The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1908-03-13
CHAPTER XII.

up that Mrs. White had improvised an
invalid's chair out of huge old rocker
and cracker box. It did very we'll.
Then she had partially clothed the
girl in skinny wrapper Of the sort
Langford abominated, throwing a
mans silk handkerchief where the
wrapper failed to meet, and around
the injured arm. Mrs. White had
then recalled her husband from the
stables where he was on the point of
mounting to join the relief party that
was to set off in search of Williston
at 10 o'clock. The starting point unan-
mously agreed upon was to be the
pitiful remnants of Williston's home.
Men shook their heads obviously
whenever the question of possible
leading trail was preached. The soil
was hard and dry from an almost
rainless July and August. The fugi-
tives might strike across country any
where with meager chances of their
trail being traced by any.
Mrs. White and her husband, kindly
souls both, lifted the girl as gently as
might be from the bed to the rudely
constructed invalid's chair by the sit
ting-room window. Then they left
her-the woman to putter around her
kitchen, the man to make good his
appointment But the exertion had
been to much for Mary. She had
counted on strength that she did not
posses. Where had she lost it? she
wondered, lacking comprehension Of
her exceeding weakness. To be sure,
her arm alternately ached and smart
ed, but ones arm was really such a
small part of one, and she had been
so strong-always. She tried to shake
OF the faintness creeping over her. It
was effort thrown away. She lay back
on her pollow, very white and worn,
her pretty hair tangled and loosened
from it's coils.
Paul came. He was dusty and trav-
el-stained. He had been almost con-
tinuously in his saddle since near mid
night of the night before. He was
here, big, strong and worthy. Mary
did not cry, but she remembered how
she had wanted to few hours ago
and she wondered that she could not
now. Strangely enough, it was Paul
who wanted to cry now-but he didn't
He only swallowed hard and held her
poor hand with all gentleness, afraid
to let go lest he also let 20 his mas
terry over the almost insurmountable
lump in his throat
Il tried to come sooner" he said
huskily, at last, releasing her hand
and standing before her. But I've
been riding all over-for men, you
know-and l had a talk with Gordon,
too. 1t took time. He is coming out
to see you this afternoon. He is COM
ing with doc. Don't you think you had
better go back to bed now? You are
$3.50 white. Let me carry you back
to bed before co.
Are you going, too?" asked Marv.
looking at him with wide eyes of graf
itude
Surely he responded, quickly.
'Did you think I wouldn't?"
'I-I-didn't know. I thought
there were a lot going-tbere would
be enough without you. Butt am
glad If you go, it will be all right.
You will find him if any one can"
won't you let me carry you back
to bed till doc comes?" said Langford
brokenly.
Il could not bear it in bed" she caid,
clearly. Her brown eyes were begin
pipo to o1,;po with Favor npd rod c,o+,
had broken out in her pale cheeks
IF you make me 60, I shall die.
hear it all the time when I am lying
-galloping, galloping, galloping.
They never stop. They always begin
all over again.
what galloping, little girl?" asked
Langford, soothingly. He saw she
was becoming delirous. If doc and
Dick would only come before he had
to go. But they were not COM
ing until after dinner. He gazed
down the dusty road. They would wait
for him, the others. He was their
leader by the natural-born right of
push and energy, as we'll as by his
having been the sole participant with
his own cowboys, in the last night s
tragedy. But would he do well to
keep them waiting?. They had already
delayed too long. And yet how could
he leave Williston's little girl like this
even to find Williston? ST. %.=
.'They are carrying my father
away she said, with startling dis,
tinctness. Don't you hear them? II
you would listen, you could hear them
Do listen! They are getting faint
now--you can hardly hear them. They
are faint = III s 5sz
b. She had raised her head. There
was an alert look on her face. i. She
leaned slightly toward the sWindow
III Good God! A man can't stand
everything cried Langford, hoarsely
He tore he knotted Handkerchief
from his throat. It was as If he was
choking. !. Then he put his cool, strone
hand to her burning forehead anc
gently smoothed back the rough hair
Gradually the fixed look Of an indie
scribe horror passed away from hlel
face. The strained, hard eyes soften
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