The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-01-04

on the hills, the sound of Enimons'
footsteps grew heavy and passed out
on his murderous errand. Still as a
statue, she listened. She caught the
soft low shufhe Of the little cripple's
crutches. There was rafting at the
deor. She waited in nervous fear;
slowly she heard the iron slide back.
She was free!
She swung back to the door and
gathered him in her arms. He gripped
her tightly. MY brave little Sammy"
she whispered.
He answered bravely, yet trembling,
He said he'd kill me. but I dast!"
In few moments her preparations
were made. She turned at the door.
and sob gathered in her throat as
she saw the white little figure watch
ing her with silent appeal. MARY.
take me" was all 1t said.
How can 1? will come back" she
answered hurriedly. II am going to
warn JIM"
Down the broken path she fed,
through the pasture, and turned up the
narrow trail, hoping against hope that
Emmons would take the long road to
Symons' cabin, and that she might
reach him in time. Once she lost the
path and. feverishly, she hunted until
she found it, At last she reached the
slope above the creek, where, among
the low brush, Symons had his shack.
The light was burning, it looked peace
full. but we'll she knew that somewhere
between her and the light Emmons
was creeping with his rifle ready.
Her feet found the path. She pressed
on as carefully as she could, deter
mined to reach him in time to save
him; but as she commenced the climb
she wavered; the strain was telling.
Suddenly she saw the face of a man
show for moment in the yellow light
as he peered stealthily into the win
dow Of the cabin. The face disap-
poured. Then a long, shining thing
was leveled. All her will power she
fol ced into her cry of warning, but It
blended into the sound of the rifle
as 1t gushed livid fire through the
night into the window.
There was crash Of wood, the
sound of speeding feet, a sharp cry.
and-silence. Mary staggered to the
door, expecting to see her lover with
ing in the death agony; but as she
neared it the door was thrown open
wildly and a strong face, black with
powder and set in line of battle, bent
over hers as she fell.
Mary! Great heavens! what does
this mean" he cried.
Jim, they were planning" she
paused as she saw the look Of under
standing in his eyes. Then suddenly
she saw the stain on his face. Jim,
you're wounded"
He rubbed the powder from his face.
mo, but | ought to be. That gun
went off full in my face. Come" he
said shortly, you and must get out
of this-quick! Mary, will you go with
me wherever I go, for good and all?y
His face was anxious and grave.
Her answer was not in words, butit
seemed satisfactory.
A little later they rode away shift
ly. At the pike Mary stopped iher
horse short. Jim, there's Sammy;
told him would some back for Tim"
I'VE will" was Symons' simple,
quiet answer.
They had ridden only a shor9 dis
lance when, sharply out of the ark
ness little figure scuttled. 1t twas
Sammy. MARY! Mary! kndwec
you'd COMETS mel"
Symons reached down from the sad
die and gathered the frail little form
in his arms. AS they rode on she told
him how the little fellow had released
her that she might come to warn him
When she had explained 1t in a few
tender words, Sammy broke in:
Il fixed his gun. too"
"How's that?" Symons asked, start
ing at the statement, for he knew he
had looked squarely at rifle muzzle,
and yet was unhurt.
"He loaded his gun while was
there and put 1t in corner I've load
ed guns and knew what to do. took
the cartridge out when he wasn't in
the room, and squeezed the bullet off
and put the cartridge back, and"
Sammy" Symons' arm went round
him tight, "it was you who saved my
life"
Sammy Struggled close to him. "He
keeps licking me-and | want to go
where are you going?" he suddenly
asked, interestedly.
Symons laughed softly, laugh OF
happiness. I'm going to take you
and Mary to a home where we can al |
be happy together"
Sammy sighed long commended |
his way to ueace.