Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1908-05-28

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ed, still cycling her visitor suspicious
ly.
Il fear so, missy I fear so: but for
got to give you this bit of paper he
sent" and he pulled crumpled note
out of his vest pocket.
She recognized the writing in mo.
ment, though it was written with a
feeble and unsteady hand, but there
could be no mistake about its genu-
ineness
I Come, little girl, at once I'm near
the 'finish.-R W.
f'Ill be with you in a moment" she
said with a gasp Wont you wait by
the fire."
"Thanky, missy. III stand here if I
may" and he struck fuse and light
ed cigar.
A few minutes later they were
tramping side by side along the muddy
track which in time would become a
busy street. Very few words passed
between them. The wind buffeted
/ them and the rain came down in blind.
ing drifts. The man smoked stolidly,
| needless Of the rain the girl kept
close to his side, thankful for his I'M
| spoken sympathy.
She was too stunned to think clear
| ly or to feel acutely She half doubt
ed whether she was awake. She had
experienced in dramas a very similar
feeling. Everything seemed chaotic
and unreal.
| NJ,
of the town and drew up in what
seemed to be blind alley A knot of
rough looking men fingered round an
open door in spite of the rain, and
spoke to each other in disjointed sen
fences
Marion West and her companion
passed through the open door without
a word. The light within almost
blinded her after the outer darkness
1t was squalid room. The floor was
| Uttered with cigar ends and half-burnt
matches. Here and there tables were
overturned and wrecked, chairs were
huddled into corner
On a straw mattress at one end Of
the room was stretched the body Of a
without word, and knelt down on the
floor by his side He smiled feebly
for moment but did not speak. and
Marion bent over and kissed him on
the forehead again and again.
An old woman who had been acting
as nurse raised his head and gave him
something to drink, then withdrew
silently to the rear of the room. Half
a score of men stood round the door,
but they were too far away to hear
anything.
For several moments there was not
sound. Dick West seemed to be
gathering all his strength together for
a nnal effort. Then he whispered:
Put your ear close to my lips, Mari
on
She obeyed instantly.
I've written little and put it in
! this envelope" he said, feebly.
j Yes, dad" she answered, with a
sob.
"You needn't fret he went on.
! you'll be better off without me-
/ mo, no." and the words ended in a
wall.
| 1--WE taken my chance, and don t
complain he went on, and look of
defiance flashed in his eyes for sec
ond. "If were to get better I'd take
my chance again: but l never shall.
I'm winged this time, and there's no
mistake about it,"
But you may get better, dad" she
sobbed.
Don't interrupt me, Marion, or 1
| shall never finish what want to say.
| When I'm gone, clear out of Odero at
once. Sell everything there isn't
much-and go to England: 1t is your
proper home. Take the note I've writ
ten to Mayhem of Exeter. He'll look
after you. Everything of. value is in
4 my cowhide trunk
I He paused for several moments as
if exhausted, and an ooze OF blood
i dyed his rapidly paling lips.
At q sign from Marion the old wo
man came forward again and raised
his head little, and, after wiping his
j lips, gave him something to drink.
! Through the lung" she whispered
sententiously to Marion, and she
shrugged her shoulders meaningly.
Marion understood only too well
and braced herself for the inevitable
There's a silver box, he gasped
4 feebly, after long pause, Eat the bot
tom of the trunk. 1t contains all the
necessary papers. Give ito May
i hew. He'll know. You'll learn some
- day
He opened his eyes wide and stared
round him. .tWhat-was i saying?'
a he painted In low whisper Come
nearer, Marion I--I-cannot see you
;------- :, Ss
I'm quite close to YOU dad. 2 she
said. laying her hand upon his brow.
4 Where am II" he gasped. tt
was !,
4 But the sentence was cut short by a
4 rush of blood through his lips and
I nostrils.
The old woman came forward again
4 and raised his head
i He stared patheticallg round him
q but his eyes were glazing fast.