Arizona republican., 1910-04-26

eh'pmunks rau. tail up, before them Another mile and the msts cleared She turned for the man H. hao not come up. She waited. When a, las, he swung into view she started and sucked in her breath with litte half gasp. The stranger hung forward Tn his saddle his hands were not on the reins h. iurched like drunken man
 Why-why-" she gasped you're i,lLf,;ntI did not know the wound was that bad L., m. s..
 The man raised his head She noted how whit. and drawn his face appeared
 We-got to get-to-camp fore in. uo-n;,," t wavered and added. wearily. "How-mucb fr,rtb.- ch:"
 About hve miles," she answered quietly. Then impulsively; Man, man, you said il was opIv v,.r arm. Why look-look-" she turned faint for in. instant Its your sde-your side"
 The stranger laughed guiItiIy The p.sLv-brr. didn't stop at the arm. Just naturally kep, scin' Iaint much. guess, only-it hurts-in here and b. pattcd his side afectionately
 Hester. with set teeth and white face tor. .,,,- the shirt The gaping, jagged wound wa. borr,b. She felt each moment that she must faint bu, scr,. how-somehow she kept up brsveIy When .t 1,.- she had bandaged the wound as best she could ,k. man put hand her head
 "Youre-you're brave little woman" n. fsl,.-.d softly. tenderly unlike man a brsv.-I,,,r. woman. ! reckon we-we' reach Chip
 She nodded and helped him back into the saddle. Another weary mile and he called to her:
 Just you take this larst-and tie me tight in in. saddle. I'm gettn' sort of tired and dizzy iiL. somehow; and the trail is getting rousher and rougher. Tie me good and tight little woman" Hester. obeyed after which they went on again. worthless. She wondered duly what Jim would saw did he but know of this Would he after ,bis n;gh, call her coward? Perhaps he would learn of l, and--come back to her. ii he only would come back
 The trail widening now They were nearing the camp
 She turned to find him swaying in the saddle Hi. hair had fallen his face his arms were strzvh, and limp. She felt a strange, unnatural fear
 Man, manl' she stammered we're almos, there almost there. Don't give up. See-down below there-it's the camp Don't you see-it's the camp" Wearily the man raised his head; he lifted tr.rn- bling halfway his lips and then dropped it heavily.
 "I-suess-suess we're just in time-litte wo- man." he wavered. unsteadily "I-hope-Chip- ain't in danger yet"
 Man'' she cried, as he groaned and toppled for ward in the saddle On the incline the ponies can tered swiftly: the form of the man lurched sro- tesqueiy held only by the straning rawhde
 Now they were in the camp and riding down the main street. A group of men suddenly appeared be- fore her She laughed and lurched periously in H~r saddle. A flush of exutation came over her drove the color to her waxen cheeks and brought ,b. words between her lips
 I brought-brought the man back" she cried shrily to the startled crowd He wanted-,o com. ito save-Chip!"
 confused shout arose. Men were dimiy rushing forward; cries. exclamations cheers broke upon her ears
 Shes brought HadIey back" some on. byrs. out brought hm -oack-and tied to his horsc,- And he's deadr'
 Some one shouldered his way through the crowd as she reeled in the saddle |.
 T reckon, Chip" the voice resumed .,b.-. ,;,. anythm against you-now. Blamed pluckv I;,,,. woman, take it."
 Was the man who pushed forward in tn. crowd who was addressed as Chip-was he,
 With little moan she swayed in the saddle. A man caught her in his great, strong arms. Dimiv .b. saw it to be the called Chip-and vet ,h,.. .: gray eyes were Jm's-her Jim's
 Jimmie,' she sobbed. gripping her tired li,.i. arms about his big bronze neck "T-sint coward now! Am I, Jimmie?"
 But the man who was named Jim, and who called Chip. said nothing; only the big rnmsnly running down his cheeks as he kissed her