The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-10-26

than lie there helpless, gasping foi
breath. scarce conscious even OF my
deliverance. Then, as sufficient
strength returned for action. | rolled
the body Of the dead brute off me,
and lifting myself by aid Of the wall
against which my head rested. looked
about Two broken chairs overturned
upon the floor, and the shapeless,
huddled body OF my late assailant.
alone spoke of the violence Of that
deadly struggle: but the cabin was
yet full Of smoke, and ! could per-
ceive the figure of the girl leaning
against the frame OF the open door,
the revolver still graspeC in her hand
Her posture was that Of a frightened
deer. as her terror-filled eyes sought
the dark interior.
1T is SAFELY over" | said weakly,
for my breath yet came to me In
CSsps The brute Ii dead"
could scarcely mark her coming
across the narrow streak Of moon
light, moving toward me as fright
ened bird might, startled st a7ery-
thing, and passing as far from the
lifeless mass on the floor as the email
space would allow. AS ahe belt
anxiously over me her face wns 30 N
shadow that could distinguish moth
ing of its features.
What is it? Are you iH&.ssd severe
ly hurt?"
I / have
lost some blood, and am in great pain.
There is brandy in the inner pocket
of my Jacket, but | am unable to
move my arm in order to reach It
Would you endeavor to draw the flask
i out?"
| felt her bend over me. her soH
breath coming almost in sobs upon my
Iace, as with trembling fingers she
undid the buttons Of my troopers
jacket and extracted the small flat
flask l had been thoughtful enough
to store away there.
The fiery liquid seemed to put new
blood into my veins. and with it there
returned all my old-time audacity.
with that intense hopefulness In which
| had been trained by years OF war
and self-reliance.
Il trust you realize" l said. that
| am neither thoughtless nor migrate.
full Years of war service make one
careless Of life, but ! know 1t WaA
your shot that saved me. You are Z
braE, girl"
Her overtaxed nerves gave way at
my words, and knew she was crytLg
softly. The sobbing wa: in her voice
as she strove to speak.
"Oh, no, ! am not; you do not
| guess how great a coward ! am. !
scarcely knew what was dong when
| fired. That horrid thing-what was
IT."
"a huge mastiff. imagine; one Of
the largest of his breed. But What.
ever it may have been, the beaF
is dead, and we have nothing more
to fear from him."
yet | tremble so.'' she confessed.
almost Historically. Every shadow
frightens me-"
l realized InaL no duiOuuL OF COu'
versation would quiet her nerves SO
! effectively as some positive action; he
sides, | felt the hot blood constantly
trickling down my arm. and realized
that something needed t. be done at
once to stanch it's flow, before weak
ness should render me equally useless
do you think you could build a
fire on the hearth yonder?" | asked
IL am afraid | am hardly capable o!
helping you as yet; but we must
have light In this gloomy old hDlG
or 1t is bound to craze US both TAXI
those broken chairs If you find moth
ing better"
She instantly did as ! bade her,
moving here and there about the room,
until she gathered together the ma
terials necessary. but keeping care
fully away from where the dead dos
lay, until in a brief space OF time the
welcome flame leaped up in the wide
black chimney. and cast its red glars
all over the little room The activity
did her good. the light flooding the
gloomy apartment yielded renewed
courage, and there was a cheerie:'
sound In her voice as she came bacA
to me.
tTo BE CoNTlNUED)