The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-08-01

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 Grayman of course caused
 halt I inwardly ragged at not being able to go to her assistance and equally at seeing Payton kneel at her side, opening my lamp and throwing its light upon her colorless face.
 He took flask from his pocket and pressed it to her lips. In few min utes she opened her eyes and stared around. Then her look fell upon me. aRd she smiled. r. How my heart bounded! And again I struggled vainly to reach her, but she put up her hand, smiling once more, and motioned me to be quiet. Love her! Heaven knows how l loved her!. ''I5kould die happy" thought If only could rescue her from that devil"
 Then for the first time the absence of the maid Susan and of the third man impressed itself upon my mind.
 As to the man I hoped that, after all, had killed him, but the fact that Susan had been left behind gave, me a gleam of hope. If only our friends could find her she might be of invaI- uable aid in putting them quickly on the right track. < How I did pray that they had come and that they would follow us. In five minutes. perhaps. Miss Gray man had fully recovered, and Payton immediately directed an advance. I noticed that Payton always chose the driest ground, and the most open places in the brush in order: evidently to leave as few indications as possible of a trail and occasionally the Indian stopped and carefully replaced branches that had been broken or brushed aside. x This gave me the idea of struggling whenever I had the strength in order to leave ineffaceable marks of our pas, sage. But I had not long essayed these tactics before the Indian gave me an other blow upon the head with the butt of my own pistol, which left me senseless.
 It must have been a considerable time that hung limp in the hands of my bearers. When at last I opened my eyes and stared about was lying on the ground.
 There was a light from my lamp, which Payton held in his hand, direct ing it's rays upon the ground a short distance away. Beside me on the moist ground knelt Miss Grayman. tears shining on her cheeks, while her hand rested. as in benediction, upon my brow.
 I could see that her lips were nov ing silently. Opposite to her in the shadow appeared the motionless form of the Indian, guarding us.
 As my eyes opened she gave little cry, and. leaning over, pressed her lips to my forehead. I struggled to raise my head and to touch her with my bound hands. She gently stroked my face and then burst into uncomfortable weeping.
 The Indian looked at her with indif- ference, and Payton paid no attention. Then I noticed the sound of digging in wet, sticky soil. twisted my head toward the spot where the full illumi- nation of the lamp fell and saw the man who had helped the Indian to car ry me turning up the dripping mud with a broad saberiike bayonet. The terrible truth burst upon me.
 They were going to bury me in the swamp.
 In the awful flood of emotions that rolled over me one thought, one resist less longing. roGe upon the surface. I turned my face toward Miss Grayman and spoke her name.
 Instantly she tried to dry her tears and to suppress her sobs. Our eyes met. and. reading the wish that was in my heart, she put her face close to mine. 'John. dear John," she faltered with infinite tenderness.
 Then our lips met.
 God!. What a betrothal!
 Immediately she fell to sobbing again. but the soft pressure of her hand remained upon my forehead and comforted me even in that dreadful moment.
 Presently Payton. still holding the light for the gravedigger. spoke i'm patiently.
 Hurry up," he said. "You are too slow. We must cover the dog and be off"
 The man redoubled his efforts, and the glairy clay squeaked and sucked as his bayonet tore it up.
 In a few minutes Payton spoke again: ''That'n do. Now. throw him in"
 The man approached me, and the Indian rose from his heels.
 "Why. he's come to!' the man ex- claimed.
 "No natter" said Payton. "Do as tell you"
 Both stopped to lift me. But before they could raise me from the ground Helen had thrown herself at Payton's feet. God in heaven!" she cried. Commodore Brown. can you do such A thing? They say that you are Al