Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-07


and the mists cleared. She turned for the man He
had not come up. She waited When at last he
swung into view she started and sucked in her breath
with little, half gasp. The stranger hung forward
In his saddle; his hands not on the reins; he
lurched like drunken man.
"Why-why-" she gasped, you're ill-fant-I
did not know the wound was that bad Let me see
i'll"
The man raised his head She noted how white
and drawn his face appeared
"We-got to get-to-camp fore the mornin', 4" he
"aVered and added, wearily. "How-rnuch further,
eh?"
About five miles," she answered quietly. Then
impulsively: Mani mani you said it was only vour
arm Why look-look--" she turned faint for the
instant ITS your side-your side"
The stranger laughed guiltily. "The pesky-bulIet
didn't stop at the Just naturally kept eoin.
'Taint much guess, ony-it hurts-in here" and he
patted his side affectonately.
Hester. with set teeth and white face tore apart
the shirt The gaping, jagged wound was horrible.
She felt each moment that she must faint but some
how-somehow she kept up bravely When at last
she had bandaged the wound as best she could, the
man put hand on her head
"Youre-youre brave little woman" he fa1ter.d
softly, tenderly so unlike man; "a brave-little
woman. I reckon we-we'1l reach Chip"
She nodded and helped him back into the saddle.
Another weary mile and he called to her:
Gust you take this 1ariat-and tie me tight in the
saddle. I'm gettin sort of tired and dizzy-1ike
somehow; and the trail is getting rougher and
rougher Tie me good and tight, little woman"
Hester obeyed; after which they went on again,
wordless. She wondered DULY what Jim would saw.
did he but know of this Would he, after this night.
call her coward? Perhaps he would learn of if
and-come back to her. If he only would come
backl
The trail was widening now. They were nearing
the camp
She turned to find him swaying in the saddle. His
hair had fallen his face his arms were straight
and limp. She felt strange unnatural fear.
Man! mani" she stammered, we're almost there
almost there. Don't give up See-down below
there-it's the camp! Don't you see-it's the campl
Wearily the raised his head he lifted trem
bling halfway to his lips, and then dropped
it heavily.
"I-guess-guess we're just in tme-little wo~
man." he wavered, unsteadily. "I-hope-Chp-
amt in danger yet
Man" she cried, he .groaned and topp1ed for
ward in the saddle. On the incline the ponies can
tered swiftly; the form of the man lurched Sro-
tesquely held only by the straning rawhde
Now they in the camp and riding down the
main street. A group of men suddenly appeared be-
fore her. She laughed and lurched periously in her
saddle flush of exultation came over her drove
the color to her cheeks and brought the
words between her lips
Il brought-brought the man back" she cried
shrilly to the startled crowd "He wanted-to come
to save-Chip~
confused shout arose Men were diror r,sh;.u
forward; cries, excamatons, cheers broke upon her
ears.
"Shes brought Hadley backp some one burst
out Brought him back-and tied to his horseL.
And he's dead!"
Some one shouldered his way through the crowd
as she reeed in the saddle
II reckon, Chip" the voice resumed "tber. ain.
anythin' against you-now. Blamed pluckv little
woman, take it."
Was the man who pushed forward in the crowd
who was addressed Chip-was he?
With little moan she swayed in the saddle. man
caught her in his great, strong arms Dimlv she
saw it to be the one called Chip-and yet those bi
gray eyes were Jim's-her Jims
Jimmie" she sobbed, gripping her tired little
arms about his big bronze neck "I-aint a coward.
now! Am l, Jimmie?"
But the who was named Jim, and who was
called Chip, said nothing; only the big unmanly
tears running down his cheeks as he kissed heE