The Ordway new era., 1911-06-23

snow wounded, was red with rage:
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 1t 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-
scious OF a sudden flash OF light and
sharp detonatiOn. The room was
hlled with noise. 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
sivc movement he pulled the trigger
The bullet buried itself in the floor.
while the man sank down on his
knees. swayed n moment. frightful
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
him"
He stared at the woman. who still
clasped the little er-mounted
weapon she had used with such ter
rible effect
1T was his life. or your life or
mine. was the answer II did II for
you, she said quickly seeing a look
OF horror and repulsion spreading over
the face Of her companion.
"Yes-yes! l know" he replied:
but ="
Come. we must get out of here
Immediately"
"Ot 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 II to do 80 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 prostrate
figure.
Hes not dead yet" said the boy
slowly.
no; but he soon will be- The
woman stopped over and unbuttoned
the mans coat and waistcoat "Thore!"
sh. said. pointing to a ghastly hole.
81 struck him fair In the breast
Would to God it'd been In his black
heart" she added. Don't you see
that We must go now and quick?
Come. we can't delay any longer"
I'll take the blame on myself II
we're caught" said the boy. 1T was
my fault and you saved my life."/
That's noble OF you returned the
woman indifferently: but we won't be
caught"
ton before CO." continued the other
quixotically.
There were few tattered books on
the shelf. He took one down. tore
out the fyleaf. drew a pencil from
his pocket, scribbled on II few
words, signed 1t. held II to the woman
10 read laid the leaf down on the
body OF the dying man. and then
turned to the door. He opened II. 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
a sound within the hovel.
Death hovered 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 II had been placed. They
revived the man sufficiently by slim
ulants to enable him to speak 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 solennly 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 II 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 1t
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 southward In the
vast drifts. Spring might reveal their
fate, It might remain forever a secret.