Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-01-17

his breast, plucking at one spot as II
tearing barb from his bosom. He
jerked his head toward the door at his
elbow in quest of a retreat, shudder
ran over him, his knees buckled and
he plunged forward upon his face, his
arm still doubled under him.
It had happened like flash of light.
and although Helen felt, rather than
heard, the shot and saw her assailant
fall, she did not realize the meaning of
1t till drift of powder smoke assaulted
her nostrils. Even so. she experienced
no shock or horror Of the sight. On
the contrary. a savage JOY at the spec
tacle seized her and she stood still,
leaning slightly forward, staring at it
almost gloatingly. stood so till she
heard her name called, "TIelen. little
sisterw and turning, saw her brother
In the window.
That which he witnessed in her face
he had seen before in the faces of men
locked close with hateful death and
from whom all but the most elemental
passions had departed, but he had
never seen woman bear the marks
till now. No artifice nor falsity was
there, nothing but the crudest. inten.
sest feeling. which many people live
and die without knowing. There are
few who come to know the great
primitive, passionate longings. But in
this black night, fighting in defense Of
her most sacred self, this girls nature
had been stripped to its purely savage
elements. AS Glenister had predicted,
Helen at last had felt and yielded to
irresistibly powerful impulse.
CHANGING backward at the creature
sprawled by the door, Helen went to
her brother, put her arms about his
neck, and kissed him.
'Hc's dead?" TIE Kid asked her.
She nodded and tried to speak, but
began to SILVER and sob instead.
unlock the door," he begged her.
"I'm hurt, and must get In
When the Kid had hobbled into the
room she pressed him to her and strok
ed his matted head regardless of his
muddy, soaking garments.
II must look at him. He may not be
badly hurt" said the Kid.
'Don't touch himv' She followed,
nevertheless, and stood near by while
her brother examined his victim.
Struve was breathing, and, discover
ing this, the others lifted him with diff
fculty to the couch.
Something cracked in here-ribs, /
guess" the Kid remarked, gasping and
feeling his own side. He was weak
and pale, and the girl led him into the
bunkroom where he could lie down.
Only his wonderful determination had
sustained him thus far, and now the
knowledge of his helpiessness served
to prevent Helen's collapse.
The Kid would not hear Of her GO
ing for help till the storm abated or
daylight came, insisting that the trails
were too treacherous and that no time
could be saved by doing SO. Thus they
heard the wounded man family call
ing. He spoke to Helen hoarsely.
There was no malice, only fear, in his
tones:
II said this was my madness-and
got what / deserved, but I'm going to
de- o God-Pm going to die, and I'm
afraid" He moaned till the Bronco
Kid hobbled in, glazing with unquench-
ed hatred.
'.Yes, you're going to die, and I did
It Be game, can't you? sha'n't let
her go for help until daylight"
r pn1oy, fnvnofI be,,. hroflNoY. 1,0nly IN, y,so
couch, and returned to help the wound
ed man, who grew incoherent and be-
gan to babble.
A little later, when the Kid seemed
stronger and his head clearer, Helen
ventured to tell him Of their uncle's
villafny and of the proof she held, with
her hope of restoring justice. She told
him of the attack planned that very
night and of the danger which threat
ened the miners He questioned her
closely and, realizing the bearing of
her story, crept to the door, casting
the wind like hound.
We'll have to risk It," said he
THE wind is almost gone and it's not
long till daylight"
She pleaded to so alone, but he was
Arm. I'll never leave you again, and
moreover, l know the lower trail
quite well. Well go down the gulch
to the valley and reach 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 still pltchy dark and the rain
was pouring, but the wind only sighed
weakly, rs though tired by its VIC.
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 its 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 n half
hour when another horse plunged furi-
ously out of the darkness and halted
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 shattered lamp III
pool of oil. He called loudly, but,