The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-03-28
For Aud Lang Syne.
BY Jessie @. Bowman.

Through the sage brush. From q
distant grove of cottonwood, which
marked the course of a river, the dis
NAL howl of a coyote rose on the
gently moving air. Sapley turned
painfully on his hard, gravel couch,
and his fevered eyes looked east
ward. The wound in his side bled
afresh at the motion, and Sapley
tried feebly to staunch 1t with his
shirt sleeve.
To the wounded man, stretched
upon the hard ground, the night had
seemed interminable For five days
he had eluded posse of officers and
led them a wild chase across the
plains of Arizona. His course had
been southwark toward the Mexican
line, and the fugitive rejoiced that
he would soon be within friendly
borders, when a long shot from the
rife of the Yuma county sheriff had
eickened him. 1t was dusk when the
leaden messenger had found It's
mark, and under cover of the night
Sapley had effected temporary es-
cape. The wound had made him
sick, however. and soon. faint from
loss of blood, he halted and. picket
Ing his horse, strove to stauuch the
blood. He was successful, for clot
slowly formed and the red stream
trickled smaller, and finally ceased
altogether, but his head felt dizzy
and soon he drifted into q weary
slumber. When he awoke his horse
was gone, and unable to crawl for
ward he had been compelled to lie
at full length throughout a swelter-
Ing day, and a seemingly endless
night
A raven wheeled slowly overhead,
and croaked ominously. The sage
brush rustled and the gravel ratified
under moving feet. A coyote polked
its head through the bushes and
eyed the PROSTATE man hungrily;
then another came, and yet another.
More ravens gathered overhead, un-
til they formed a black cloud like
the shadow of death. Sapley's tired
eyes observed this, and he wondered
vaguely. Then II came to him. They
were waiting for Death to deliver up
the spoils. They were waiting to de-
YOUR him. With an Indifferent gaze,
he watched the circling ravens.
Mort Williams pulled his mount
into a walk and shaded his eyes
with his hands.
Wonder what those ravens have
got" he muttered. "Whatever II Is,
Il must be alive for they're afraid to
settle"
Hang IT," he muttered, 1--WE got
to see what les all about, Something
seems TO be calling me Wonder If
somebody's in trouble"
Sapley lay as in a dream, while
the steady pounding of horses
hoofs drew nearer and nearer, until
It stopped beside him The rider
dlsmounted and bent, over him. Sap
ley looked up and tried TO smile, but
the strangers Jaw dropped and he
ed man. Finally he spoke
"Sapley, Joe Sapley!" he ejacu-
lated. well, | never" he scratch
ed his head helplessly.
Say, joe" he said at last; II sup
pose you know they're after you.
Griggs has been securing the whole
country for you"
II know 1t, Mort" said Sapley,
painfully, through his swollen lips,
"but water Mort, water; must
have water!"
Williams bent over him and look
ed at the wound. Then stripping off
his outer shirt, tore 1t into band
ages and bound up the wounded
sides. "Can you ride?" he asked.
Sapley nodded, and the plains
man lifted him tenderly into his sad
die. The man swayed unsteadily, and
Williams walked beside him, guard
ing the horse and supporting the
wounded one. Thus they plodded on
In silence. Half an hour later they
reached the river bank, and Sapley
uttered cry of delight.
We'll, joe" said he gravely,
when the wounded man had ceased
drinking, "of course you know I'll
have to turn you over to the authoH-
ties. You really haven't a career to
Be proud of, you know"
Sapley laughed mirthlessly, as he |
clung to the saddle horn for support. |
I'm in rather poor condition to |
stand State prison life. at present."
he remarked. How far is It to Mex |
ico?"
About thirteen miles"
viii you help me across the I
line?
Williams shook his head.
THE sheriff wants you" said he,
moodily, II know my duty"
DO you remember our school
days at Cambridge, Mort?" asked !
Sapley after silence. I'VE were
always together, you and I. You fell
of the bridge one night; do you re-
member? Your head hit on a pile,
and you came near drowning.
barely managed to get you out.
Mort. am drowning now VIII you
help me? Give me this chance for
my life, Mort. Do lido It, Just for
auld lang syne"
Williams gaze softened He gazed |
on down the river, winding snake-
like between it's red clay banks. and |
unconsciously began humming the |
song:
UTnr a,,IA Ion,. o.,