The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1912-05-24
CHAPTER Ili.-(contlnued.)


1T was four years an nine months
exactly, Bob" drawled old Kirkby
who well knew what was coming.
Yes. I dare say you are right.
was up at Evergreen at the time look.
ing after timber interests, when q
mule came wandering into the camp.
saddle and pack still on his back"
Il knowed that there mule" said
Kirkby, I'D sold It to a Teller named
Newbold, that had come out yere an
married Louise Rosser, old man Ros-
ser's daughter. an him dead, an bein'
an orphan an this Teller bein' fine
young man from the east. not bit of
a tenderfoot nuther. mimi engi-
peer he called hisself."
We'll, happened to be there. too,
you remember" continued Maitland.
-and they made up a party to go and
hunt up the man. thinking something
might have happened"
You sea- explained Kirkby. I'VE
waa an mighty fond of Louise Rosser.
the hull camp was actin like father
to her at the time. SO long s she
hadn't nobody else: we was all at the
weddin', too. some six months afore.
The gal married him on her own
hook, of course nobody maxim her,
but somehow she didn't seem none
too happy. although Newbold. who
was a perfect gent. treated her white
as far as we knowed."
The old man stopped again and re-
sumed his pipe.
"Kirkby. you tell the story" said
Maitland
Not me-" said Kirkby. Il have
seen men shot afore for takin words
out n other mems mouths an 1 amt
never done that yit"
You always were one OF the most
silent. men l ever saw" laughed
George. why. that day Pete yere got
shot accidental an had his whole
breast tore out wen We was lumber
ting over on Black mountain, all you
said was. Wash him of. put some
axle grease on him an tie him up"
That's So" answered Pete, AN
there must have been somethin' pow
erful soothin' In that axle grease, for
oSIt L SAFE du bOuHu " lulS udy.
1T takes an old man." assented
Kirkby. TO know when to keep his
mouth shet. learned II at the muz-
Gle Of a gun"
Il never knew BEFORE" laughed
Maitland, how still a man you can
be. Well. to resume the story. having
nothing to do | went out with the
h. cha
Him not thinkin' there had been
any foul play" calculated the old man.
No. certainly not"
We'll. what happened. Uncle Bob?"
inquired Enid.
lust you wait" said young Bob.
who had heard the story. This Is
an awful good story. Cousin Enid"
Il can't wait much longer" returned
the girl. Please go on"
Two days after We left the camp.
We came across an awful figure,
ragged. blood stained. wasted TO
skeleton. starved"
Il have seed men In extreme cases
afore." interposed Kirkby, but never
none ike him"
Nor |. continued Maitland.
WAS 1t Newbold?" asked Enid.
"Yes"
"And what had happened to him?"
HE and his wife had been prospect
ing in these very mountains: she had
eallen over u cliff and broken herself
SO terribly that Newboid had to shoot
her"
What" exclaimed Bradshaw. "You
don't mean that he actually killed
herr
That's what he DONE" answered
cid Kirkby.
Poor man." murmured Enid.
But why?" asked Philips.
They were five days away from a |
settlement. there wasn't u human be- |
ting within a hundred and nifty miles |
of them. not even an Indian" contin- |
ued Maitland. she was so frightfully |
broken and mangled that he couldn't
carry her away"
But why couldn't he leave her and |
60 for help?" asked Bradshaw.
The wolves. the bears. or the vul-
lures would have got her. These |
woods and mountains were full of /
them then and there are some Of them
left now l guess"
The two little girls crept closer to
their big cousin. each casting anxious /
glances beyond the IRE light.
.oh. you're all right. little gals
said Kirkby reassuringly. they
wouldn't come nigh US while this fire
d burnin' an they We been pretty
veil hunted out guess: sides there's
men we're who'd like nothin' better'n
trawin' q bead on . big bar"
And So" continued Maitland. when
she begged him to shoot her. % put
Der out Of her misery. he did 20 and
then he started hack to the settlement