The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1909-05-16

'Ncne Of your ID businessr' Again
he was seized with a paroxysm that
left him shivering and his lips color
less. The blankets were soaked and
soggy with blood, and his feet rested
In red pool.
ben Stark" said the tortured lover,
you're sick man. and you'll be gone
in half an hour at this rate. Won't
you do one decent thing before you
die?"
Bah! I'm all right"
"Pll get you a doctor if you'll tell
US where she is. If you don't I'll-let
you die. For Gods sake, man, speak
upr'
The wounded man strove to rise, but
could not, then considered for a mo-
ment before he said:
II sent her away"
"Where?"
up river ON that freighter that left
last night. She'll so out by Skagway.
and III join her later. where | can
have her to myself. She's forty miles
up river now and getting farther every
minute. Oh, you can't catch herr'
The three men stared at one another
blankly.
''Why did she go?'' said Gale duly.
Because l told her who she was
and who you are; because she thinks
you killed her mother; because she
was glad to get away" Now that he
70 inf iaf -ioI
pain the man lied inadvertently, gloat-
ing over what he saw in the traders
face.
Never mind, old man; I'll bring her
back" said Burrell and laid a comfort
ing hand on Gales shoulder, FOR the
fact that she was safe, the fact of
knowing something, relieved him i'm
mensely, but Stark next words plung-
ed him into even blacker horror than
the trader felt
you won't want her if you catch
her. Runnion will see to that"
"Runnionr'
Yes. l sent him with her.
The lover cried out in anguish and
hid his face in his hands.
He's wanted her for long time, so
l told him to so ahead"
None of them noticed PoleOn Doret,
who upon this unnatural confession
alone seemed to retain sufficient con-
troll to doubt and to reason. He was
thinking hard, Strengthening out GER
tain facts and trying to square this
h or 10 4
seen. and heard tonight. All of a sud-
den be uttered a great cry and bolted
out into the darkness UNDECIDED by
Gale and Burrell, who stood dazed and
distraught with a fear greater than
that which was growing in Stark at
sight of his wounds.
The gambler looked down at his in
juries, opened and closed the fingers
of his hand as if to see whether he
still maintained control Of them, then
cried cut at the two helpless men:
well, are you going to let me bleed
to deatl1?"
1t brought the soldier out of his
trance.
"Why-no, no! Well get a DOCTOR
But Gale touched him on the Shout
der and said:
Hes too weak to get out. Lock
him in and let him die in the dark"
Stark cursed afrightedly, for it is a
terrible thing to bleed to death in the
dark, and in spite of himself the lieu
tenan: wavered.
Il can't do that. l promised
''Ee told that lie to my girl He
gave her to that hound" said the
trader, but Burrell showed him through
the door.
mo; | can't do that! And then TO
the wounded man he said, ''Ill get
doctor, but God have mercy on your
soul"' He could not trust himself TO
tall, further with this creature nor be
near him any longer, for, though ne
had q slight knowledge of surgery, he
would sooner have touched a loath-
some serpent than the flesh of this
mO1strOus man.
He pushed Gale ahead of him, and
the old man went like driven beast,
for his violence had wasted itself, and
he was like a person under the spell
of q strong drug.