The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-11-04

'How can I? | will come back" she
answered nurriedly. II am going to
warn JIM"
Down the broken path she fed,
through the pasture, and turned up the
narrow trail, hoping against hope that
Emmons would take the long road to
Symons' cabin and that she might
reach him in time. Once she lost the
path, and feverishly she hunted until Ii
she found it. At last she reached the
slope above the creek. where among
the low brush Symons had bis shack.
The light was burning; it looked peace
full, but we'll she knew that somewhere
between her and the light Emmons
was creeping with his rife ready.
Her feet found the path. She pressed
on as carefully as she could. deter
mined to reach him in time to save
him, but as she commenced the climb
she wavered. The strain was telling.
Suddenly she saw the face of man
show for moment in the yellow light
as he peered stealthily into the win
dow of the cabin. The face disap-
peared. Then long. shining thing
was leveled. All her will power she
forced into her cry of warning, but it
blended into the sound Of the rifle as
it gushed livid fire through the night
into the window.
There were a crash Of wood, the
sound of speeding feet. sharp cry
and-silence. Mary staggered to the
door, expecting to see her lover with
ing in the death agony, but as she
neared it the door was thrown open
wildly. and strong face black with
| powder and set in line of battle bent
over hers as she fell.
MARY! Great heavens, what does
| this mean?" he cried.
"Jim, they were planning She
paused as she saw the look Of under
standing in his eyes. Then suddenly
| she saw the stain OH his face "Jim,
you're wounded"
| He rubbed the powder from his face.
mo, but l ought to be. That gun
went off full in my face. Come" he
said shortly, "you and l must get out
Of this quick! Mary, will you go with
me wherever l go, for good and all?"
His face was anxious and grave.
| Her answer was not in words, but it
seemed satisfactory.
| A little later they rode away swiftly.
At the pike Mary stopped her horse
short. :Jim, there's Sammy. told
him would come back for him"
1--WE will,' was Symons' simple,
quiet answer.
They had ridden only short dis
lance when sharply out of the dark
ness little figure scuttled. 1t was
Sammy. MARY, Mary! l knowed
| you'd come. It's me-"
Symons reached down from the sad
die and gathered the frail little form
in his arms. AS they rode on she told
him how the little fellow had released
her that she might come to warn him.
When she had explained it in a few
tender words Sammy broke in:
II fixed his gun too"
"How's that?' Symons asked. start
ing ut the statement, for he knew he
had looked squarely at rifle muzzle
and yet was unhurt.
HE loaded his gun while l was
there and put it in corner. I've load
ed guns and knew what to do. took
the cartridge out when he wasn't in
the room and squeezed the bullet off
and put the cartridge back, and"
"Sammy"-Symons' arm went round
him tight-"it was you who saved my
life"
Sammy Struggled close to him. He
keeps licking me. and l want 10 60
Where are you going?' he suddenly
asked interestedly.
| Symons laughed softly. laugh of
happiness. I'm going 10 take you and
Mary to home where we can all be
happy together"
| Sammy sighed long contented sigh
as if he felt that at last he was on
his way to peace.