The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1908-06-20

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So thinking. he crossed the valley
and assembled little hill. Before him
lay another valley, containing what
seemed to be a field. His course lay
directly across it, and soon he STUN
bled over something. Peering about
''e discovered tho foundations of a
house, burned long ago. He was pick
ing his way through them when sud
denly the ground was crumbling under
his feet, the stars seemed to be dan
cling about him, then he knew no
more.
When Avery was again conscious of
the sunshine it was cleaning brightly
into the mouth of the old well into
which he had fallen. His head was
aching slightly from a blow as he fell,
but otherwise he was not injured.
Examining the walls of the excava-
ton he found that it was very doubt
full whether he could get out unaided
For the present he was content to re-
main. The country was probably be-
ing secured for him by this time, and
the we'll was better hiding place
than he could have found. He was not
hungry, and he drank from a puddle
near the wall
1t was somewhat past noon when he
felt few spoonfuls of earth sift
down. Quickly glancing up, he saw a
woman's face between him and the
green. His first thought was to keep
perfectly still, but she had discovered
him as he moved; he saw her draw
back in surprise. Then she spoke.
Are you hurt?"
No
Cant you get out?"
NO
I'll bring you rope" And she
was gone.
From the length of her absence
Avery supposed that she went some
distance
How long have you been in there?"
asked the rescuer.
Three days." he was startled to
hear himself reply
Slowly they crossed the field. On
the way the woman told her tale. She
and her husband were moving to what
seemed a kinder country when he re-
cefved a hurt that rendered him un-
able to work. Still they went on, till
one Of the horses fell lame, and since
then they had been unable to get
farther, although only few miles
from town.
Arrived at their camp, Avery told
his fiimsy tale of searching for strayed
cattle, which neither man nor woman
seemed to doubt. They fed him and
his hunger seemed proof of a three
days fast. All the afternoon he lay
under the wagon and rested, planning
escape.
Meanwhile the movers little girl
for several days, but now her mother
became alarmed about her. Avery
saw the woman saddling the sound
horse; before he could imagine what
she intended to do she had asked him
to go to town for doctor.
It was equally impossible to refuse
or to explain. Slowly he mounted and
turned the animals head towards
danger. The dark cloud had climbed
higher now; its edge touched the
zenith.
Once out of the woman's sight,
though on SO urgent an errand, he did
AOI SpCCQ. LII q Low n0 WOUlQ
reach the high road, stretching away
in two directions. His horse was
fresh; the rain was in his favor.
The Doctors wife was reading the
new roem, Lucille that night, yet
she was net too absorbed to hear
knock. A man stood outside, who
edged out of the shaft Of light as she
opened the door, and asked her the
question which she heard oftener than
any other. She told him that her hus-
band was at the sheriff's supper and
directed him where to go, with feel
ing of pity, both for him and the ply
stefan who must mount and go In such
weather
The man outside, when the door
closed, leaned against the wall, -
lacking strength or resolution. uen
he shook himself together and walked
back 10 his horse. At the sheriff's
gate he paused. then strobe up the
path to tie door with his head erect.
in spite of the rain, and in his eyes
the light of the great silent stars.
The largest room in the sheiR
house was The hall, which ran it's
whole length, and there he gave his
feast There long tables were spread
and round them were gathered his
friends from far ranches. The very
crown of the supper was the mann
moth turkey, which the thrifty officer
haa fattened on the scraps of his |
prisoners meals. Just as he was
liftirg his knife to carve it there was |
\ knock at the door Stanley rose |
and threw it wide open.
The man who entered was drenched |
and storm beaten, and blinking at the |
light. He could not understand why /
Stanley was shaking him by both /
:ands at once and why the men were
cheering. until he saw, foremost in
The group gathered round him, the
man he had been accused of killing.
The boys was powerful disappoint-
I'd, the sheriff was saying.