The New era-leader. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1911-1912, 1911-07-07

u18O LAll, 6u0 ll0 Wueu ne mad l0lleu
like his dead brother back on the
trail. and then she and the boy would
inevitably perish.
Well. It was his life or hersi The
decision was forced upon her. And
perhaps after all 1t was Just a. well
TO get rid Of them both and have done
with Il. She reached over, and be-
fore the boy realized what was hap
pening she caught his hand. tore his
fingers from the saddle strap, and
thrust him violently backward. I'm
prepared. unsuspecting, half-dazed, he
could offer no adequate resistance. He
reeled and fell supine in a deep and
overwhelming drift. She struck the
horse heavily with the whip that hung
from the saddle bow, and the animal
plunged forward wildly. She knew
that she was safe unless he should
try to shoot her; for he was too weak
and too exhausted to catch her.
The boys senses were quickened in
to instant action BY her conduct. Aft
or the first moment OF surprise. he
knew at once that she was deliberate
" abandoning him to die in the snow.
A hot rush Of blood. in spite of the
cold. swept ovsr him. He thrust his
hand within his coat and dragged out
. Weapon. He raised It and trained
1t on the womAn's back. and for the
moment his hand did not tremble.
Then there . before him that other
CORY figure. Though he had lived
some months on the wild frontier and
had seen than one man killed
there. he had never been connected
with the murder before. even as an
accessory after the fact, and the hor-
o Of 1t was still upon him. He low
cred the pistol, though he could easily
have shot her dead.
Such treachery on the part of a
woman would have killed some men;
not SO this boy. In that moment he
became a man. He saw himself a
fool; he determined that he would not
also see himself a coward. Clenching
his fists and summoning his strength,
he followed southwark afoot in the
woman's wake.
He walked-if that be the word for
his progress-with his head down and
his body bent lower and lower. He
took long rests between the steps. BY
and by he fell forward on his face.
The sensation of delicious rest and
drowsiness that swept over him wooed
him to lie still and die. but there were
still sparks and remnants Of manhood
and courage In him. He shook on his
desire to sleep at last and strove fran
tically to rise. Finding that he could
not. he crawled forward on his hands
and knees, slowly working himself
over the snow covered ground. round
the drifts like q great animal.
There vas no use. Humanity could
not stand the strain any longer. One
more movement he made, and Just as
he was about to sink down forever he
heard q long, deep hollow, mournful
sound. He stopped, interested, dimly
wondering what 1t could be.
Whatever 1t was, it meant life Of
some kind. It came from directly
In front Of him. 1t nerved him to fur
Their effort Summoning the last yes
ti3e Of his strength. he advanced a
little farther.
He knew what it vas now. 1t was
4 locomotive.
He lifted his head and saw lights
family. He OWNED that It was the
station. the train, the Overland Lam
tied! She would get on 1t and 60
away! What mattered It!
And what Of himself? There was
help; there was life! He actually o
TO his feet and wavered on. BY hap
py chance the contour Of the ground
had caused the space between him
and the lights to be swept compare
lively bare Of snow. It was not now
dificult walking. yet he staggered like
! drunken man.
All! the lights were moving before
his eyes. they danced and fickered.
The train was going! He broke into
. Keeling run, hoarse whispers on his
frozen lips. Too latel
He stumbled and fell across the car
tracks, dimly conscious Of the lights,
Of the departing train. He had just
sense enough and strength enough
to cry out a. he did so. Some one on
the station platform heard his voice.
Men came toward him; he was lifted
up and carried into q warm room.
Something burning yet deliciously re-
viving was poured down his throat.
1.-THE womanl" he gasped out, look
Ing up In the faces Of the station
agent and his helper bending over
him.
"She took the limited NOT fve min
utes ago" said the man staring at him
curiously. The train was two hours
and : half late or she'd never have
got It."
She's gone them sasped the boy.
"Yes."
Thank God she got away!" he muir
INJURED a he lapsed into complies un-
consciousness.
There was good stun In the boy.
II - ~I~A 49, -~-~- - --.