Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1910-01-04

door. She waited In nervous fear
Slowly she heard the iron slide hack.
She was free.
She swung back to the door aud
gathered him in her arms. He gripped
her tightly. My brave little sammy
she whispered
He answered brayely. yet trembling.
''He said he'd Kill me. but dastr'
In few moments her preparations
were made. She turned ut the door,
and sob gathered in her throat as
she saw the white little figure watch
ing her with silent appeal MARY.
take me-" was all it said.
How can /? will come back" she
answered hurriedly. Il 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
she found it. AT last she reached the
the low brush Symons had his shack.
The light was burning: 1t looked peace
full, but well she knew that somewhere
between her and the light Emmons
was creeping with his rifle ready.
Her feet found the path. She pressed
on as carefully MS she could. deter
mined TO reach him in time to save
him, but rs 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 stcalthily into the win
dow of the cabin. The face dIsap-
peared. Then a 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 MS
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 II the door was thrown open
wildly. and a 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 on his face. Jim.
you're wounded"
He rubbed the powder from his face.
NO, but | ought to be. That gun
went off full in my face. Come" he
said shortly, you and | must get out
of this quick Mary. will you go with
me wherever go. for good and alp
His face was anxious and grave.
Her answer was not in words, but 1t
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."
I'VE WILL" was Symons' simple.
quiet answer.
They had ridden only a short dis
lance when sharply out of the dark
ness little figure scuttled. 1t was
Sammy. Mary, Mary, | 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:
Il fixed his gun too"
"How's that?" Symons asked. start
ing at the statement. for he knew he
had looked squarely at a rife muzzle
and yet was unhurt.
He loaded his gun while | was
there and put it in a 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 of
and put the cartridge back. and
Sammy '-Symons' arm went round
him tight-"it was you who saved my
life"
Sammy snuggled close to him. HE
keeps licking me. and want to go
Where are you goingT he suddenly
asked interestedly.
Symons laughed softly. laugh of
happiness. I'm going to take you and
Mary to home where we can all be
happy together"
Sammy sighed a long contented sigh
as if he felt that at last he was on
his way to peace