The Taney County republican., 1908-10-01
and mebhe | kin get him"

and mebbe | kin get him"
Then he began to try. after care
fully withdrawing his rife, to gain
position Of vantage from farther
up the side of the fallen beast. AS he
crawled forward upon his side, he in
advcrtently exposed himself and the
last outlaw lost no time in seizing
the opportunity.
A squirt of flame shot like lightning
from the hillside battle-ground. Sandy
felt a paralyzing shock, and released
his hold on his rife, which fell and
clattered out of reach.
"EIe got me! He got me.' Sandy
murmured over and over to himself.
His hand sought his breast and came
away rcdly stained. He was helpless.
but through his mind flashed a recol-
lection of an old Indian strategy, and
at once he simulated death,
\ long interval of silence followed.
Then a head appeared above the out
laws refuge. From around the corner
of the rock protruded a part of a
face. Still no shot from the traveller
crouched behind the dead wheeler
Emboldened by this, the outlaw eau.
tiously got on his feet and peered to-
ward his enemy. Satisfied that he had
nothing to fear, he advanced into the
open.
Over the field of tragedy he strobe
the lust of gold still upon him. He
reached the box of the stage, shifted
his rifle to the hollow of his arm, and
stretched out a grasping hand toward
The coveted loot
The prcscieuce which is every mans
inheritance caused him to turn toward
his fallen adversary.
From behind that barricade of flesh,
upon his knees, resting dizaily on
yne arm and weakly seeking steadi,
ness OF aim, was the supposed dead
man. The outlaws rifle and heavy
Colts rang in unison. The robber
spun upon his heel, dropping his weap.
on. Slowly he settled to his knees
and then, as though tired, fell forward
upon his face. He was not alone In
REIMBURSEMENT.
To the ears of the frightened pas.
scngcrs in the coach there came the
welcome sound of clattering hoOfs and
excited voices from down the road
Lucky that only one horse went
! over the cliff and that we met the
other leader" said the foremost man,
as his spurrcd heels rang on the
ground, and his mount, with steaming
| tanks, came to a detected halt. While
! two of the men listened to the fright
ened explanations Of the passengers
| the others grouped themselves around
the prone figure of Sandy. They lift.
ed him to an easier position and set
to work to revive him.
His eyes opened as though from
sleep, and his uninjured arm sought
the blood-stained breast.
Must get this to express he mur
INJURED. Wont get there in time, un
less ! do. Christmas most here Had
to fight for 1t, and can't fall down
now"
"Well. I'm damned" said one of the
men. This is all that saved that hole
from letting his life out He'll get
we'll, all right"
To the amazement Of the curious
group, he held in the air tiny buck
skin shirt. stained with blood and per
forated through its wadded thickness
with a bullet meant to kill.
Again the wind caressed the hill
tops. laid loving hands on the fir-trees
and played dancing tunes for the wild
flowers that carpeted the domes bacl
of Sandys home. Everything seemed
good to him In this spring world o.
his. 1t was an old world, too, and one
whose buffets and scant rewards h'
had faced uncomplainingly. But TO
night. he thought, what more could
man want than this? He reviewed II
order the facts that unexpected treas
ures of gold had been found, that new
friends had been made, and, creates
of all. that letter was lying on hi
lap. 1t read:
Deer Pardner:
or course / was glad 10 get the golt
watch those men sent with the shirt
Muther says they sent it to your name
sake because you wouldn't take nothing
But all the boys think the shirt Is tn
best part Of the present. muthcr wanted
to wash the stains out but | wouldn't le
her. and won't let her mend the hole
In It, Gee but you must have licked 'em
It's got another stain on 1t now wher
I cut my thum with my new nife try
ing to open the insides Of the watch
Good bye.
WILLIE SMITH PARKS
ps Somehow that watch don't run wei
no more.