El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-21
The Herald's
Daily Short Story
Ma.AxM...~-


the table. Some tiny trace Of dryness
seemed to work in his throat.
"Oh, that's the way of 1t, is it,? he
said.
There was silence for a moment The
boys instinct was to smooth things
over, so he said sweetly:
TT isn't as if you cared for dancing
yourself Bailey
Bailey's lips twisted with the ghost
of a smile
NO; it isn't as if 1 cared for dancing
myself Grayson- 1 understand; wont
ask you to go tonight"
And when dusk was settling down
he got ready for the journey himself.
1t was 80 miles over rough country,
a long ride after the days work, and
he had to be back by noon on the NOR
row. Whatever there was Of softness
in him was suggesting that the night
could be spent in m.re congenial ways.
AS he saddled his horse his face looked
very old and his eyes very tired Jusr
about this time Grayson was saying to
Steve Dacres:
He wanted to go to the ball tonight,
but 1 bluffed him out of it by pleading
an appointment. Bailey's pretty soft,
although he doesn't know it,
The night was dark and murky.
heavy clouds obscuring the crescent
moon AS Bailey clattered along the
bridges above the settlement the faint
sound of music drifted over to his ears,
ard the faint swish of feet upon the
floor
1t was ten miles farther on that some
intuition came to him that he was being
followed.
A mile ahead the track ran into two
branches. one going for a mile over
he nrh or 0fr IN o
round their base. After some hesitation
he took the second and after riding for
half a mile turned back in his tracks.
He rode slowly, his senses strung to
their top note. and his brain wonder
ing who the strange man could be who
rode abroad on that lonely night.
AS he reached the spot where he
had turned off he saw a figure disap-
pera over the skyline in front of him.
and he followed slowly. his horse max
ing no noise with its unshod hoofs.
Reaching the point where the two
tracks met again, he realized the truth.
He saw a man drop from his horse and
conceal himself in the underground.
Bailey gave a grim smile and dropped
from his horse also. creeping silently
forward on his hands and knees.
Lying full length IN the scrub, ner-
vously lingering the hammer of his re-
volver. the stalker felt his arms pin
Toned from behind. He gave a terrified
cry, and Bailey saw his face. A smile
came TO mis- lips.
so it's you, Dacres. is it?'' he said.
This is the end of it all, them
He picked UP the revolver and looked
at 1t. Curiously enough he did not feel
angry or even surprised
You would have shot me down from
behind, / suppose?" ne said.
No; not that" the boy groaned.
Then he saw that Dacres was suffer-
ing. and the sight made him feel soft
Why did you do it?" he said calmly.
Il don't know" said the boy in ago
ny My brain was on fire. l guess.
Bailey. Do you know what it is to be
in the pit-to have a deadly fear in
your heart that the sister you love will
find you out?'
Bailey'S eyes. scanning every emotion
in his face, saw he Aad gone through
the depths. and that pain had scared his
young soul.
why didn't you come to me, Steve?"
ne said gently. You could always
have relied on me to relp you through.
Come to me tomorrow when 1 come
back. and we'll talk over things. Don't
take this too seriously. and remember.
whatever happens, I'll stick to you
yer, he mounted MS horse and cantered
off through the night And for nearly
an hour the boy stood looking at the
spot where he had vanished. with dazed
brain and mist before his eyes.
1t was late the next afternoon when
Bailey came back; when he got to his
office he found a girl waiting for him.
She was pale, her lips were trembling,
and tears were in her eyes.
I'm going away" she said I've
come to say goodbye"
He mumbled something indistinct.
Somehow he could not meet her eyes.
She said, again in a broken voice:
I've heard all about 1t. Steve told
me everything can't stay here any
longer, Wall"
Then he had no business to-" he
said roughly
Il had a right to know" she said
why do you try to keep everything
that's good about you hidden, Wal? It
made me want to confess to you"
She hesitated. and her lips trembled
just little. Then she looked him fear
1essly in the eyes.
Il told you lie when I said / came
up here to look after Steve. 1 had heard
you were here, and / just had to see
you, no matter what happened"
Some strange sound choked in his
throat but he conquered himself, and
put his hands on her shoulders. Her
lips twisted into smile
Helen" he said, you're not going
away. Wen burn up the past like old
paper. This is only the beginning"
And there was new light in his eyes
that would last him all his days.