The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1912-06-07

WIN INC Ou0 pI0y0Ts ILL., UON ~
God!" How long he was 1t It. OF
what he did, she scarcely knew-shs
heard the splash Of water; caught b
fash of the sun on the probe; felt the
half conscious shudder of the wound
ed man. whose dead was in her lap.
the deft quick movements Of Fair
balm. and then
That's tive got t-missed the
lung by a hair-damn me I'm proud Of
that job-you're a good girl"
She looked at him. scarce able to
see, her eyes blinded with tears.
"Will-will he live? Oh. tell mel"
Live! Why shouldn't he?-nothins
but a hole to close up-natureM do
that, with a 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-I wonder how the cuss ever
managed to get him."
AS he arose to ais feet, his red face
glistening with Precipitation. 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 we're swung DO
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. a. 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 lar opened his eyes.
and looked about him unable to COM
prehend. At hrst all was dark. silent:
then he saw the stars overhead. and .
breath Of air famed the nearby IRE.
the ruddy glow of flame flashing
across his face. He heard voices
family. 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 II they
felt the stock Of a gun-yet that was
all over-he was not there-but nd
was somewhere-and alive. alive. II
hurt him to move. to breathe even.
and after one effort to turn over. he
lay perfectly stall. staring up into the
black arch of sky. endeavoring to
think, to understand-where was hel
How had he come there? Was Haw.
ley alive also? A face bent over him.
the features family visible In the Hash
Of freight. His dull eyes lit up in
sudden recollection.
Doc! is that you?"
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 ~
AT the water.hole; sling you in Z
blanket. and get you into Larned to
morrow"
There was a moments silence
Keith finding it hard to speak.
"Hawley-?" he whispered at last
"Oh. don't worry: you got him all
right. Say" his voice SOLDERING. may
be 1t was Just as we'll you took thai
Job. II it had been me l would hav,
been in bad"
The wounded mans eyes questioned
ITS a bad mix-up. Keith. Waite
never told US all of It. I reckon b,
didn't want her to know. and sh.
never shall. II l can help 1t. I've beef
looking over some papers in his poch
et-he'd likely been after them THU
trip-and his name amt Hawley. Hell
Bartlett Gale. Christie's father"
Keith could not seem to grasp tn
thought. his eyes half-closed.
"Her-her father?" he questioned
weakly. do you suppose he knew1'
mo; not at first, anyhow; moi y
Sheridan. He was too interested II
his scheme to even suspicion he hat
actually stumbled onto the real girl
I think he Just found out"
A coyote howled somewhere In tn,
darkness. a melancholy chorus join,nl
In the with long-drawn cadence.
shadow swept into the radius Of dane
ing freight.
rs he conscious, Doctor"
Fairbain drew back silently, and Oh,
dropped on her knees at Keith's side
bending low to look into his face.
"Hope-Hope."
Yes. dear. and you are going h
live now-live for me-"
He found her hand, and held II
clasped within his own. his eyes wtd,
open
Il have I've told you b said
softly. how much I love you
She bent lower until her chez
touched his.
mo, Jack, but you may now"
THE END.
spoken by the Gard.