Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1912-02-28

than lie there helpless. gaping for
breath, scarce conscious even OF my
dellveranee Then, as sufficient
strength returned for action, rolled
the body OF the dead brute off me.
and lifting myself by aid OF the wall
against which my head rested. looked
about Two broken chairs overturned
upon the floor and the shapeless,
huddled body of my late assailant,
alone spoke OF the violence Of that
deadly struggle; but the cabin was
yet full of smoke, and could per-
ceive the figure OF the girl leaning
against the frame OF the open door,
the revolver still graspeC in her hand.
Her posture was that Of a frightened
deer, as her terror.tiIled eyes sought
the dark interior
1T is safely over" | said weakly,
for my breath yet came to me in
CSsps. THE brute Is dead"
could scarcely mark her FOmlng
across the narrow streak of moon.
eIed bird might. startled at every
thing, and passing as far from the
lifeless mass on the floor as the small
space would allow AS she bent
anziously over me her face was so n
shadow that | could distinguish moth.
ing of its features.
What is It? Are you indeed severe
ly hurt7"
Not seriously. think, yet ! have
lost some blood, and am In great pain
There is brandy in the inner pocket
of my jacket but am unable to
move my arm in order TO reach IT.
Would you endeavor to draw the flask
out?"
felt her bend over me. ner sOft
breath coming almost in sobs upon my
race, as with trembling fingers she
undid the buttons Of my troopers
Jacket and extracted the small flai
flask I had been thoughtful enough
TO store away there.
The fiery liquid seemed to put new
blood into my veins, and with it there
returned all my old-time audacity,
with that intense hopefulness in which
! had been trained by years Of Wal
and self-reliance.
Il trust you realize" ! said, that
| am neither thoughtless nor migrate
! full. Years of war service make one
careless of life, but | know 1t was
your shot that saved me You are q
brave girl"
Her oyertaxed nerves gave way n
my words, and knew she was crying
softly. The sobbing wac in her voice
as she stroye to speak.
"Oh, no, | am not; you do moi
/ guess how great a coward ! am
scarcely knew what ! was dong wher
fired. That horrid thing-what waE
| it?"
"A huge mastff, imagine; one o.
the largest of his breed But what
ever it may have been, the beas
is dead, and we have nothing more
to fear from him"
Yet / tremble So" she confessed
almost Historically. Every shadow
frightens me"
realized that no amount Of con
versation would quiet her nerves 81
effectively as some positive action; be
sides. ! felt the hot blood constant!
trickling down my arm, and realizet
that something needed t be done a
once to stanch its flow, before weak
ness should render me equally useless
DO you think you could build |
fire on the hearth yonder?" asked
ri am afraid / am hardly capable o
helping you as yet; but we mus
have light in this gloomy old hole
or it is bound to craze us both. TAX
those broken chairs If you find moth
ing better"
She instantly did as l babe her
moving here and there about the room
until she gathered together the ma
terials necessary, but keeping care
fully away from where the dead do
lay. until in a brief space of time tn
welcome flame leaped up in the wild
black chimney, and cast its red glar
all over the little room The activit
did her good, the light flooding tn
gloomy apartment yielded renewe
courage, and there wac a cheerie
sound in her voice as she came bac
to me.
CTo BE CoNTINUED)