The Red Cloud chief., 1908-02-28

young body, nntricd until this moment.
answered In every fiber, so that she
wrcstled with almost u mans strength
and he had hard shift to hold her. But
so violent an encounter could not last.
Helen felt herself drifting free from
the earth and losing grip Of all things
tangible, when Mt last they trlppcd and
fell against the inner door. This gave
way, and at the same moment the
mans strength departed MS though 1t
were Il thing OF darkness and dared
not face the light that strcamed over
them. She tore herself from his clutch
and staggered into the supper room.
her loosened hair falling in a cleaning
torrent about her shoulders. while he
arose from his knees and came toward
her again. gasping:
"Ill show you who's master here!
Then he ceased abruptly. cringingly,
and threw up an arm before his face
as If to ward Off a blow. Framed IN
the window was the pallid visage Of II
man. The air rocked, the lamp fiarcd,
and Strive whirled completely around,
falling back against the wall. His
eyes filed with horror and shifted
down where his hand had clutched at
his breast, plucking at n spot as IL
tearing Il barb from his bosom. He
jcrked his head toward the door Mt his
elbow in quest of n retreat, a shudder
ran over him, his knees buckled and
he plunged forward upon his face, his
arm still doubled under him.
1t had happened like q fash Of light,
and although Helen felt, rather than
heard, the shot and saw her assailant
fall. she did not realize the meaning Of
II till a drift Of powder smoke assaulted
her nostrils. Even So, she experienced
no shock or horror Of the sight. On
the contrary. n savage joy mt the spec
tacle seized her and she stood still,
leaning slightly forward, staring mt it
almost gloatingly. stood so till she
heard her name called, "Helen, little
sister, and turning. saw her brother
i'm the window.
That which he witnessed i'm her face
he had seen before in the faces of men
locked close with a hateful death and
from whom all but the most elemental
IuSSiOHS uuu utpdtttu, uut hC hhu
never seer a woman bear the marks
till now. No artificc nor falsity was
there. nothing but the crudest, inten-
sest feeling, which many people live
ana die without knowing. There arc
few who come TO know the great
primitive, passionate longings. But I'm
this black night. fighting in defense Of
her most sacred self. this girls nature
had been stripped Ia its purely savage
elements. As Glcnistcr had predicted,
Helen at last had felt and yielded to
irresistibly powerful impulse.
CHANGING backward ut the creature
sprawled by the door, Helen went to
her brother. put her arms about his
neck, and kissed him.
Hes dead;" tie Kid asked her.
She nodded and tried 10 speak, hui
hogan to Shivcr and sob instead.
unlock the door" he begged her
"T'm hurt, aud | must get in
When the Kid had hobllCl into the
room she pressed him to her and strok
ed his matted head regardless of hi
muddy, soaking garments.
II must look ut him. He may not b'
badly hurt said the Kid.
Don't touch him!' She followed
nevertheless, and stood ncar by while
her brother examined his victim
Strive was breathing, and, discover
ing this. the others lifted him with diff
iiculty to the couch.
Something cracked in hcre-ribs,
guess" the Kid remarked, gasping ant
feeling his own side. He was wcaI
and pale, and the Girl led him into tn
bunkroom where he could lie down
. Only his wonderful determination la,
sustained him thus far, and now tn
knowledge of his hclpleSSness serve
to prevent IIclcn'S collapse.
, The Kid would not hear of her =;
!, ing for help till the storm alated q
, daylight anne, insisting that the trail
| were too l%rcacherouS and that no tim
could be saved 10y doing 81. Thus the
, waited for the dawn. At last the
heard the wounded man family cal
y ing. He spoke to IIclcn hoarScl!
- There was no malice, only fear, In n
- tones:
A Il said this was my madncss-and
A got what | deserved. but I'm going
@ die. q God I'm going to die, and II
afraid He moaned til the Bron,
d Kid hobblcd I'm, giaring with unuucncl
II ed hatred.
II Yes, you're going to die, and | ii
"a Z, ID .,, ,,,st ,.,pe SIl'n't 4