The state herald., 1912-04-05

with the one prayer. "Oh. God! On.
God!" How long he was at 1t, or
what he did. she scarcely knew-she
heard the splash of water; caught the
flash of the sun on the probe; felt the
half conscious shudder of the wound
ed man. whose nead was in her lap.
the deft. quick movements of Fair
balm, and then
That's tive got it-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?-nothing
but hole to close up-nature'll do
that, with 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 perspiration. 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 were swung be-
tween ponies. and the bodies of the
dead and wounded deposited therein.
firm hands on the brides. Hope rode
close beaide Keith, struggling to keep
back the tears. as 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 man opened his eyes,
and looked about him unable to com.
prehend. At first all was dark. silent:
then he saw the stars overhead. and a
breath OF air famed the nearby ire,
the ruddy glow OF fame 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 gun-yet that was
all oyer-he was not there--but he
was somewhere-and alive. alive. II
hurt him TO move. to breathe even.
and after one effort to turn over. he
lay perfectly still. staring up into the
black arch OF sky. endeavoring to
think. to understand-where was heI
! How had he come there? Was Haw'
| ley alive also? A face bent over him.
the features family visible in the flash
OF frelight His duh eyes lit up in
sudden recollection.
] Doe Is that your"
Sure, old man." the pudgy fingers
feeling his pulse. the gray eyes twink
/ ling Narrow squeak you hnd-go
ing to pull through all right. though
no sign OF fever"
Where am II"
AT the water-hole. sling you in n
/ blanket, and get you into Larned to
morrow"
There was moments silence
| Keith finding It hard to speak
"tlawloy-7" he whispered at last
"oh. don't worry you got him all
right Say" his voice SOLDERING. may
be It wns Just as well you took thai,
Job, II 1t had been me would have
been In bad"
The wounded mans eyes questioned
Its bad mix.up. Keith. Waite
never told us all OF II reckon he
didn't want her to know. and she
never shall. II | can help II I've been
looking over some papers In his peck
ot--hed likely been after them this
trlp-and his name amt Hawloy. Hes
Bartlett Gale. Christie's father"
Keith could not seem to grasp the
thought. bis eyes halfeloscd.
"Hcr-her father7" he questioned
weakly DO you suppose he knowr
NO. not at first. anyhow. not n,
sheridan lie was too Interested In
his scheme to even suspicion he had
actually stumbled onto tho real giri.
| think he Just found out"
A coyote howlcd somewhere In tho
darkness. n melancholy chorus joining
In tho with longdrnwn cadence. a
shadow swept into the radius OF dane
lng freight
is he conscious. Doctorl"
Fairbain drew back silently. and she
dropped on her knees at Koith's side
bending low to look into his face.
"Hopo-iIopo"
"yca. dear. and you ars going to
i've now-llyo for me-"
Ho found her hand and held IL
claspod within his own. his eyes wide
opon
II have never told you" he said
softly. "how much ! love you"
she bent lower until hor check
touched his.
mo. Jack. but YOU may now"
THE END.