The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-04
Spoilers.
~ REX 3. BHAcll
Copyright rS0, By Rsx u Beach.


| got what | deserved, but I'm going to
die. o Goblin going TO die, and I'm
| afraid" He moaned till the Bronco
Kid hobbled In, glaring with unquench-
| ed hatred.
Eyes, you're going to die, and did
ii. Be game, can't you? ! sha'n't let
her go for help until daylight"
Helen forced her brother back to his
couch, and returned to help the wound
ed man, who grew incoherent and be-
gan to babble.
A little later, when the Kid seemed
| stronger and his head clearer, Helen
villainy and of the proof she held, with
her hope of restoring justice. She told
him OF the attack planned that very
night and of the danger which threat
ened the miners. He questioned her
closely and. realizing the bearing Of
her story, crept to the door, casting
| the wind like hound.
| We'll have to risk IT," said he
The wind is almost gone and it's not
long till daylight"
She pleaded to go alone. but he was
| firm. "Tll never leave you again. and
moreover. know the lower trail
quite well. Well go down the gulch
to the valley and reach town that
way. Its farther, but it's not so
dangerous
"You can't ride she insisted.
81 can If you'll tie me into the sad
die. Come. get the horses"
| 1t was still pitchy dark and the rain
was pouring. but the wind only sighed
weakly. as though tired by its VIC
lence. when she helped the Bronco into
his saddle. The effort wrenched n
groan from him. but he insisted upon
her tying his feet beneath the horses
belly. saying that the trail was rough
and he could take no chance Of fall
ing again; so. having performed the
last services she might for Strive. she
mounted her own animal and allowed
1t to pick its way down the steep de
scent behind her brother, who swaycd
and lurched drunkenly in his seat.
gripping the horn before him with
both hands.
They had been gone perhaps half
| hour when another horse plunged furi-
ously out OF the darkness and halted
before the roadhouse door. Its rider
mud stained and disheveled. flung
] himself In mad haste TO the ground
and bolted in through the door. lie
saw the signs of confusion in the out
er room. chairs upset and broken, the
table wedged against the stove and be
| fore the counter a shattered lamp in
pool of oil. He called loudly. but.
receiving no answer, snatched "a light
which he found burning and ran TO
the door at his left. Nothing greeted
| him but the empty tiers Of hunks.
Turning. he crossed TO the other side
and burst through. Another lamp was
| lighted beside the couch where Strive
lay, breathing heavily. his lids half
closed over his staring eyes. Roy
noted the pool OF blood at his feet and
the broken window; then. setting down
his lamp. he leaned over the man and
spoke TO him.
When he received no answer he
spoke again loudly. Then. in a frenzy.
Glenister shook the wounded man
cruelty. so that he cried out IN terror:
I'm dying-oh. I'm dying" Roy
raised the sick man up and thrust his
own face before his eyes.
"This is Glenister. I've come for
Helen-where is sheT A spark of
recognition fickered into the dull stare.
you're too late-Im dying-and I'm
afraid"
His questioner shook Strive again.
Where is she?" he repeated. time
after time, till by very force of his
own insistence he compelled reaiza-
ton in the sufferer
1.-The Kid took her away. The Kid
shot me-" and then his voice rose till
II flooded the room with terror. The
Kid shot me, and I'm dying" He
coughed blood TO his lips, at which
Roy laid him back aud stood up. SO
there was no mistake, after all, and he
had arrived too late. This was the
Kids revenge This was how he
struck. Lacking courage to face a
mans level eyes. he possessed the foul
ness TO prey upon a woman. Roy felt
WtdhtuluT BuN Si'hI HiNhhtSn oNt'P
oyer him till his eye fell upon n sodden
garment which Helen had removed
from her brothers shoulders and re
placed with n dry one. He snatched
II from the floor and In sudden fury
felt II come apart in his hands like
wet tissue paper.
He found himself out In the rain.
scanning the tramped soil by light of
his lamp. ard discerned tracks which
the drizZle had not yet erased. He
reasoned mechanically that the two
riders could have no great start of him,
so strobe out beyond the house TO see
II they had gone farther Into the hills.
There were no tracks here, therefore
they must have doubled back toward
town. 1t did not occur TO him that
they might have left the beaten path
and followed down the little creek to
the river; but, replacing the light
where he had found it, he remounted
and dashed his horse into stiff canter
up toward the divide that lay between
him and the city. The story was grow
ing palmer to him, though as yet he
could not piece 1t all together. Its
IL. Ia