Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-07

mornin. Ant it about twenty miles to camp" IL
turned abruptly to the girl.
"Yes! It's twenty-five miles by the trail"
His eyes widened "You-you know the trail eh?
She nodded quickly 'Tve ridden it for two years
But it's an awful bad one"
The man pulled reAectively at the stubble on his
face.
az got to get back-to camp fore the mornin-
sure,' he reasoned again, slowly 81 just got to gel
back"
Again the silence hung unbroken. The chpmunk
bounded up the steps, peered inquistvely into the
room; saw the big stranger and sprang away again,
chattering and scolding The man did not appear to
notice
"Woud you let me have one of the horses" he
asked, quietly, without looking up. Would you let
me have of em to get back to camp to-night|
"Why-yes; I don't think Dadll care
"Ive got to Chip from the men," he resumed
"I just got to do it."
"Chip7' her voice arose bravey and questioned
"Yes-" and the man nodded and turned. IL don't
mind tellin' you, little woman l just broke Jail
down there run away to the canon and here
am l didn't think of it at first. You know Chip
had me in charge-he's responsible. And in the
mornin-if the find out Pm gone-wel it'll
go hard with the boy. I'm sorry 1 done it, now.
'Tant right that the boy should suffer- is it, little
woman? That's why I just got to get back fore
the mornin."
Hester met his eyes, squarely; they were burning
bright and purposeful. Guess it seems sort of
funny to you to have me tellin this eh?-and-
me-a-man-killer. Yes that's what they dub me,
cause I killed man over the range last week
did. Funny. amt it. that 1 want to get back and
give myself up, just to save kid. amt t?" His
eyes msted and he paused thoughtfully. Anyhow,
got to hang. I might we'll give myself up
peaceful-like for-for good cause-than get some
lead in my back runnin' away"
Hester regarded him with wde-open eyes and
throbbing heart, She had heard of man-killers
fear them. And yet, now, in the very presence of
one she felt strangely brave and fearless.
"Youre-youre brave man" she managed to
stammer "They oughtn't to hang you-after that"
The man laughed bitterly Justice is justice out
here" he said grimly. 81 killed man-and-and
that ends it."
She shuddered and glad that his eyes
not watching. 1t so terrible to talk of hanging;
to think that he going to deliberately go back
and give himself up.
"It's twenty-five miles down the trail" she began.
'Do you think you can make it-before mornng?"
sinking down behind the big peaks.
A soft, peaceful glow all about them
81 don't know" he said presently. 81 don't know.
But I'm goin' to try. I reckon if the trail is there
I can keep it all right"
"Its bad trail" she repeated, when he had fn-
ished
"They said I've heard it the worst in the
district" he went on hopelessly.
"And you amt took it-before%
"Then you can't get there before morning. she
spoke up bravely. "It takes an expert to follow
that canon. You can't ever make it."
His back was toward her so she did not see his
face; but she did notice that his great, brown fists
clenched themselves at his sides; she knew his
struggle and was sorry.
From the silent man her gaze travelled into the
other room. 1t was the smaller of the two. 1t was
dimly lighted now, for the curtains were drawn;
but it was light enough to the flowers heaped in
many wreaths upon the centertabe and the shelves.
She choked and almost sobbed aloud
Yesterday-yesterday was to have been her we'd
ding day. Jim, big, gray-eyed Jim to marry her;
p,,4 +,a bafo hah had led
her coward-a poor little coward because she had
jumped and tainted when he shot rattler an inch
away from her arm 1t maddened her she could
never, forgive him. never. 1t had frightened
her; but he had laughed, and laughed brutally and
heartlessly, and she told him to go away-for al
ways-always She hated him.