The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-09-23


but hole to close up-natureu do
that, with bit of nursing-here, now
don't you keel over-give me the rest
of that skirt"
He bandaged the wound. then
glanced about suddenly.
"How's the other fellow?"
Dead" returned Bristoe, shot
through the heart"
Thought so-have seen Keith shoot
before wonder how the cuss ever
managed to get him"
AS be arose TO his feet, his red face
glistening with perspiration, and be-
gan strapping his leather case. the
others rode up, and Bristoe, explaining
the situation, set the men to making
preparations for pushing on TO the
Water-hole. Blankets were swung be-
tween ponies, and the bodies of the
dead and wounded deposited therein
firm hands on the brides. Hope rode
close beside Keith. struggling to keep
back the tears, as she watched him
lying motionless, unconscious, scarce
ly breathing. So, under the early glow
OF the desert stars, they came to the
water-hole, and halted.
The wounded man opened his eyes
and looked about him unable to com.
prehend- At first all was dark, silent;
then he saw the stars overhead, and a
breath OF air famed the nearby fire,
the ruddy glow Of fame flashing
faindy, and thus, little by little, con,
sciousness asserted itself and memory
struggled back into his bewildered
brain. The desert-the lonely leagues
of sand-his fingers gripped as If they
felt the stock of a gun-yet that was
all over-he was not there-but he
was somewhere-and alive, alive. II
hurt him to move, to breathe even,
and after one effort to turn over. he
lay perfectly still. staring up into the
black arch of sky, endeavoring ia
think, to understand-where was he!
How had he come there? Was Haw.
ley alive also? A face bent over him,
the features family visible In the fash
OF freight His dull eyes lit I'D in
sudden recollection
Doc! is that your"
Sure, old man." the pudgy fingers
feeling his pulse, the gray eyes twink.
Ling. Marrow squeak you had-go
Ing to pull through all right, though
no sign Of fever"
Where am I?'
AT the water-hole; sling you in q
blanket, and get you into Larned to
morrow"
There was a moments silence
Keith finding 1t hard to speak.
"Hawley-?" he whispered at last.
"Oh, don't worry; you got him an
right. Say" his voice SOLDERING, may
be 1t was just as well you took that
Job. II II had been me I would have
been In bad"
The wounded mans eyes questioned
Its bad mix-up. Keith. Waite
never told us all of It. reckon he
didn't want her to know, and she
never shall, If can help It. I've been
looking over some papers in his pock
et-he'd likely been after them this
aiP ohu LAD uaiuc dlH f1dWley. ne
Bartlett Gale, Christies father"
Keith could not seem to grasp the
thought, his eyes half-closed
"Her-her father?" he questioned,
weakly. do you suppose he knewg"
NO; not at first, anyhow; not at
Sheridan. He was too interested In
his scheme to even suspicion he had
actually stumbled onto the real girl.
/ think he Just found out"
A coyote howled somewhere in the
darkness, melancholy chorus Joining
in the with long-drawn cadence. A
shadow swept into the radius Of dane.
Ing freight.
rs he conscious, Doctor?"
Fairbain drew back silently, and she
dropped on her knees at Keith's side.
bending low to look into his face.
"Hope-Hope."
Yes, dear, and you are going to
live now-live for me-"
He found her hand, and held It,
clasped within his own, his eyes wide
open
"I have never told you." he said.
softly, how much love you"
She bent lower until her cheek
touched his.