The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-29
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knee. For a second the horse stood rigid
with ears laid back and forelegs thrust for
ward. Perhaps voice was borne to him on
the bowling wind-surely that, for he did not
pitch, but Strengthening bis neck, plunged
into the storm at gallop. He was running
away, but he was running away towards Dog
hole, with the gale at his back, and Father
Walsh let him go. Noihought he gave to tho
perils that leaped to meet them at every stride.
His mind was on dcathbed in the town SO far
ahead. 1t framed itself in his brain like a
picture Black Hans lying broken on his
bunk, his soul racked by fears and longing
for a confessor Hanss voice cried in his ears
insistently.
He was never rider, the good father.
Time was when he found even the b,rro's
easy shamble rough and uncomfortable and
had he paused to reflect, it may be that fright
would have unnamed him; but the idea Of
falling did not occur All that he saw was
Black Hans, tortured by conscience. All
that he thought Of and strove for with jabbing
heels, was TO reach his side before it was too
late. The bron % ran desperately, in panic
from the warning elements and the strange
moist thing that now tapped and snapped in
the wind, now clung clammily to bis sides:
Father Walsh had forgotten to button the
slicker over the horn Of the saddle.
That may explain why he was spared to
reach his goal The wind veered and
twist in the trail brought the rain smashing
against their faces. Twice the horse swerved
and tried to wheel, unable to make head
against it, but the priest brought his nose up
with jerk, secured r astery OF the bit and
forced him to go on. Another mile, always
upward, and their way carried the wind over
their shoulders, at which &aglc il was bear
able. Now they we're making sne Gap,
where the lightning focused as on magnet.
His mount was laboring distrcssfu.ly and fell
TO trot, .,lt with voice ard hands and knees
the priest urged him on, keeping his seat and
maintaining the stirrups by the sublime luck
OF the helpless Far up the last ascent, close
to the hears # tho storm, the shattering force
Of the ti.urde- paralyzed the senses. As the
fierce flashes sgzaggcd across their front and
the sf'cll Q! sacm srDote his nostrils, The horse
stopped and S,iied in ritiiul terror. Father
Walsh caIlc. to hirn ant. struck him with his
heel, ba,c Of spur Tbs morse skivercd
and yer. forward hsltiasiy, and then they
wele rolling down steep deciiNty Of shalc,
ablid cascade Of s!os-s ard sand aud psb-
bles.
The horse brought up il ai.squi,e bush
and scrambled 10 his feet, vi, rider had
fallen c'eer, and be lay pc;ie.tly crict Ten feet
distaat, lis face in The darsp earth. The
horse waited with muszie .::a.ss, Oh. and
wbinnird, but there Was no answering move
ment and he tack rentativs step, prepared
to flee. A. that instant the pyone Forn l.iSed
itself With . !ong, moaning ssi., ard N, hosse
halted.
Slowly, very slowly, the priest got to his
knees, TO his feet. An agonizing pain in the
right shoulder made him dizzy, SO that lie
rcele,i, and he abandoned with goan, an
effort to ricve the right ann. There was
queer, numb feeling up his left side, too As
ks venturcd step, the nun,bness was brcAen.
SO piercingly that he bent half double.
Steady, 10y! Brave hose crave horse..-
&c muttered hoarsely, gathering up the rms.
The horse did 70. budgc whilst he climbed
into tee saddle, dragging iinsef up By the
left aand on the name Orcc -ao.c atop, 10
set en- towards Dogholc, feelin,, MS way hs,x
10 the trail with caution. 5ho,tpg ps:ns
forced cry from him a; tires, aad Le was(
sick, horribly sict; but he ,onp.cssed bis (
lips and stared toee~diy into th W 'inwj
dark. .
We may Be latn Wha. Il we're sei
late?" be cried again and again. Nov thr.
we're back On thu trail, and he shoaA his horss
into lope.
Thedoctor, hushing Hans's frenzied prayan,
Tor priest as he watched the spark of H.
flicker and fought to stay its going out, cauglk
a confused jumble Of sounds above the whisll
of the retreatins storm. An uneven clattSA}
OF hoofs a. the door of the shack, and ht
reached il in a bound, throwing it wide sN.
that yellow food Of light poured out in & |
the street. There in the brightness sat a mal
on horse, man who swayed, but spoke - !
him in the voice of composurc
ut is Father Walsh. You will nave q
help me down, please. Am in time2"
Poor, battered Hans heard him when he !
crossed the threshold on limping feet. Into
the glazing eyes came glow and he made to
stretch out his arms, half rising from the
bunk as the priest swiftly crossed the room. /
Father Walsh dropped on his knees at bic
side. !
at is over" he said at last ~
"But Father Walsh, there is blood on your |
face and hands. You re hurt. Let mo ,
"ltis ~. had fall, think" said .
the priest family. I!
He tried to reach chair, but tottered, and !
the miner nurse who had stayed by bis com
rade in his hour Of extremity, caught him