El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-01-27


I boy rode UP from the township with g
/ telegram for Mr.. Gyde. 1t stated that
I Aleck Fraser was lying seriously IN
! jured at a run on the Barrack range
] There was little hope Of his recovery
and he would be glad to see any OF
| his people who could get out OF him.
This message from one he had sup
\ posed to be dead brought to Dick Fra
I ser the fear that, by some awful error,
/ he had wrongly accused Bellfield and
! needIe ssly wrecked his sisters happi-
/ ness.
Until he had probed the mystery there
could be no rest for him. With the
/ least possible delay he started, off on
the long ride to the railway. At the
station he telegraphed TO his brother
that he was coming, and when the
train pulled up the next day at the
lonely Barrack Range siding, he found
a messenger and horses awaiting him.
Although his brother was no worse,
Fraser rode hard till he sighted the
buildings of the run.
The OWNER, a kind faced man named
Murray. led aim at once to his broth
er's bedside. For some seconds the two
gazed t each other, then Aleck Era
ser held out his hand
Its good to see YOU, Dick, after all
these years" he said with evident feel
ing.
And it's good TO see you, old man
was the hearty reply. The police IN
City two years ago, and even sent your
pocketbOOk and some old letters home
as proof as identity"
I've had some close shaTes," admit
ted the injured man. But I've never
been shot, nor was I ever in Dawson
City. All the same, ] think I hold the
key to the puzzle.
Wen hear that later on. decided his
brother. Tell me Of your present trou-
bic Where are you hurt2 What does
the doctor say
"Oh, I'm on the mend nowr' was the
reassuring reply. I've had a narrow
escape, though and should have been
burnt TO death had not perfect stran-
ger saved my life a the risk Of his
own I'd been prospecting on spur
Of the BarracK range, and on my re-
turn ran across a huge bush fire. Ny
horse fell and broke her leg I was
pinned down, and got free only to find
mat my own leg was badly crushed
know I've been a ne'er do well, Dick,
ana recokoned I'd come to the end
OF my tether then Anyway. I wasn't
going TO give. up without a struggle, so
l shot the horse and pushed on. When
/ could walk no further, I dropped to
my knees and literally crawled away
from the terror behind me-
1t was all no good. / tainted at last
from the pain OF my exertiOns.
When 7 came TO brandy was being
forced down my throat and the man
who was doing that saved my life. He
did for me what few men would do for
a. stranger with death staring them in
the face. He"
But your injuries, and the DOCTORS
verdict cut in Fraser. Tell me OF
that"
They thought my leg would have TO
come OF, but it's taken a turn and is go
Ing on well. Ny internal injuries. the
doctor SAYS, win be well again in a few
weeks I'm sorry If my telegram up
set any OF you Mr.. Murray insisted on
my friends being sent to. Ny coming
back from the grave, so to speak, need
not oisconcert any Of you. The man
Who was shot at Dawson City must
have been the one with whom chum-
med up for 4 while. He drugged me
one night and made off with everything
possessed. but the backyard appears
TO have met his deserts at somebody's
hands"
There's been a strange fatality about
the whole business" observed Dick
The fellow who shot him struck the
cross Bar station, fell in love with
Nab, proposed to her, and was accepted
The story Of your death. as 10 had come
70 me. was not a nice one-a gamblers
death in a saloon brawl-so I kept all
details from her even 10 yourss supposed
murderer's name Uncle and ], though.
soon put a stop to the engagement
when we found that her lover was this
very man-Duncan Bellfield."
Benfieldw calculated Aleck Why /
that's the name OF the fellow who saved I
my lifer
where is her" demanded Fraser. at !
may be the same man The affair IS 4
killing Nab. I believe nothing but his I
return can save her"
Then send him to her-he's on the ]
run. Murray will tell you where"
Fraser lost no time in finding and /
recognizing Bedford. He apolOgizsd /
handsomely for his former conduct, and [
the latter listened carelessly. Yet, /
when Mab's health was mentioned. he I
was all attention. Throwing pride 10 I
the winds, her brother told her lover I
the truth concerning il, and he, sinking I
all resentful feelings, was promptly in 4
the saddle, racing at a brealneck speed I
20 take what consolation he could TO I
the girl he loved.
The telegram from AIeck Fraser had [
had another surprise. for his late over I
seer gallOped up to the veranda with I
the horses his nephew had ridden away I
and left at the railway station
In few rapid sentences he explained /
Ell. The man he had shot at Dawson /
City was a card sharper One day his !
opponent, a mere boy just out from /
home, whom he was Fleeing. accused I
him of cheating The gambler whipped /
out his revolver. and. with an oath, !
babe the boy choose between death and 4
apology Then Bellteids who had been
q silent spectator, stepped in and took I
the boys part. repeating the accuse
ton OF cheating. The result was
-oregone conclusion. The men went
outside, there was a rapid exchange OF
shots, and directly afterwards Bellfield I
rolo away. leaving che dead gambler
- the care offhi cronies.
All this AR. Clyde readily grasped,
hen he welcomed Bellfield back, for
the murderer Of his sisters son and
The man VINO had stood up before re-
golver 10 protect innocence from vice
we're vastly different. He took him in
10 where his wife and niece were pre-
pairing the evening meal.
Here's Bellfield come back MabH'
he cried IN a CHEEKY voice. Hes just
saved Alcck from a terrible bush fire
tut on the 'Barrack range. I rather
ancv he's entitled 10 some kind Of re
ward II was a blackguardly card