Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-11-12
Nearly two hours
"'why didn't you tell me bcforeT

ny uluit You iril me bcIuFef
al didn't think Of telling YOU
without another word | ran 10 the
barn and got ont kaic. saddied her
mounted and was about to ride away
when Susie came up panlin' She PIT
her arms about kaics ne"k and said
Kate, dear. take him in time 10 save
him for my sake aud I'll love you
forever
Not wishin to lose time broke
away from her seen blood on her
Hips and knowcd the excitement or
the runnin to the barn Or both had
brought on a hemorrhagc
Don't kill Kate heard Susie say,
and that was the last, for then was
ont o hearin
Il leaned down on tile mares neck
and pattcd her and said Yer doin
this for Susie and know you'l do
yer best
ii reckon she understood for she jist
got down 10 n steady gait that she
could keep all day and reel OF the
miles while she was dcin' in
knowed Walcott's life depended on my
gittin there as soon as Stiggs. fer
didn't reckon Stiggs would give his en-.
envy any advantage Ills way was to
ride up behind man. make a show
o givin' him a chanel by calm out 70
him. and shoot him before he could
turn.
''Stiggs had got good start o me.
and he never rode n poor horse. But
he didn't know any one was after him.
Nevertheless II would be nip and tuck
with me TO overhaul him Kate kept
her steady gait I'LL we got within about
i've miles o the Walcott ranch. when
across the grain ground saw Stiggs
ridIn' along AZ good pace. Then !
said 10 my mare:
Now or never. Kate. Remember
what Susie snid 10 yOu'
"She knowed what was sayin'.
and she got over the ground like a
greyhound We was within mile o
the ranch when. strikin soft bit o.
ground. the mare stumbled and fell,
shootin' me over her head. tried TO
pull her up, but il was no use Her
left forcleg was broke.
Il used my own legs the rest o the
way | ncarcd the ranch in time to
see Stiggs lcttin down the bars TO 60
In. As bad luck would have IL, there
was Wnlcott standn' with his back 10
Jim. watchin' II man who was putin
horse through his PAGES. seen
Siiggs remount and ride up toward the
man In the yard DRAWN his revolver
at the same time
Before startiu'. thinkin there might
be occasion for long range shot,
ia hooked Winchester to my sad
die and brought 1t from where Kate
fell Stiggs must n been zoo To
1000 yards away. but knew Wal
colts life depended ON my bringin' his
enemy down NJ that distance | took
4 good aim. fired. and Stiggs tumbled
ofi'n his horse"
The narrator paused 10 light pipe
II suppose | said. this is the kill.
ing YOU referred 10 that has always
troubled You You excused the man
because he acted from love
Il troubled about KILN Jim Stiggs'
Not much. Its another KILN that
bothcrs me. As soon rs seen Stiges
drop went back to Kate. She had
saved the man Susie loved. and Susie
had told ME not to kill her But there
was Kate lyiu on her side with bro
ken lee. There's but one thing to do
with Il horse IN that condition shoot
him kate when She saw me comm
whnnicd and when reached her
there was n mighty sad look in her
eye. She was an intelligent animal
and knowed that IL was all up with
her
Il tux my revolver from its case
Kate glanced ~ II and ~ me. II ever
horse said IN plain language Don't
Kill Kate that horse said II. or was
II because was seem the little girl
s,amdln there with The drop ~ blood
ON her lip lhe death mark aud heard
her say il agiu:
Il scarcely think I'm the kind o
man 10 be- chicken hearted. Lcasta-
ways | wouldn't MIND rutim deer >
throat after shooiin' It when It looks
appcalin' like outer its soft eyes. but
showed The white feather al shootin
Naic And never could tell whether
il was most because loved kate or
whether | Was conscience struck nj
haym' to 20 back on the little gal That
tolc me not 10 kill her | walked away
fer few rods. then turned and come
back When did that could a bowed
her head on put the muzzle . my
revolver to her brain. pulled the trig
ger and fired All the while she was
loolsl AZ me as much a. 10 say Much
oblceGed
Il walked four miles to house. bor-
ryed ii spade, went back aud buried
Kate Then walked all the way
back 10 the Courtcny ranch. | wasn't