Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1911-06-10

and, though he was covered and even
a drunken man could scarcely miss at
such range, he nevertheless drew his
own weapon. But before he could
raise it there was a sudden movement
back OF him. The man In the door
way turned sharply.
What" he cried to his wife. you
would, you"
At that instant the boy was con-
scfous of a sudden flash of light and
sharp defamation. The room was
| filled with noise, a little cloud of
smoke blew down on him. Standing with
his own pistol butt clasped tight in his
hand, he saw the man in the doorway
reel. The arm that held his weapon
dropped to his side. With a convul-
| sive movement he pulled the trigger
The bullet buried itself in the floor,
while the man sank down on his
knees, swayed a moment, frightfu1
look in his eyes, and then pitched for
ward on his face and lay still.
Good God!" whispered the boy
turning to his companion, you've shot
himi"
He stared at the woman, who still
clasped the little s1Iver-mounted
weapon she had used with such ter
rible effect
TT was his life. Sor your life or
mine" was the answer. 81 did it for
you," she said quickly, seeing look
of horror and repulsior spreading over
the face of her companion.
fYes-yes! I know he replied;
but
Come, we must get out of here
Immediately
"Of course, of course whispered
the boy nervously, I'VE can't stay here
now
Drag him into the room and shut
| the door,"
The lad hesitated.
Are you afraid?" sneered the
woman, making as If to do so herself.
Certainly not" was the answer;
but the boy nevertheless was afraid
afraid of death, with more fear than
he had ever felt for any one living.
Yet something had to be done and at
| once.
Forcing himself to the task at last,
| he stopped down, seized the man by
| the shoulders, turned him over on his
| face, and dragged him farther into the
room Then he shut the door. The
two stared a moment at the PROSTATE
| figure.
He's not dead yet said the boy
| slowly.
mo; but he soon will be-" The
woman stopped over and unbuttoned
the mans coat and waistcoat "There,"
she said, pointing to a CHASTITY hole.
| 81 struck him fair in the breast.
| Would to God it'd been in his black
hearth she added. Don't you see
that we must go now and quick?
Come, we can't delay any longer"
iii take the blame on myself if
we're caught" said the boy. 'It was
| my fault and you saved my life
That's noble of you," returned the
woman indifferently; but we won't be
caught
We'll, then, I'll save your reputa-
| ton before 1 CO." continued the other
| quixotically.
There were a few tattered books on
the shelf. He took one down, tore
| out the f1yleaf, drew a pencil from
| his pocket, scrubbed on it few
words, signed it, held it to the woman
| to read, laid the leaf down on the
| body Of the dying man, and then
| turned to the door. He opened it, and
the woman followed him out into the
| night.
The room was very still. Except
for the long, slow, faint, and fainter
| breathing of the man, there was not
| sound within the howell.
Death lowered over him the long
night through. The morning found
him still alive, yet barely breathing.
He was trembling on the eternal
verge later in the day when men seek
| ing him burst into the room. They
| found the letter of confession still
lying where it had been placed. They
revived the man sufficiently by slim
ulants to enable him to speak a preg-
nant word or two before his lips
closed forever.
| The confession, the bullet that had
| killed him, the empty revolver, and
| the mans last words, solemnly attest
| ed by those present, were carefully
preserved by the leader of them all.
| They might be useful some day; who
knew? For the rest it was evident
what had happened The boy and the
woman were gone from the camp No
| search was made for them; none was
| possible. The blizzard had spent it
self by that time; but the prairie was
| covered deep with drifted snow. A
period of intense cold supervened- 1t
was hardly within human possibility
| that the two fugitives could have got
| safely away. They must be buried
| somewhere to the southwark in the
vast drifts. Spring might reveal their
| fate, it might remain forever secret
| So far as the deniZens of the country
1 1oroorpod tho of