The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1912-08-12

the centre of the kitchen.
grim lines coming into his
face again.
~ reckon you want the Dry
Bottom doctor. ma'am7" he
said slo WY.
The woman rose from beside the
bed. her eyes cleaning hopefully. She
came a. far as the door and steadied
herself against the lambs. looking Mt
the man. searching his face with anx-
ious eyes. A shadow crossed her face
| presently. her eyes dropped away from
his, she relaxed ana leaned disappoint-
ediy axainst the door jamb--crushed
over the hard expression that she had
seen IN tho mans eyes.
"Of course you can't do anything
she said. duly. hopelessly. You won't
do anything should have known
that"
Tho mans thoughts went rapidly
back to the rock-crested summit OF
the ridge. Lying In the thicket he had
heard Allen tell his deputy that he had
appointed two men OF Dry Bottom TO
take him should he return there. Ho
knew the two men: he had little doubt
that they would carry out their orders
to the letter.
Ranking In his heart was a recol-
lection OF the epithet coward" that
Allen had applied to him as he had
lain concealed In the thicket His lips
twisted venomously. his eyes lighted
with tho old wolnsh. ironic CLEAN.
The woman saw and turned her head.
leaning against tho door jamb-shud-
derlng. For a long time she rested
there. waiting for the sounds which
would tell her of the mans departure.
And then suddenly she heard his voice:
IVA, rot pencIl an piece OF
paper7" ise questioned.
She procured these for him and placed
them upon the table. The man seated
himself and wrote. Then he arose and
strobe rapidly to tho door.
when your husband comes give him
that" he commanded.
She heard the whixs OF his spurs as
he went out and she sank into chair
beside tho table. robbing softly. A few
minutes later she caught the sound OF
rapid hoofbests The man had de-
parted.
At dusk on the following day Allen
stood on the threshold OF the open door
way Of the cabin reading a brief note
which the man had left. The woman
stood beside him. looking at him with
wide. moist eyes while he read.
ben Alien"--read the note-'"rhia
mornin I wuE on tho ridge an hearn yu
| tel yore deputie that ! wuz coward.
I was goin to shoot yu but q RATHER sot
| In the way. I reckon yu heard him
buzzin. Later cum To yore shack.
Yore boy wuz sick an needed a doctor
mighty bad. There wuznt anybody Ia
send for a doctor an yu wuz too Ear
away for yore wife to 20. had my
chanst to cit even. But I amt gittin
even with women an kids. I'm goin for
the Dry Bottom doctor. IL ! XII past
Glenn Miller an Lefty Andrews I'm
hlttln tn, breeze to Trinidad. II yu
think I'm ~ coward cum there for me.
very trooly
The man who wuz on the ridge"
For a moment Allen looked out over
the basin, where tho shadows OF the
night were iengthening. The SUNNI,
OF the ridge stood out clear and SOM
brs above the shadows. Allen shud-
dsred. Then he turned to the woman
and drew her 20 him. holding her
tightly.
toned. hoarsely.
| without replying the woman seized
him by the arm and led him to the
door OF the room that adjoined ths
kitchen. The boy was propped up In
bed. his eyes very luminous In the
dusk
! Hello. dad" ne shrilled. I'm
heap better. Tomorrow I'm goin' to
get up"
Aliens arms were gripped tightly
about the woman. Presently he held
her away from him and looked at her
with grim. steady eyes.
You must have heard from ~, doc
tor" he said slowly. md hs get
away"
Clean" she returned. smiling grave
,iy up q, him. "c!en Miller was shot
In the shoulder--but not bad; and Lefty
Andrews had a leg broken with bull
let. The doctor said he never saw q
man shoot 20 fast"
Aalsa sesAsd eus'sAr0ush the door q