The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-12-19

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Strong as Hamlin was, his muscles
trained by strenuous outdoor life, he
lay there for moment utterly help
less, more exhausted from the nervous
strain indeed, than the physical exer-
ton. He had realized fully the des-
perate nature of that passage, expect
ing every step to be engulfed, and the
reaction, the knowledge that they had
actually attained the shore safely, left
him weak as a child, hardly able to
comprehend the fact. The girl was
upon her feet first, alarmed and So
licitous, bending down to touch him
with her hand.
Sergeant, you are not hurt? she
questioned. TELL me you are not
hurt?"
ooh, no." dragging himself up the
bank, yet painting as he endeavored
to speak cheerfully. "Only that was
q rather hard pull, the last of it, and
am short of breath. I shall be all
right in moment
There was a sand-dune just beyond
and he seated himself and leaned
against it.
IT am beginning to breathe easier
already" he explained. "Sit down
here, Miss Mcdonald. We are safe
enough now in this darkness"
"You are all wet, soaking wet"
"That is nothing; the sand is warm
yet from yesterdays sun, and my
clothes will dry fast enough. 1t is be-
ginning to grow light in the east"
The faces of both turned in that di.
rection where appeared the first twi
light approach of dawn. Already
were visible the dark lines of the OPP
ppsite shore, across the CLEAN of wa
ter, and beyond appeared the dim out
ell.ne of the higher bluffs. The slope be-
tween river and hill, however, re-
manned in impenetrable darkness. The
ninds Of both fugitives reverted tx
the same scene-the wrecked stage
with it's dead passengers within, its
savage watchers without. She lifted
her head, and the soft light reflected
tan her face. ~
ss''I-I thank Goo we are not over
there now" she said falteringly.
Yes" he admitted. They will be
creeping in closer; they will not wait
much longer. Hard as have worked.
can't realize yet that we are out OF
those tolls"
.'You did not expect to succeed"
mo; frankly i did not; all l could
do was hope-take the one chance
left, The slightest accident meant be-
trayal. am ashamed of being SO
weak just now, but it was the strain.
You see," he explained carefully, 1--WE
been scouting through hostile Indian
( country mostly day and night for near
" a week, and then this thing hap
1 pened. No matter how iron man is
his nerve goes back on him after a
while
II know"
n 1T wasn't myself" he went on dog
!, gedly, "but it was the knowledge OF
having to take care of you. That was
what made me worry; that, and know
ing single misstep, the slightest
noise, would bring those devils on US,
where I couldn't fight, where there
/, was just one thing could do"
There was silence, her hands
pressed to her face, her eyes fixed on
him. Then she questioned him soberly'
"You mean, kill me?" 2.
81 Sure" he answered simply, with
I out looking around; II would have had
to do it-just az though you were a
sister OF mine"
ss Her hands reached out and clasped
his, and he glanced aside at her face
3 seeing it clearly.
II thought you would" she said
her voice trembling. II was going
to ask you once before was hurt
but-but I couldn't, and somehow
trusted you from the first, when you
rot In She hesitated, and then
asked: How did You know I was
u Molly Mcdonald? You never asked"
The Sergeant's eyes smiled. turning
away from her face to stare out across
the river.
Because I had seen your picture"
Ny picture? But you told us YOU
wore from Fort Union :"
Yes; that 10 my station. only had
been sent to the cantonment on the
Cimarron with dispatches. Your ia
Their was IN command there. and wor
ried half to death about you. He coult
not leave the post, and the only ofhcel
remaining there with him was dis