The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-12-11

/ She saw it all. His going away, as
he had explained to him Jim Small
lige, meant the pistol on the table.
She had hoped the letter to be for her;
still, it was better. He was squaring
the forgery, and felt too mean even to
write her!
There is an end, evento anangels
forgiveness he added, in low way,
his eyes lost upon the castellated
peaks. Good old Jim will get the
money to them and to her. Pm
well, | go out with the new day which
do not deserve. 1t should be night
for deed of darkness.
The dull pearl ofmorning light was
behind him. when Reeder sat sudden
ly erect-the hot lamp between him
and the fascinated eyes in the hall.
1 go out like an outlaw horse, he
said, like an outlaw horse that has
dared to pit his strength against the
craft of men. Whipped and lonely, l
take the last trail-but with prayer
for the lady who loved me once"
He arose quickly, his face more
calm. The woman's tongue cleaved
like reptile to the roof of her mouth.
His hands were steady, as he tightly
fastened, with a thong, the leather
bag containing the money. The
lamplight showed his face ashen, but
there was not quiver of his lips or
fingers.
The woman, swaying in the hall
way, had never seen Nathan Reeder
with a finer face than was his now.
He was restoring the money of the
forgery and sending her what was left
half as much again. He was
taking his life with bullet and
prayer for her.
She had come to cause his arrest
and remained to feel the old love
swing back to her heart like tired
homing to its cote after long flight.
God, who loves me not, love that
lady of mine," he said, with last
look at the dawn and the mountains,
picking up the hesix-shooter witha light,
swift hand, and leaning forward to
blow out the lamp.
She fell against the panels with
quick, wordless cry. His breath had
touched the fame, and the room was
dark, save for the gray in the window,
the gray that wasupon the mountains.
Natl have come"
His arm, with pistol half raised,
was clear against the outer light. She
caught from his hand the cold metal,
filled with concentrated death. Reeder
stepped back from her in the thick
dawn dusk, no sound from his lips,
as she sent the pistol flying out of the
window.
Il thought it was all over, Jessie, :"
he muttered at last, not daring yet to
reach for her hand, and that you
had met me beyond the pale.
She sat by the window in full day
light, and the man was bending down
to her. The great glories OF the morn
ing were radiant upon the terrible
peaks. Nineveh was stirring-tired,
poisoned matter stirring from sleep.
Her hands touched the full, fine head.
Yes, can love you again, boy o.
mine," she whispered. And, when
the express Office is open, | will go
and repair with money the error of
that one bad day of yours. A good
mama AGAIN for N.Y.
"A good name never, Jessie. Mon
ey will not give that back, but love
from you again-that is all need.
Love and your sweet, glad face
"All ask" she answered, is
chance to love on-and on J.
There was heavy, hurried step in
the hall. Jim Smallidge appeared at
the door. Reeder had arisen and
barred the passage.
II found didn't have to 60 away,
after all, Jim," he said.
Then there s nothin' forme to do"
said Smallidge. by the way, |
picked up this six-shooter down on
the sand by the door. 1t looks like
yours. -.
"Thank you" said Reeder. Tits
mine. | must have dropped it walk
ing across"
From the far sea the sun came up
brilliantly new, lit the Andes, those
highest mounds of the western world,
as the rays had lit the Himalayas
when it was night here. Returning
from the express Office, while Nat
Reeder was giving away his faro lay
out across the street. the woman en-
countered the agent who was to ar
rest her man.
''Our criminal does not seem to be
in Nineveh, she said, in answer to
his expectant look, and | am giving
up the chase"