The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-01-17

bound up. Water won't hurt me-
She thrust her tiny revolver into her
dress, but he took 1t and upon examina-
ton shook his head.
IF you need a gun you'll need a
good one" He removed the belt from
his own waist and buckled his Colts
about her.
"But your she objected.
"I'll get another in ten minutes"
Then as they were leaving he said:
zone other request, Cherry. I'll be
In hiding for time, and l must get
word to Miss Chester to keep watch
of her uncle, for the big fight is on
at last and the boys will hang him sure
If they catch him. I owe her this last
warning. VIII you send it to herr"
'I'll do it for your sake, not for her,
no, no; don't mean that. I'll do the
right thing all round. Leave it here
and I'll see that she gets it tomorrow.
And, Roy, be careful of yourself"
Her eyes were starry and in their
depths lurlled neither selfshness nor
jealousy now, only that mysterious
glory of woman who makes sacrifice.
Together they scurried back to the
stable, and yet, in that short distance
she would have been swept from her
feet had he not seized her. They blew in
through the barn door. streaming and
soaked by the binding sheets that
drove scythelike ahead of the wind.
He struck a light, and the pony
whinnied at recognition of his mis-.
tress. She stroked the little fellows
muzzle while Glenister cinched on her
saddle. Then when she was at last
mounted, she leaned forward:
"Will you kiss me once, Roy, for
the last timer"
He took her rain wet face between
his hands and kissed her upon the lips
rs he would have saluted little maid.
AS he did SO, unseen by both of them,
4 face was pressed for an instant
against the pane of glass in the stable
wall.
you're a brave girl and may God
bless you," he said, extinguishing the
light. He flung the door wide and
she rode out into the storm. Locking
the portal, he plunged back toward the
house to write his hurried note, for
there was much to do and scant time
for its accomplishment despite the
helping hand Of the hurricane. He
heard the voice Of Bering as It thun.
dered on the golden sands, and knew
that the first great storm of the fall
hot
the violence Of men would rival the
rising elements, for the deeds of this
night would stir their passions as
Aeolus was rousing the hate of the
sea.
He neglected to bolt the house door
as he entered, but flung off his dripping
coat and, Selling pad and pencil
Scrawled his message. The wind
screamed about the cabin, the lamp
1ared smOkily and Glenister felt a
draft suck past him as though from an
open door at his back as he wrote:
can't do anything more. The end has
come, and 1t has brought the hatred and
bloodshed that have been trying to pre-
vent. / played the game according to
your rules, but they forced me back to
first principles in spite of myself, and now
l don't know what the finish will be. To-
morrow will tell. Take care of your I'M
c., and If you should wish to communi-
20 with me, go to Cherry Malotte. She
Is friend to both of us. Always your
g. IYant, ROY GLENISTER.
AS he sealed this he paused, while he
felt the hair on his neck rise and bris-
tie and chill race up his spine. His
heart huttered, then pounded onward
till the blood thumped audibly at his
ear drums and he found himself sway
ing in rhythm to its beat. The muscles
of his back cringed and rippled at the
proximity of some lowering peril, and
get an irresistible feeling forbade him
to turn. A sound came from close be-
hind his chair-the drip, drip, drip of
water. 1t was not from the caves, nor
yet from faulty single. His back
was to the kitchen door, through which
he had come, and, although there were
no mirrors before him, he felt men,
acing presence as surely as though it
had touched him. His ears were tuned
to the finest pin pricks Of sound, so
that he heard the faint, signing
''squish" OF sodden shoe upon which
weight had shifted. Still something
chained him to his seat. 1t was as
though his soul laid restraining hand
upon his body, waiting for the instant
He let his hand seek his hip careless
ly, but remembered where his gun was.
Mechanically he addressed the note in
shaking characters, while behind him
sounded the constant drip, drip, drip
that he knew came from saturated
garments. For long moment he sat,
till he heard the stealthy click Of gum
lock muflled by finger pressure. Then
he set his face and slowly turned to
find the Bronco Kid standing behind
him as though risen from the sea, his
light clothes wet and clinging, his feet
centered In spreading puddle. The
dim light showed the convusivc fury
of his features above the leveled
weapon, whose hammer was curled
back like the head Of striking adder,
bis eyes cleaning with frenzy. Glen
ister's mouth was powder dry, but his
mind was leaping riotously like dust
before a gale, for he OWNED himself to
be in the deadliest peril of his life.
When he spoke the calmness of his
voice surprised himself.
whats the matter, Bronco?" The
u al, IDN,v 81