The Mobridge news. [volume] (Mobridge, Walworth Co., S.D.) 190?-1917, 1912-11-08

with closed eyes. over the whittier face
resting on her lap, her lips trembling
with the one prayer. "Oh. God! On
Cod" How long he was at 1t. or
what he did, she scarcely knew-she
heard the splash Of water; caught the
fash OF the sun on the probe; felt the
half conscious shudder OF the wound
ed man, whose head was in her lap.
the deft, quick movements OF Fair
balm, and then
That's tive got it-missed the
lung by 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 me!"
Live Why shouldn't he?-nothing
but a hole TO close up-natureu do
that, with bit of nurslng-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 wonder how the cuss ever
managed to get him"
AS he arose to hls 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
IN hA
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 beside 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 q
breath OF air famed the nearby fire.
the ruddy glow OF flame 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 Gand-h!s fingers gripped as II they
felt the stock OF a gun-yet that was
all over-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 he!
How had he come there? Was Haw
ley alive also? A face bent over him
the features family visible in the flash
OF freight His dull eyes lit up iu
sudden recollection.
Doc! is that your"
Sure. old man." the pudgy fingers
feeling his pulse, the gray eyes twink
ling Narrow squeak you had-go
Ing to pull through all right. though
no sign Of fever"
Where am II"
"At the water hole; sling you In {
blanket. and get you into Larned to
morrow"
There was moments silence
Keith finding 1t hard to speak.
"Hawley-?" he whispered at last.
"Oh. don't worry: you got him al
right. Say" his voice SOLDERING. may
be it was just as we'll you took tha
lob. II it had been me | would have
been in bad"
The wounded mans eyes questioned
It's bad mix-up. Keith. Waite
never told us all of 1t. reckon h'
didn't want her to know. and sh'
never shall. II l can help It, I've beer
looking over some papers in his pock
et-he'd likely been after them THU
trip-and his name amt Hawley. He'
Bartlett Gale, Christie's father"
Keith could not seem to grasp th'
thought. his eyes half-closed.
"Her-her father?" he questioned
weakly. DO YOU suppose he knew?
NO; not at first. anyhow; not a
Sheridan He was too interested II
his scheme to even suspicion he ha'
actually stumbled onto the real girl
| think he just found out"
A coyote howled somewhere In tn
darkness. a melancholy chorus joinin
In the with long-drawn cadence.
shadow swept into tho radius Of dane
ing freight
lis he conscious. Doctor?"
Fairbain drew back silently. and sh
dropped on her knees at Keith's side
bending low to look into his face.
"Hope-Hope."
. Yes, dear. and you are going Z
:. live now-live for me-"
He found her hand. and held I,
: clasped within his own. his eyes wild
open.
n II have never told you." he sale
: softly, how much l love you"
D She bent lower until her chez
;. touched his.
!. NO Jack. but you may now"
THE END.