Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-08-11

,norni., Aint it about twenty miles to oamp'' He
turned abruptly to the girl
"Yes It's twenty-five miles by the TRAIL
His eyes widened. "You-you know the trail, ell?
She nodded quickly "I'vc ridden it for two years.
But it's an awful bad one"
The man pulled renectively at the stubbe on his
face.
81 got to get back-to camp fore the mornin'--
sure" he reasoned again, slowly. 81 just got to get
back"
Again the silence hung unbrokcn. The chipinunk
bounded up the steps pecrcd inquistvey into the
room; saw the big stranger ard sprang away again.
chattering and scolding. The DID not appear to
notice
would you let me have one of the horses? ne
asked, quietly, without looking TIP. Would you let
me have OF EN- set back to camp to-nightf'
"Why-yes; l don't think DadI care"
1--WE got to save Chip from the men," he resumed
II just got to dc it"
Chip her voice bravey and questioned
Yes" and the man nodded and turned. Il don't
mind tellin' you, little woman. just broke Jail
down there away to the canon, and here
am didn't think OF it at first. You know Chip
had ME c!arge-he's responsible. And in the
inornin-ii the find out I'm gone-well, it'll
go hard with the boy I'm sorry done it, now.
faint right that the boy should suffer, is it, little
woman: That's why just got get back lore
the mornin'.'
Hester met his eyes, squarcly; they burning
bright and purposcul. Guess it sort Of
funny to you to have tein' this eh?-and-
me-a--nan-killer. Yes, that's what they dub me,
cause l killed the range last week.
did Funny amt it, that | want to get back and
give myself up, just to kid, amt it:' His
eyes misted and he paused thoughtfully. "Anyhow
l got to hang. might we'll give myself up
peaceiu-ike for-for good cause-than get some
lead in my back runnn' away"
Hester regarded him with wide-open eyes and
throbbng heart. She had heard of n,an-killers
and desperadoes and bad men. She had learned to
fear them. And yet, now, in the very presence Of
she felt strangely brave and fearless.
"You're-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 grimy. Il killed a man-and-and
that ends it,
She shuddercd and was glad that his eyes were
watching. 1t terrible to talk of hanging
to think that he going to deliberately go bacl
and give himself up
"It's twenty-five miles down the trail" she began
"Do you think you make it-before morning /!
He got UP and walked to the door. The after
noon sun was sinking down behind the big peak.
A soft, peaceful glow al! about them.
~ don't know" he said presently. 81 don't know
But I'm gon' to try. I reckon if the trail is the.
, ! keep it all right"
cts bad trail" she repeated, when he had fl
ished
"Thcy said So I'VE heard it was the worst in til
c district" he went hopclessy.
"And you amt took it-beforei"
Q Then you can't sc. there before morning" st
spoke up bravely. 1T takes an expert to folio
J. that canon. You can't make IL
His back was toward her so she did not see h
r face; but she did notice that his great brown ifs
c clcnched themselves at his sides; she knew h
struggle and sorry.
e From the silent man her gaze travelled into Il
"a othe. room. 1t was the smaller of the two. 1t W
dimly lighted now, for the curtains were draw
Ill but it was light enough to see the flowers heaped
d. many wreaths upon the center and the shelv
On She choked and almost sobbed aloud
~ Yesterday-yesterday was to have been her we
ding day Jim, big, gray-eyed Jim was to marry h
ay and she loved him. But the day before he had call
nc her a coward-a poor little coward because she |,
jumped and tainted when he shot RATHER an in
away from her arm 1t maddened her; she COZ
never, never forgive him. never. II had Fighter
her; but he had laughed AID laughed brutaly
,lf- neartessly and she told him TO go away--for
ore ways--always. She hated him.