Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1908-03-26

She hhu not meant 70 say II, put tne
meant Il when she said Il.
Come here.s close TO me. Louise.
said Gordon. in q low voice. He had
forgotten the doctor. "You had better
Ill get up n you dont. Closer still
I want you .to-kiss me before Paul
gets back"
Louise grew white. She glanced hes
itatingiy ut the doctor. timidly at the
new lover in the old man. Then she
bent oyer him whore he lay stretched
on the floor and kissed him on the
lips. A great light came into his eyes
before he closed them contentsdly and
slipped into. unconsciousness again.
Langford rounded up Jim Munson
and sent him across with . stretcher,
and then ran upstairs for IN extra
blanket on his own bed. II was bitter
ly cold. and Dick must DO well
wrapped. On the upper landing he On
countered Mary alone. Something In
her desolate attitude stopped him.
What's the matter. Mary?" he do
manded, seizing her hands.
Nothing" she answered, DULY
How Is he?"
"All right. I trust and pray. but hurt
terribly. wickedly." q,
He did not quite understand. Did
she love Gordon? Was that Why she
looked so hoartbroken! Taking heI
face In his two hands. he compelled
her to look ut him straight.
Now tell me-" he said.
did I kill him?" she asked
xiii whom?"
why. him-Jesse Black"
Then he understood.
MARY, my girl, was II you! Were
those last shots yours!" All the RI
otous love In him trsmbled on his
tongue.
did II" she persisted.
God grant you did," he said. sol
EMMY. There ID blood outside the
window. but he 10 gone"
II don't like to kill people" she said
brokenly. why do always have tr
do it,"
He drew her to him strongly and
held her close against his breast.
You are the bravsst and best Cir
on EARTH" he said. MY girl-you arr
my girl, you know-hereaftsr I vii
do all necessary killing for-my wife.
He kissed the sweet. Quivering lipI
as he said It.
why, Jim!" cried Langford In sur
prise. Il thought you had gone with
the stretcher."
II did CO." said Jim. swallowing
hard. He shifted nervously from one
spurred foot to the other. But
came back"
He looked at Langford beseechingly
BOSS. ! want to see you . minute
ef-Mary don't mind"
II will come with you. Jim. now.
said Langford with quick apprehen
sion.
"Mary"-Jim turned away ant
stared unseeingly down the staircas,
go back to your room for q little
while. will call for you soon. KeeI
up your courage"
WATT" said Mary. quietly. Their
were unsounded depths Of despair II
her voice: thought It was 10 clear ant
low. There was another shot. re
member now. Jim, tell mel"
Jim turned. The rough cowboy
eyes were wet-for the nrst time II
many q year.
, "They-hope he won't die. Mary
girl. Your fathers shot bad, but b.
amt dead. We think Black did {
after he run from Gordon's once. W,
found him on the corner"
Langford squared his broad shoul
ders-then put strong. protecting ARM
around Mary. Now was he her all.
Come. my darling. We will % u
him together.
She pushed him from her violently
Il will 60 alone. Why should 20,
come? He 10 mine. He 10 all hav,
there 10 no one else. Why don't yol
60? You are big and strong-can'
you make that man suffer for m!
fathers murder? Jim. take me to him.
She Seixed the cowboys arm, an,
they went out together and on dow
the stairs.
Langford stood still Q moment. fol
lowing them with his eyes. His fac
was white. He bent his head. Jim
looking back. saw him thus. the dull
light from the hail.lamp falling upol
the bent head and the yellow hail
When Langford raised his head. hi
face. though yet white. bore an o.
preston Of concentrated detsrmin1
ton.
He. too. strobe quickly down Ii
stairs.