The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-05-21

mofnin'. Amt it about twenty miles to camp" II
turned abruptly to the girl
"Ycs! It's twenty-five miles by the trail
His eyes widencd "You-yor know the trail eh :
She nodded quickly. I've ridden ii or two years
But it's an awful bad one
The man pulled rcncctivcly at The stubblc on hi:
face.
Il got to get back-to camp fore the mornin'-
sure" he reasoned again. slowly 81 just got to gel
back
Again tho silence hung unbrokcn The chipmunk
bounded up the steps pcered inqusitively into the
room; saw tho big stranger and sprang away again
chattcring and scoldng The man did not appear to
notice.
Would you let me have one of the horses" he
asked quietly, without looking up. Would you let
have one of EN- to get back to camp tonight? !?
"Why-yes; 1 don't think Dadl care"
Eve got to save Chip from the men, lie resumed
II just got to do it
Chip" her voice bravcly and questioned.
Yes and the man nodded and turned Il don't
mind tcllin' you, little woman. | just broke Jail
down there away to the canon, and here I
AMI l didn't think of it at first You know Chip
had nc in oharge-he's responsible And in the
n1orhin-if the men find out I'm gone-well. It'll
go hard with the boy. I'm sorry | done it, now.
'Tan't right that the boy should suffer is it, little
womanf That's why just got to get back fore
the mornin."
Hester met his eyes, squarey; they burning
brig fu1 ~
funny to you to have me tcllin' this eh'-and-
me-a-n,an- killer. Yes, that's what they dub ME,
cause killed the range last week. |
did, Funny, amt it, that l want to get back and
give myself up, just to save kid. amt it1" His
eyes misted and he paused though,fully Anyhow,
| got to hang. l might we'll give myself up
peacciul-lke for-for good cause-thsn get some
lead in my back runnin' away"
Hester regarded him with wdc-open eyes and
throbbing heart She had heard OF maneillcrs
and despcrsdocs and bad men. She had learned to
fear them. And yet, now, in the very presence OF
she felt strangely brave and fearless.
"You'rc-you're brave man" she managed to
stammcr. They oughtnt to hang you-aftcr that
The laughed bitterly. Justice is justice OIL,
here he said grinily. II killed a man-and-and
that ends it
She shuddcred and glad that his eyes were
not watching. 1t so terrible talk OF hanging
to think that he was going deliberately go bach
and give himself up 500
ITS twenty-five miles down the trail" she began
DO you think sou make t-beforc morning.
He got up and walked to the door The after
noon sun sinking down behind the big peaks
a soft, peaceful glow all about them
Il don't know he said presently. IL don't know
But I'm goin' to try. l reckon il tho trail is thcr
can keep it all right
"Its bad trail" she repeated, when he had hn
ishcd
They said so I've heard it was the worst in til
district" he went on hopelessy.
"And you aint.ncver took it-bcfore|
Then you can't get there before morning. sh
spoke up bravely. ut takes expert to foov
that canon You can't ever make it
His back was toward her so she did not see hi
face; but she did notice that his great, brown rs,
clenched themselves at his sides; she knew hi
struggle and was sorry.
From the silent man her gaze travelled into ii
other room 1t was the smaller OF tho two. 1t W;
dimly lighted now. for the curtains draw
but il was light enough to the flowers heaped
many wrcaths upon the centcr-tabc and the shelvc
She chokcd and almost sobbed aloud
, Yesterday-ycs,erday TO have been her we
ding day Jim, big, gray-eyed jim was to marry he
and she loved him. But the day before he had call
her a coward-a poor little coward because she h
jumped and tainted when he shot rattler an in
away from her arm 1t maddened he,. she cot
never, never forgive him, never II had frlghien
her; but he had laughed. and laughed brutally a
& heartlcssiy. and she told him 10 go awsy--for
re ways-always She hated him.