Gunnison news-champion., 1908-02-28

ne came AT N,oTassH- yoa UuI 30
let hiM psf me 10 tssd eli yos7"
Il think 1t would b. better to lct her
have her ~ay. l.eckhArt.- . said Gordos
II q lsO voice
Maybe II would. Dick said the
doctor. With susprissns nseekness.
IN stay all night and In take good
care OF her. Lockhart. There's Moth
er White beckoHias so supper You'll
eat before you go2 No. | wont take
any supper noe. thank you. mother. I
will stay with Mary"
And he did stay With her all through
the long watches Of that long night
he never closed his eyes in sleep
Sometimes Mary would drop oR into
uneasy sismbeF-always OF short du-
ration. When she awakened suddenly
In ~ide-eyed fright he soothed her
With ali tenderness. Sometimes when
he thought she was sleeping. she
would clutch his arm desperately and
cry out that there was some one be-
hind the big cottonwood Again it
would be to ask him in a terrified
whisper If he did not hear hoof beats.
galloping. galloping. galloping. and
begged him to listen. He could al
ways quiet her. and she tried hard TO
Keep from wandering; but after
short. broken rest she would cry out
again in endless repetition of the ter
rors of that awful night.
Mrs. White and several of her small
progeny breathed loudly from an ad
joining room. lamp burned dimly
on the table. 1t grew late-l2 O'Clock
and after. At last she rested. She
passed from light, broken slumber TO
deep sleep without crying out and
thus awakening herself Gordon vas
tired and sad. Now that the flush Of
fever was gone. he saw how white and
miserable she really looked The cir
cles under her eyes were so dark
they were like bruises. The mantle
Of his misfortune was spreading 10
bring others besides himself into its
som Der folds
The men were coming back. But
they were coming quietly. In grim ST.
lence. He dared not awaken Mary
for the news he knew they must carry
He stepped noiselessly to the door to
warn them to . yet Greater stiffness
aaA met Langford On the tAreshosA.
The two surveyed each other crave
ly With clasPed hands.
You tell her, Dick. IL can't" ssiA
I.angfOrd. His big shoulders lrOoped
as under . heavy burden.
Must H." asked Gordon.
Dick, IL can't" said I.angford.
brokenly. Don't you see ?-if I had
been just a minute sooner-and
promised.
Yes, I see. Paul" said Gordon.
quietly. 4 will tell her"
You need not" said a sweet clear
voice fron across the room. Il know.
! heard think knew all the time
but YOU were all 10 good to make me
hope. Dent worry about me any
more. dear friends. am all right
now. II 10 much better to know.
hope they didn't hang him. You think
they shot him. don't you?"
Little girl, little girl" cried Lang
ford, On his knees beside her, 1T Is not
that! Ii is only that We have not
found him. But no news is good news.
That We have found no trace proves
that they have to guard him well be-
cause he is alive We are going on n
new track tomorrow. Believe me,
little girl, and go to bed now. won't
you. and rest?''
Yes" she said, wearily, as one in
whom no hope was left. Il .
will mind-the boss"
As he laid her gently on the bed.
while Mrs. White. aroused from sleep.
fiuttered aimlessly and drowsily about,
he whispered, his breath carressing
her cheek:
You will go to sleep right away.
won't you"
Il will try. You are the boss"