The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1908-11-06

NS<T~sN@Fa~k~
not in much pain, and 50 tired that he
had no desire to move.
Where he was or what had y
pened were questions that b filed
him. That he was not at home in bed
he knew. He was conscious of cold
and general discomfort, was haunted
by a feeling that something horrible
had t%ranspired, but he was unable to
link up the past with the present.
He turned his head at length and
saw the stars shining brightly above
him. He looked at them wonderingly.
His brain, instead of clearing, seemed
to become more confused. What did
those bright points of light mean?
Where was he?
Then the sound of the wind arrest
ed his attention. 1t swished, and
soughed, and died down into silence,
then rose again. 1t was like a voice
whispering to him. calling from some
distant place, and trying in vain to
make itself articulate.
He turned his head a little more;
then he attempted to reach out his
hand, and as he did SO a moan es-
capped his lips. The pain seemed to
clear his memory somewhat, then sud
denly the confusion passed away, and
he realized, as in a fash, where he
was and all that had happened.
so I'm not dead" he thought to
himself. and a grim smile stole slowly
owe his face.
Then his brow furrowed and he half
closed his eyes His brain was work
ing rapidly. He recalled all the events
of the >evious day. The letter he re-
ceived from the owners of the Nebras-
ka. His meeting with Esther Nav
gan, and their pleasant walk and talk.
His second visit to Nevins' lodgings.
His hurried search in st. Chloe bay.
His discovery Of Nevins in Penrp
Forth. His stealthy pursuit of the
thief across the bleak. trackless moor.
Their encounter in the darkness. miles
away from everywhere Their brief
battle of words-the flash of a knife,
and them
But I'm not dead" and he smiled
again, a grim painful smile.
He felt that he had played his part
badly. He might have surmised that
a desperate man at bay would do ces-
perate things. He had never consid-
cred the possibility of bodily harm'
He had been altogether too simple
and unsuspecting, AMI as the resnl'
he had come nea losing his LIE, Whlle
the thief had made good his ESCAPE.
"Pve bungled the whole thing bad
w." he reflected. and the grim smile
faded ioto q frown.
He moved himself slowly on to his
back, and with his left hand he u2'
buttoned his vest and searched for tn
wound. His sl..rt and underVeSt were
saturated, but the blood had eVi6cn'lN
| stopped flowing, and he had a tetLn'
that there had been title or no inter.
nal temorrhage. He could breathe
freely, and that in itself was a nope
full sign.
He was not afraid Of death, but his
passion for life remained as strong as
ever. He was young, and the future
seemed rich in possibilities. HIS
thoughts returned again and again 10
his mornings walk with Esther Nav
gan. She had said one or two Things
that would live in his m TO the
last. He wondered if he might dare
draw aay hope from them.
He made an effort to sit up, but lay
back again with a sroan. A u
sweat broke out all over him, and the
stars faded out of the Sky.
81 wonder if I am mortally hurt!
he said to himself, and he set his
teeth grimly together.
He was not lacking in courage, yet
the thought of dying alone,
for and INTENDED. on that lonely moor
sent a cold shudder through him.
IF some one only knew! If Esther
knew!" he reflected, and he closed his
eyes and a wan smile played over his
face.
II Esther knew, would she be great
" troubled? Would she come to see
him? Would she care? These were
questions he could not answer.
ITO BE continusd)