The evening world., 1912-01-03

49, hLhy W.
Prom the back loo. The sneak!'
Her eye dhed vsnsefuiiy. n N
lesned oiooer to him. her voice tense.
Who. Benz Who d.d u7'
"Fsrguson." he ssAd sharply. And
again. as his eyes closed: The sneak"
shs swayed disxily and came very near
Dropping him TO the porch moor. But no
sound came iron her. AMI presently
when the dizziness had passed. she
dragged him 90 ire door. propped II open
with q chair. ARA then dragged him on
ts.rouEh the opening 20 the Kitchen. and
from there 20 n Of the adjoining
rooms.
Then with pale face and determined
lips ehs set about the work OF taking
care OF Ben's wounds The spot on the
hack OF tho head. she found. was a
mere abrasion. as he had aaid. But his
shoulder had been shattered. the bullet.
she discovered. having passed clear
through the feshy part Of the shoulder.
after breaking one Of the smaller bones.
Getting her scissors she clipped away
tho hair from tho back Of his head and
sponsed the wound and bandaged u.
convinced that Of itself II Was not dan
gerous. Then she undressed him, md
by the uee Of plenty OF clear. coll
water. q sponge and some bandAses
stopped the now Of flood In his
shoulder and placed him In q con-
Portable position.
He had very little fever. but she
moved rapidly around him. taking nj.
temperature. administering sedstfves
when he showed signs OF restiessnsss.
towering over him constantly until the
da wn began to come.
Soon after THE he went OF Into q
peaceful sleep. and. almost exhausted
with her efforts and the excitement.
she throw herself pon ehe hoor beside
his bed. sacrificing her own comfort
that she might be near to watch should
ne need her. II was late IN the After
moo when Radford opened his eyes 20
look out through the door that cea-
nected his room With the Kitchen and
saw his sistsr busyins herself With The
dishes.
His mind vas dear and he suffered
very little pain. Fol . long time he lay.
quietly Watching her. while his thoughts
won't baok 20 the meeting or the trail
with Ferguson. Why hadn't ne carried
out his original fntention Of shooting the
stray-man down from am6ushf He had
doubted Leviatt's word md had heal
tated. wishing TO give Ferguson b
benent of the doubt. and haA received
his reward in the shape Of . bullet IN
the baek-Aftsr practically making q
peace pact with his intended Victim.
He presently became aware nat his
sister was standing ear him. and n
looked up and smiied u hse. Then In
an instant she wa8 knesiing bAstae him.
admonishing him 20 Qu1stnssa. smooth
ing HE forehead. swing delighted little
gasps over his improved oonditioa.
But In spite OF her evident cheerfuinsss
there was . sugggestioa Of trouble swim
ming deep In her eyes: hs could not help
but SEE that h was making q brave
attempt to hide h9 Glitter d4sappoine-
ment over the turn things bad taken.
Therefore he Wal not surprised whea.
aft~ h he'd attsodsd to all his waatA
she sank on her knees bssido him.
"Ben." h said. trying to keep q
culver out Of her voice. "aV you sur
II was Ferguson who shot youf"
lie patted her hand tenAsrly and SYM
p~athsuoaily With his unAnjursd one.
I'm sorry for you, Mary he return
I'd. but thsrs amt any doubt about
Then ne told hsr Of the warning M
had received from Lsvatt. and when hs
saw her lips curl At the msution OF the
Two Diamond range eoss's name he
smiled.
II thought the same thing that yuu
are thinking. Mary" he said. And I
didn't . to shoot Ferguson. But
as things have turned out I wouldn't
have been much wrong to have done
H."
She raised her head from the cover
let. did you see him before he shot
your" she Questioned eagerly.
Just a little before" no returned. II
met him At . turn in the trail about
half n mile from here. I made him set
down OF his horse and drop his guns.
We had a talk. for I didn't want 20
shoot him untfl I WI sure. and he talked
30 clever that I Thought he wss telling
the truth. But he wasn't"
lie told her about Ferguson's con-
cealed pistol: how they had stood face
to face with death between them, con-
;iuding: by that time I had decided
not TO shoot him. But ne didn't have
me nerve to pull tho trigger when ne
was looking at me. lie waited until IA
got my horse and was riding away
Then he leaked up behind"
He saw her body shtver, and he ca
ressed her hair slowly. telling her that
he was sorry thlngs had turned out 90.
and promising her that whom he recov-
cred he would bring the Two Diamond
stray-man TO a strict accounting-pro-
viding the latter didn't leave The country
before.
But he saw that his wo~ds hsd given
her little comfort, for when IN hour or
30 later he dropped off to sleep the last
thing ne saw was her seated at the table
In the kitchen. her head bowed In nor
hands. crying softly.
Poor little KID" he said. a. sleep
dimsned his eyes; 1T looks a. though
this would b the end Of her story
ruanHnn Wv