The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1912-05-09
IcOpTrisht. 1911. By W. q. Chapman,
Continued from last issue)
cHAprER X.

.Se woman to sitting position. The
nan drew back TO give her freedom
e action. as she lifted herself on her
hands. 1t was moments before COM
nlete consciousness Of her situation
rome 10 her The surprise was yet
zoo great she saw things dimly
,brough a whirl Of driving rain. of
rushing mighty wind. of a seething
sea Of water, but presently It was all
ulain to her again. She had caught
M fair view of the man who had shot
Tho hear as he splashed through the
creek and tramped across the rocks
and trees down the canon, at least
che had not seen him full face, but
she recognized him Immediately. The
thought tingsl with color for mo.
ment her pallid cheek.
81 fell into the torrent" she said
feebly putting her hEd to her head
and striving by speech to put aside
that awful remembrance.
aYou didn't fall in" was me an.
swer. 1T was a cloudburst you were
caught in it."
II didn't know"
"Of course not, how should your"
"And how came | here?"
Il was lucky enough to pull you
out"
did you jump into the food for
me?'
The man nodded.
that's twice you have saved my
life this day" said the girl, forcing
herself. womanlike. to the topic that
she hated.
"Ips nothing" deprecated the 9TH
err
1T may be nothing to you. but 1t is
a great deal to me" was the answer.
"And now what is to be done?"
I'VE must get out of her at once"
said the man. you need Shelter,
food, fire. Can you walk?"
Il don't know"
Let me help you" He rose tc
his feet. reached down to her. took
her hands in the strong grasp Of his
own and raised her lightly to her feet
in an effortless way which showed his
great strength. She did not more
than put the weight of her body
slightly on her left foot when spasm
of pain shot through her. she swerved
and would have fallen had he not
caught her. He sat her gently on the
rock.
my foot" she said piteously. Il
don't know what's the matter with 1t"
Her high boots were tightly laced,
left foot had been badly mauled or
sprained; already the slender ankle
was swelling yisibly. He examined 1t
swiftly moment. 1t might be a
sprain, 1t might be the result Of some
violent thrust against the rocks, some
whirling tree trunks might have
caught and crushed her foot, but
there was no good In specializing as
to causes. the present patent fact was
that she could not walk: all the rest
was at that moment unimportant.
This unfortunate accident made him
the more anxious to get her to a
place Of SHELTER without delay. II
would be necessary to take on her
boot and give the wounded member
proper treatment For tho present
the tight shoe acted as a bandage.
which was we'll.
When the man had withdrawn him
self from the world, he had inwardly
resolved that no human being should
ever invade his domain or share his
solitude, and during his long sojourn
IN the wilderness his determination
mad not weakened. Now his coming
desire was to get this woman whom
fortune-good or ill!-had thrown
upon his hands to his house without
oeiay There was nothing he could
DO for her out there in the rain.
Every drop of whiskey was gone, they
were Just two halfdrowned, sodden
DTS OF humanity cast up on that
rocky shore, and one was helpless
woman.
DO you know where your camp
is?" he asked at last.
He did not wish to take her to her
own camp. he had strange instinct
OF possession in her In some way ne
ielt he hat. obtained a right to deal
with her as he would, he had saved
ner life twice, once by chance, the
other as the result OF deliberate and
heroic endeavor, and yet his honor
and his manhood obliged him to offer
70 take her to her own people If he
could Hence the question. the an
s~er TO which he waited so eagerly.
:. It's down the canon. ] am one OF
Ar. Robert Maitland's party"
Inc man nodded, he didn't know
Aooer Maitland from Adam, ana he
Jared nothing about him.
HOW far down." he asked.
l don't know, how far Is It from
-efe 70 where u-where-where-
We
About a mile" be replied. quickly
,uay understanding her reason for
men ! think J must have come at
'eass I'VE miles from the camp this
morning
I VIII be four miles away. then
said the man
TIE gifi nodded
COULDN'T carry you that ar. he
~ Aured hall % himself. a question
Mere e any camp left there any-
Where vas II dowa ~ tie W.
frna