The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1908-05-14

there, nothing lnteh-
scst feeling, " 'ple 1--we
and die Wit wing. There are
fcv who c,..,.. Low the great
primitive, pasSiona lgings. But III
this block night. Fl 10 defense Of
bar most sac>S girls nature
had been str. purely savage
elements. AS, 'ad predicted,
Helen at last y!eldsd 10
irreSistiby pow...ui q.
Glancing backward creature
sprawled by the door, went 10
her brother. put her al )out his
neck. and Kissed him.
Hes deaA?" the Kid a. or.
She nodded and tried to nut
began to shiver and sob II
Unlock The DOOR" he
"Tm hurt, and must get
When the Kid had hobb.
room she pressed him to her
ed his matted head regardless OF
muddy, soaking garments.
81 must look ut him. He may not be
badly hurt" said the Kid.
Don't touch him" She followed,
nevertheless, and stood near by while
her brother examined his victim.
Struye was breathing, and. discover
ing this, the others lifted him With diff
6culty to the couch.
something cracked in here-rir.,
guess" the Kid remarked, GaspjIg and
feeling his own SIDE. he was weak
and pale, and the girl led him into the
bunkroom where be could lie down
, ,,ply his wonderful fletermiaatIsa Asu
sustained him mus ''- -,
-, ..nu now the
| knowledge Of his helplessness served
to prevent Heien's collapse.
The Kid would not hear Of her 60
ing for help till the storm abated OF
daylight came, insisting that the trails
were to- treacheToqsaud that no time
t2ujd be saved by doing SO; Thus they
waited for the dawn. At last they
heard the wounded man family call
ing. He spoke to Helen hoarsely
There was no malice. only fear, in his
tones:
Il said this was my madness=ahd I
got what deserved, but I'm going to
die. o Goblin going to die, and I'm
afraid" He moalf&d till the Bronco
Kid hobbled in, glaring with unquench-
ed hatred
Yes, you're going to die, and 1 did
it. Be game, can't you? I 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
ventured to tell him Of their uncles
vlllalny 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 Il hound.
We'll have to risk it, said he.
The wind is almost gone and it's not
long til daylight"
She pleaded to so alone, but he was
firm I'll never leave you again, and,
moreover. I know the lower trail
quite we'll Well go down the gulch
to the valley and reach town that
way. It's farther, but it's not so
dangerous"
You can't ride" she insisted.
81 can if you'll tie he 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 vio-
lence, when she helped tie Bronco into
his saddle. The effort wrenched a
groan from him, but he insisted upon
her tying his feet beneath the horses
belly, saving that the tfai! was rough
and he could take no chance Of fall
ing again; so, having performed the
last services she might for Struve, she
mounted her own animal and allowed
it to pick its way down the steep de-
scent behind her brother, who swayed
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 ont of the darkness and halted
before the roadhouse door. Its rider,
mud stained and disheveled, flung
himself in mad haste 10 the ground
and boted in through the door. He
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 shattered lamp in
a pool of oil. He called loudly, but,
receiving no answer, snatched light
which he found burning and ran to
the door at his left Nothing greeted