Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-03

thought OF this desert as a place created barren,
iifelesS, dead, and severe for some 1nscrutable
purpose, perhaps even fashioned by the Maker
as His place to be alone. But the haunter was
| there with his garish town, his canvas tented
circus of a day. and God had doubtless moved.
How little the game amounted to, at the end
| of short little span! What senseess repeti-
| ton it seemed,-the same old comedies. the
same old tragedies, the old bits of gen.
eros1ty. of greed, of weakness, fervor hope, and
despair Except for a warm little heartful of
love All, love! He paused at that and
laughed unmirthfully. That was the thing that
made it Satans home, or converted the desert
into heaven!
"Dreamers! Dreamers all of us!" he said at
last and he went within to fatten down his
blankets for the night.
HE had finally blown out his candle and
- stretched himself on the ground, to con-
tinue his turmoil of thinking when abruptly
his sharp ear caught at sound as of some one
slipping on stone that turned just outside
the slope. He sat up alertly.
Half minute passed. Then something
heavy lurched against the tent, the flap was
lifted, and a man appeared, stopped double as
Who's there?" demanded Van. "Is that
you. Gett?" He caught up his gun: but it
and the hand that held it were invisible.
Its me-" said voice, croakng rasping
voice, Matt Barger"
He fell on the floor breathing in some sort of
anguish, and Van struck match to light the
candle.
The flame fared blindngy inside the canvas
whiteness. great moving shadow OF Van
was projected behind him on the wall. The
light cleaned brightly from his gun; but it
fell an inert where Barger had f1oun-
dered to the earth.
He did not move, and Van, mechanically
gniting the candles wick while he eyed the
man before him. beheld dry blood. and some
that was fresh, on the haggard face, on the tat
tered clothing. and even on one loose hand.
"Barger!" he said "What on earth. man"
The outlaw rallied his failing strength and
raised himself upon one hand He could
barely speak: but his lips attempted smile;
Il thought heard you call fer the joker,
he said, and sol GOMEZ"
Van was up. He saw that the man had been
literally shot to pieces. One of his arms was
broken. A portion of his scalp was gone. He
was pierced in the body and leg. He had met
the posse fought his fight. escaped with
wounds that must have stopped any animal
on earth, and then had dragged himself to Van,
to repay his final debt.
Il haven't called haven't called for any
thing" said Van. You're wounded, man.
you're"
Barger rose weakly to his knees. Need the
money, don't you-now?" he interrupted
You can-use the reward, guess"
Good God! l don't want that kind of
money!" Van exclaimed. "Who got you Matt
who got youe",
Sheriff" said the convict dispassonatey.
" Good man, ChrlStler-and pretty good
shot; but l got away with his lead" He
slumped again, like waxen thing on melting
legs deprived of all support.
Van plunged out to the water bench with
its bucket, near the door. He brought back
basin of water. knelt on the ground, and bathed
the convict's face. He poured some liquor be-
tween the dead-white lips. He slashed and I'm
buttoned the clothing and tried to stanch the
wounds. He bound up the arm, put bandage
on the leg. and continued from time to time to
dash cold water in the pallid, bearded face.
Barger had tainted at last. What hideous
tortures the fellow had endured to drag and
drive himself across the mountain roughnesses
to win to this tent at last, Van could only
weakly imagine.
The convict finally opened his eyes and
blinked in the light of the candle. What
the use of my comm here" he faltered. if
you don't take the money-the reward"
81 don't want it." said Van. II told you
that before"
Barger spoke with difficulty. Its different
now they ve-got YOU in hole. I'm your
meat! I'm-nothn but meat: but you acted
AS if | man.
Were all in hole; its life" said Van, con-
tinuing his attentions to the wounds. Il don't
want cent of blood money, Matt if | have to
starve on the desert! Now lie where you are,
and maybe go to sleep AT least you won't be
disturbed till morning"