Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1913-08-22

HkOIuhG1 OULb1u0 LAO C&U1us SAA -
saw Frank Merriman, smoking In one
corner. Mollie was laying the supper
table. Occasionally she stopped be-
fore the sheriff and seemed to plead
with him. Ben gritted his teeth.
II only Merriman would lay aside
his rife. But he kept his clasp OF 1t
even at the supper table; 1t was only
later when he arose that he placed
it for a moment against the mud wall.
The watcher knew that his time had
come. Mollie's hands were on Merri-
mans arm and she was pleading very
earnestly. Ben fancied that she was
crying.
He sprang to his feet and rushed
through the open door. He saw In
distinctly; the world was revolving n
a fiery mist, through his weapon.
Next moment, too enraged to fire, Ben
had dropped his rifle and his hands
were on the sheriff's throat.
To and fro they wrestled. The ia
Bile was knocked down. The clumsy
chairs went spinning acros the room.
The candle was dashed to the floor,
and in the bewildering night each
only knew that he was fighting for
life with an ~implacable adversary.
Ben dug his knuckles into the hollow
space between the point Of the Jaw
and the great cord behind the ear-an
old woodsman's trick, to compress the
carotid and produce Inconsistencies.
He felt his enemy weakening. He had
him at his mercy now. Suddenly a
tremendous blow fell upon his head
from behind. He heard the shiver1ng
of the cheap rifle stock, flung out his
hands, felt for some stable hold in
the encompassing darkness, and tum-
bled to the ground. The last thing
that he saw as his senses left him was
the faint glimmer Of the relit candle
and Mollie's agonized face, In Its
aureole hair.
Benz"
"Mollie!"
He started out through the whirling
, phantasmagoria that surrounded Inn
He was dizzy and deathly sick. Gradu'
ally, as the fog cleared from his brain,
he realized that he was lying in
I little room. He lay in Mollie's room
upon a bed, and the face that he
loved best in all the world was bend
( ing over him.
s Thank God he is coming to
Frank"
d You had better leave him for tbs
present" 1t was the voice of Merri
v man. He came into the circle O.
Ben's vision, a mighty man, his fac'
b swathed in bandages. Looking upol
d him, Ben dimly wondered how he hat
e aver had the strength to wrestle witt
d such a fellow. He was too weak t.
g lift a finger now.
t. We'll, young fellow!" Merrimal
was scowling down at him. "You'v
J. done for yourself pretty wei
now" he continued. IF my nephew
Walt, hadn't had the gumption t
come up at the right moment an
snatch my rife you'd have had a mul
,e der charge against you. l though
j. you were gone when / saw the whac
IT. he gave you that night"
Id That night! When?"
as 1.-TWO weeks ago tomorrow. Yep,
ze reckon you've kind of lost count {
I'd time" he continued, smiling less evi
n ly. You've been mighty near dealt
ie- young fellow, let mi tell you"
Well, 1 guess you've won," sal
to Ben feebly. When are you going
ID, take me back to the pententiary?"
he Frank Merriman scratched his hea
er. then, lingering his bandages, /
es scowled; at length a smile broke o.
rs. upon his face.
he when will you be ready to start
i'm ne asked.
lat You'll have to put me in a cart,
DID, reckon" answered Ben. Frank"
a continued, Pm likely to get a life Sc
est tence now and we aren't likely
to- meet again. l want to ask a promi
of you. Treat Mollie well. She
ted the finest girl in the world, and
1t she was false to newell, l reckon
len was for your sake, Frank"
hat The sheriff stared at him. Then
APPS turned abruptly away. "The-devil
cci- you-say!" he muttered.
ate. He went to the door and called t
ant girl. Ben heard them whispering o
and side. And presently he was ava
in his weakness, that Mollie "
cen bending over him again.
ose "Ben!"
in "Mollie!"
all Ben, dearest. Did you think I h
Ter! betrayed you, Ben? Did you dare
,uld think that l vas untrue to you?"
He felt her tears drop on his ha
Jaw He listened dumbly, in an agony
for anticipation and doubts he dared
!, so utter.
the Listen, Ben! You are free. F
con- to go where you will. When you
rate capped the newspapers took up y
wo- case. They demanded that you she
r SO be set free. The governor was
ollie pealed to. He said that you had b
had punished enough. Your pardon
par rived the week before you first CT
He to the cabin. That was why l "
hand to the mountain. l should have
Ben. you, but / wanted it to come a
surprise. That night Mr.. Merril