The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-22
A Visitor at the Cabin BY ROLAND 2

Hester from the low doorway OF the
cabin. first saw the man as he topped
the rise; straight down the trail he
came, leaping. bounding and swaying un
steadily from side TO side. she dropped
the pan OF potatoes she had been pairing;
stood to her feet and watched. be-
wilderedly.
The soft tumblng clouds went slipping
away over the white tipped peaks; the
noisy stream. below the cabin fretted
and dashed itself against the rocks In
its path.
The man came nearer and nearer. She
saw now that his face was not unkndly;
covered with a thick stubhy beard. and
very thin, His clothing was torn. his
hat gone. and his hair. ragged and un-
kempt. hung about his cars Hester
was afraid at nrst: somehow she never
grew to be fearless In the mountains.
although having lived here two years
She stepped back into the house and
changed her position from the door To
the little curtained window. She hoped
he had not observed her, that he would
continue his stumbling, headlons pace
But the man had seen and when he
finally reached the yard. bounded by the
neatly heaped rocks, he gasped heavily
and then. like a bit Of cloth. crumpleo
abruptly to the ground. mn
She did not cry out although her little
fingers went hard and cold 10 the back
OF the chair. She didn't seem to hear
anything save the monstrous beating
and humping OF her own heart; even
though she shut her eyes tight. the. ST.
lent, crumpled figure was before her,
huddled TO the ground. After a long
space. when the man made no effort 70
move she gathered what courage she
could and stole furtively toward the door;
Such a grim, sinister silence prooded
everywhere.
as II signal had been given, The re,
cumbent figure before her groancd and
came stinly to an elbow. She locked at
him dumbly, conscious that the col"v
pounded fiercely to her checks and that
her heart choked her
From the blank, incredulous eNpIes5
sion. the mans features relaxed ana
broke into a long grin.
Well" he said shortly. sitting up
straight and passing a big brown hand
across his face. Weli-il'ue woman"
She shohk her head slowly No, no.
that is, yes. at first she Stammereu,
breathless, The man chuckieo ana came
''sfecnmEE ~ dom, wonder at tt he resumed,
advancing toward the cabin. You mere
--alone?' ..1-
ali alone Dads down at camp Inc
stranger sighed easier
Il just come from there. don l kno"
how | ever got here. can 1 get SoIu'
thin to eat? Awful hungry: and I've
got Ia go back there fore mornln.
without a word Hester turned INTO @ @IuS
cabin and the man followed behind. Sne
while the intruder huddled in the cor
ner watched eagerly. .,s
when the table was ready she ifled
hin, some bacon and potatoes wmch She
had saved against her father retuil'
He drew mp his chair and ate raN'hoVT-
IN. She poured him some conee. ile
lifted the brimming cup with trembling
fncors a sharp clatter came drltthe |
through the door. The mans grip upon
,he handle weakened and the cup crashed !
10 the floor. spilling the contents over
tho white cloth and his panlS. -,
"whst-wss that?" he burst out. leap
ing from the table his face blanchins, his
Singers flmblInr nervously AZ his revolver |
that swung easily at his MP N'"'-
was that noise, en-!
Hester backed against the cabin wall
hands to her faceIthe man aeo%nS I
i[sst9Tsa da stra1cclN tran GSG out Of Sg pitch
''That's-thats Flip-hc's my pet CHIP |
nnunk. He thinks IFS dinner time, IL
suppose. l always feed him at meal
The man sank slowly to his chair. his !
lips still drawn and white. m pretty |
shaky" he vouched. 'And-and m aN-
f,Il sorry | spilled the stun on your clean |
spread" His voice Was not unpleasant, !
she reasoned. subconsciously.
He ate for a time In silence. Hester
came away from the wall and sat down
on a stool before the doorway.
Got any horses?" the stranger began
abruptly.
got one
He looked vaguely out the door.
Got TO get back TO camp tonight. he
began. hall mconsciously. so 1t seemed.
Cot to get back fore mornin': Amt IT
about twenty miles TO camp? He turned
abruptly to the girl.
"Yes, IT'S twenty-five miles by the
trail
Ills eyes widened. "You-you know the
" She She nodded quickly. i've ridden s, for
two years. But it's an awful bad one.
The man pulled rehectively at the stub
81 got to get back-to camp fore. the
mornin sure" he reasoned again. slow
Is. II just got TO get back.
Again the silence hung unbroken The
chipmunk bounded UP the steps. pecrcd
inquisitively into tho room; sew the big
stranger and sprsng away again, chat
tering and scoldlng. The man did not
Would you let mo have one Of the
horses" he asked, quietly. without look
ing up Would you let me have ono
OF em 10 get back TO camp tonight"
"Why-yes: don't think dadll care
I've got to save Chip from the men.
he resumed once more ~ just got to
Chip" her voice arose pravely and
Yes and the man nodded and |
turned. II don't mind tellin, YOU, little |
woman. ] just broke jail down there: |
run away TO the canyon, and here ! am.
didn't think OF IL at first You know |
Chip had me in charge-he's responsible.
And in the mornin'-if the men find out |
I'm Eone-weIl, lt'll 90 hard with the boy. |
I'm sorry done il. now. 'Tain't right |
that the boy should suffer. is IT. little |
woman? That's why ] just got to get |
back fore the mornin'."
Hester met his eyes squarely; they |
we're burning bright and purposefu |
Guess Il seems sort OF funny TO you TO |
have me tcllin' this h?-and-me-a-
man-killer. Yes. that's what they dub |
me, cause killed man over the range
last week, 7 did. Funny. amt II. that |
want 10 get back and give myself up |