Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-05-21

skirts. A group OF men stood IN the
roadway He saw them and trled 70
avoid them, but one Of them caileo
him They ordered him back whence
he had come When he left their
sight he abandoned the trail ana
skunk along the hillside like a VOL.
Long after dark he found his way
back to the trail. 1t was deserted now.
he dared take it. He drank from one
of the water holes. He was ravenous
with hunger. He planned as ne
walked. He was an animal, beast
Of prey. He knew no higher voice
than his Instincts. These urged him
Onto find some weaker being whom
he might overpower or destroy. He
had thrown away the board placards
II he were seen he knew he would
be shot. He in turn was willing to
kll--if he could in safety.
1t was near midnight when he
found his victim The moon was shin
ing dimly through the hemlocks on
little canvas tent 1t stood by IT.
self. well up the hillside. He watched
it from thicket. A light burned with
in, and showed in sharp silhouette
against it's walls the figure Of WON
an. No one was with her.
He had meant to wait until she
was asleep but the cold was stiHen-
ing his limbs and his back ached hor-
ribly. He would go boldly to the
door and ask for food. Once inside he
could manage her.
She heard his approaching footstep
and came to the entrance. In the
parted door she stood with the light
behind her-a grayhaired woman.
/ Clearly there was no one with her
/ What do you want?'' She asked
the question without fear and calmly.
/ Food" he answered, hoarsely; I'm
starving"
/ Come sn," she babe him. "Pll let
no man pass here hungry"
He entered He could have struck
1 her down as he did, but she might
have made cutlery Efe seated himself
on box planning some more silent
method FIe could wait. She was in
his hands now.
Where have You beeno" she asked
simply
"Dyea.' he answered, shortly; and
then. I'm tired and hungry
Poor fellow she stood regarding
1 him with pity in her eyes. Just
1 wait minute; til have some coffee
heated It's dreadful hard for some
i here on the trail. Poor fellow"
She left the tent a moment after
1 wood He looked about him swiftly
and saw bit of flashing rope lie
/ picked it up. and in an instant Topped
a moose. As she came back he
I slipped it into his pocket, and watched
/ her craftily
Its hard for US all" she went on,
4 half 10 herself My son is over the
i summit getting ready to move camp
tomorrow, | don't see how the men
! stand it
She had turned her back and he
| started to rise quickly, the moose in
his hand, A sharp throb of pain
made him groan aloud. He sank back
| into his seat.
You're hurt" she cried: and then
as she looked into his evil face some
thing OF the truth came to her She
regarded him intently. why, you're
the man they whipped at Sheep
Camp, she murmured.
/ He was too weak to move He was
moaning with the ache in his back
Take off your coat she command
ed, and sprang forward to help him
In dull way he fumbled at the but
tons. She stripped his upper garments
from him, tenderly, with deft fingers,
Poor fellow" she said, and her old
4 face was alight with pity.
She found a box Of salve and anoint-
ed the quiyering flesh. She tore strips
of linen and bound them about him.
All the time she spoke as kindly as
though he We're hurt child When
she had dressed him again, he felt
his strength returning. The food
was on the heap of sacks which served
for table, and he ate rayenously
like starved dog. It put new life
into him.
He tried to avoid her eyes as she
!, gazed into his face, and shifting his
, own saw on roll of blankets a Ions
, thin sack. It was one of the 'pokes'
in which the travellers on the trail
carried their money His mouth
: stifsened and his jaw settled squarely
He slipped his hand into his poke
where he had placed! the moose. Hi:
face was alive now-like the face o
{ a tiger ready to spring. Why did sh,
! not turn her back?
j She was talking to him. He hardl,
) heard her words. He was atire Will
5 the lust OF plumber. His cruel lip
7 drew back showing his yellow teeth
) Would she never turn2 He began t,
hate her for her slowness.
/ She came toward him, and laid he
! hand-its back was hard and brown
/ on his shoulder. Something in the fee
!, ing of it compelled him to look uI
FIis own pale. gray eyes were draw
to hers, and he saw the light Of kline
ness in their depths. 1t held hir
. strangely helpless. His fingers slippe
1 from the cord.