The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-11-16

After aWnlle ne DeSan 10 move uoEo
slowly and cautiously. At last he
paused near sharp turn in the path.
Then he dropped upon his hands and
knees and crawIed stealthily around
the turn. Before him was a sharp de-
scent of a few rods and beyond this
dense fringe of chestnut trees.
Above the trees was column of black
smoke.
Hes cert'nly ter home" he said.
with a grim smile Of satisfaction.
"That smoke means dinner"
1t took him but few minutes to
pass through the fringe of woods, and
he paused in the shelter of q large
clump of chinquapin bushes and glanc-
ed sharply around No one was in sight,
but the entire roof Of the cabin was
in a blaze, and smoke was coming
lhickly from the door and windows.
Bob gazed at it curiously.
"Queer there amt nobody aroun',"
he muttered.
"Mebbe they're in the cabin tryin'
ter get things out. Well, hits good
times any. I'll jes' wan him, an
then hit'll be one or t'other."
He stepped from the bushes and
gave a loud shout Then he cooked
his rife and waited.
Somebody mus be ter home, or
how'd the fire get started. They
shorely wouldn' set bit on purpose"
He gave another shout and moved
slowly toward the cabin. A few mo-
ments and there came the frightened
wall of an infant
"a babyr' he cried wonderingly.
''Why don't the fools bring hit QUIT"
Then a terrible thought occurred to
him. Perhaps they were all dead or
away. For a moment he stood irreso-
lutte; then quick flush Of pity drove
the anger from his face.
81 amt fghtin' babiesY And, drop
ping his rife upon the ground, he sped
toward the cabin. Without a mo-
ment's hesitation he dashed into the
wall of smoke and fame. But only
for an instant The heat was too
much for him, and he staggered out
weakly and half blinded. A large
spring Of water dubbed up in front
Of the cabin, and the sight gave him
new idea A quick bound took him
into the spring. and a moment later
he once more rushed into the cabin
with the water streaming from his
clothing. This time he remained
longer. When be came out he carried
small bundle In his arms. But al
most before he was beyond reach Of
the flames he stumbled and fell. After
moment he rose and staggered on a
few steps and fell again. Before he
had reached the place where he had
left his rife he had fallen three times.
The last time he did not rise.
At last the small bundle which had
fallen upon the ground began to stir.
A few frantic movements, and it open
ed, and baby crawled out. The blan-
ket was scorched and blackened, and
there were great holes which the fire
had made, but the baby was appar-
emily unhurt. It gazed about curiously
for q moment and then crawled over
to the unconscious figure of the boy.
After awhile it reached up and touch
ed the blistered face. A shudder ran
through the boys frame. and he open
ed his eyes. Then he rose slowly to his
feet
"Sorter seems like | tainted" he
said ira wondering voice. ST thought
only gals did that. But reckon I'd
better be gettin' home N hev these
burns looked after Smart like they's
considerable bad. Lucky kept my
eyes shet." A low wall at his feet
drew. his attention. Eyes. baby: I'm
goin' ter take you long O. me-" and
the ghost of smile f1ickered across
his blackened face. Seems like you
sorter belong ter me now. I low your
folks hev deserted you"
He reached down. but as his bis
tered flesh came in contact with the
baby he drew back, with low cry Of.
pain. Then, as though ashamed Of his
weakness, be picked up the baby and
his rifle and walked quietly toward
the woods. But his progress was slow.
At length he reached the sharp turn
in the path AS he did so he fancied
that he could hear some one coming
up the mountain. A keen scrutiny
and he stepped quickly from sight.
cts him." he muttered fiercely.
Nov wen settle hit fer good an ALL"
Moving back into the bushes. he
laid the baby upon a bed of leaves.
Then he returned and took up posi-
ton behind rock.
The figure came on rapidly. When
it was within hailing distance Bob
stepped from his concealment.
sYou, Tom Petersr' he called sharp
". as your gun loaded?'
'sYes," in startled accents from be-
low.
sThen aim m fire! Quickp'
Almost with the words came the
sharp report of a rife. and a bullet
whistled past. The boy laughed de-
risively.
Nov hits my turn" And he
brought bis rife into position and
took deliberate aim. But even as he
pulled the trigger bis strength failed