Gunnison news-champion., 1908-08-07

srs-elilF - ~. fr-r tuisch of tegiia
asssssss-. shich s-sf trickhasiy uIsoa
his sr@isfuI Hrs fram the cani.su of
Boo Nary and vifh ar esorr he opened
f his eyes and struzzied siV~iy o. sis
eibog Al auin1allfF xas xanguishea
I b the conaae-tnE ieseliaz thirsi. aad
I b. reached bliudly osf 20 seiz. the tia
shioh hsld uIarc of the precious rsid.
Z but ~i-h a sickeaing sheer the har
breed stepped aisickly back and shooi
a. sIiashias and tsnializiag in its full
ness before has lousiRg eyes. and then
tsrasd D. deliberately cut spon thu al
sorbing sand
Fsr a moment the trooper simply
sal and Easped aud sazea In spe.ch
less desire al the sparkling water as
II flowed and eushed a cool gureling
stream. from the mouth Of the al-
turned osnteen With a dry. chokins
sob from a thick swollen tongue. he
iarcbea suddenly forward and plunged
his face and hands into the momentary
mud of moisture and sucked and
lauped a. it rasenousiy like a beast
Then, a. the last drop vanished. he
looked loneiR2ly up Tor more
The half breed grunted With graft
fcstion az he sac the pleading agony
In the mans eyes-an agony stimu-
.ated and aroused spe~ with aggrsva
tion. and he stepped closer and spat
spitefully into the uptsrned expectsnt
face. then smiled meckinsly as he
slowly unslung a second csnteeR and.
HuFu ss A
long and deep.
The troopers hands worked con
Yuls'vely as he watched the wsnton
waste of water and the light of re.
turning reason grew quick and sud
denly strong In his eyes. He felt the
power Of renewing strength increasing
within him. and in desperate frenzy
he struggled totteringly to his feet.
and With limbs almost refusing to sus-
tain him he flung himself swayingly
upon the half breed and tried to tear
the tempting tin from his lips But
Joe Mary simply dropped the canteen
and seized him stranglingly by the
throat and hurled him reeling weakly
back. and drawing his revolver Gov
cred the thirst-tempted, trembling
trooper.
All, You choke-fight for water
eh'" he said. smiling slowly. and he
held the dripping csnteen nearer
Yes" the trooper gasped. Give
me more-you devil. just another
drop" he pleaded pathetically. with
wild. erased eyes Then his hand sud
denly sought the butt II the weauoa
at his hip. % the half bresA shook his
heaA sWeerinGly
How die for water. ] Ruess'" tawateA
Joe Mary With intense. savage instinct.
"Aebbe ! give one big drtak-all thea
shoot quicken? Pleaty water over
there" and he pointed with ioas lean
arm toward the foothills. "Mebbe I
AOat give water-eh. but go away and
no shoot nov. You die Just as same,
Which," and he leered treacherousiy
forward as he again held the canteen
toward the trooper
Water" gasped the man still
chokingiy. and he snatched greedily
at the proRered tin and carried 1t Joy.
fully to his lips. The water ran in a
gureling. grateful stream down his
Poish'-u anu sWoiiVf anu OOZeu
tricklingly from the corners OF mis-
mouth. Then. when AT last the costa
sy was over and the awful. consuming
thirst was conquered. he threw aside
the empty tin and faced the half
breeds still threatening weapon
Now I'm ready to die. I've had
drink" he remarked coolly. as he
wiped the moisture from his lips and
stood still. staggering a little. as the
half breeds eyes glittered and cleaned
death to him over the sight of his
menacing muzzle.
Overhead. the solitary buzxard still
circled and looked down from dizzy
heights and the coyote still skulked
expectantly among the growing shad-
ows of the sand hills
Joe Mary paused. STEPPED back a
pace and again raised his weapon
Then. just as the muzzle grew sudden
ly steady once more. and his bronzed
forefinger begun to crook closely
against the trigger. there came. sharp
upon the still desert air. quick,
warning rattle and a subdued hiss at
his feet. and with a wild look of abiect
terror in his evil eyes. he Iesped
quickly aside and as he did 30 there
was sudden spurt Of flame. followed
by quick pun Of smoke and sharp
report, and Joe Mary pitched forward
and lay still. face downward, in the
aikali dust
Just a trick Of the tongue" NUT
tered the trooper laconically. as he
showed his still smoking weapon back
into its holster. and. climbing weakly
upon the dead mans pony. rode OF in
the direction Of the foothills.
Mis- Marrow Escape.
Once. related the tall trasedian
with the Shakespearean hair. Il was