Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1909-01-07
CHAPTER xxxI,-contlnued.

SHHFI En- NNNIs-ContInued.
viii the fireman live?" Alfred
asked, while Esther helped him into
his coat.
we think SO, but can't tell surely,
OF course. Poor fellow! He's con-
scious now" The sympathy in the
mans tones brought Esther's tears.
Gould I do anything? Some"
h began haltingly.
I'm sure I can" Alfred exclaimed,
half rising again.
The brakeman waved him back.
Miss Anthony, don't let him! He had
a pretty good shaking up himself;
but that's nothing to what he did. No
n knows how he ever pried that
wheel off from poor Doolys leg; but
he did, and held it free till we came,
the sun b~roiling him like a beefsteak,
n Dooly begging all the time to be
put out of his misery. That's enough
for M day. You keep him right
here"
Alfred tried vainly to stop the story.
The brakeman finished, prompted by
Esther's eager, appreciative face. Yet
he left them shortly, and the train
started. Then Esther turned toward
the cabbages.
What in the world" Alfred began.
I'm captain now" she interrupted.
I'm going to make you comfortable
before the last shred of daylight goes"
1T won't be dark; there's a moon"
Much light a f~our-days-old moon
will give!" she scoffed.
But I'm comfortable now, If you
VIII only come and sit beside me"
Needless of his importuning, she
continued piling the cabbages away
till n forward corner was bare.
What's that for?"
You must sleep; and it will be bit
ter Geld. This is"
Sleep! Sleep tonight, with you
here? Never!"
She smiled at him, yet persisted.
throwing the soft grass in the corne
smoothing 1t carefully. Come. Let
me help you over here. 1t is too cold
there by the door,"
Dear tyrant!" He smiled happily, /
aud pulled himself up by the door
handle. But he was unsteady, and
would have fallen had she not sup.
ported him. For once she was CRATE
full for her strength.
Lie down. / think you'll find that
a tolerable substitute for a hair mat.
tress."
The worm turns. I won't! I'll sit
down, though, and in that corner, If
you'll sit beside me-"
She demurred, to indulge him final
ly; and, seated side by side on the
floor, with cabbages tumbling about
their feet, they wandered in Arcadia.
Amabel, Esther's hiding, Alfred's cap
ture and illness, his search for her,
college and business life--it was a tale
OF the years told by the light of the
thin desert moon.
But Gideon's part in the story
Esther modified, allowing Alfred to be-
lieye that her flight from Colfax had
been the impulsive result of fear for
him, as was her wild race to Virginia
City.
Life begins now where 1t forsook
years ago when Amabel Hamilton
asked me to button her shoe In the
Colfax parlor."
mo. Life does not forsake, 1t tests
u.s." Esther replied.
The engine wheezed, pulled inef-
fectually, and stood still.
"Oh, a there be some new trou-
cried Esther.
Il guess by the sound they've only
stopped for kindling wood Alfred sur
Esther looked out. Men were run.
ling here and there about in the
brush, more discernible by ear than
oy eye. They filled their arms with
:owering loads Of sage and returned
them to the engine, crushing the
'ungent stuff into the firebox. slowly
he wheels began to turn. The men
Eept alongside, piling the tender high,
Ill the summit was reached. Three
lines they had thus to reinforce their
mail stock Of green Sierra wood be-
the journey was ended.
The night grew colder. When the
ar stood still, the biting air swept