
she got here!" But the girl neither
saw nor heard them. She saw moth
ing but the helpless object on the
ground, and the man who rose to
meet her.
81 am so sorry, Kentucky" and Doc
tor Hearsts voice was deep with ten
derness, 81 was just coming to you.
He will"
Not another word. Stand still II you
please. You haven't chance. it's
life for life"
Doctor Hearst had never heard the
voice of the woman he loved sound
like that The Winchester that was
never known to miss It's mark covered
his heart.
1t took the group of men that one
tense moment to realize the situation
and in that moment Kentucky Gar
rettson fired.
But when the smoke cleared away
Doctor Hearst was still standing with
that unafraid look on his face that
only q very few men can face death
with. The figure ON the stretcher
raised a grizzled head and chuckled:
Didn't alters say she'd do it? and
by gum, she has. But yer had the
wrong target this time, little gal. Daw
Simpleton has bin goin round payin
his debts fore he left the country. and.
touching his wounded breast, this is
one OF them, but aint dead yit by a
long sight, and Hearst says I'll pull
| through-guess I'll be more nerlita IN