Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1913-05-08

to Shoot7"
as to seem unreal even to the partici-
pants. Hamlin lay motionless, bare
ly conscious of living, yet unable to
stir muscle. Hughes. screaming out
one oath, sank back into heap, his
frozen fingers still gripping his smok-
ing weapon. Then Dupont rose eau
tiously to his knees, peering forth
across the dead body of the pony. The
man was unnerved, unable at first to
comprehend what had occurred. He
was saved as by miracle, and his
great form shook from head to foot.
Then, as his eyes rested on the out
stretched body Of the Sergeant, hate
conquered every other feeling; he
staggered to his feet, picked up the
gun lying in the snow, walked across
and brutality kicked the PROSTATE
form. There was no response, no
movement.
"All wish is that I'd been the one
to kill YER" he growled savagely, grin.
ming down. "Hell of a good shot.
though reckon the blame fool
meant 1t for me- He threw the rife
forward. in readiness. and moved eau
tiously over toward Hughes.
"Deader than door.nail," he NUT
tered. pressing back the buffalo coat,
and staring contemptuously down into
the white, staring face. 81 wonder how
that coward ever happened to be here
laying out for me. reckon!"
He Strengthened up and laughed,
glanctng furtively about.
"Some good joke that. The whole
outfit cleaned out, and me twenty
thousand to the good" feeling inside
his coat to make SURE. Its there all
right. Well. goodbye. boys. there
don't seem to be nothing here for me
to stay for"
He caught the strayins pony and
swung up into the saddle. glanced
about once moro at the motionless
figures. and finally rode OF up the
ridge, unconsciously following the
tracks left by the fleeing Indian. II
the girl ever occurred to him. he gave
no sign OF remembrance, and she ut.
tered no word. Lying on her side. her
eyes wide open, she watched him ride
away. across the barren space. until
the slow-moving pony topped the
ridge. and disappeared on the other
side. Twice the man turned and
glanced back into the valley, but saw
nothing except the black blotches on
the snow. Molly made no motion, nc
outcry. She preferred death there
alone. rather than rescue at his hands
Scarcely conscious. feeling no strength
In her limbs. no hope pulsing at her
heart, she closed her eyes and lay
still. Yet wrapped about as she was
her young body remained warm, and
the very disappearance Of Dupont
yielded sense OF freedom. awoke 8
strong desire to live. Her eyes opened
again. despairingly, and gazed across
the barren expanse. She could see
Hamlin lying face downward, the vel
low lining of his cavalry cape over his
head. 1t seemed to her the mans
foot moved. Could she be dreaming,
NO! He actually drew up one limb.
This evidence that the Sergeant
still lived gave her fresh strength and
renewed determination. SIZE strue
gled to move her own feet; the lef,
was free. but the right was caught
firmly beneath the pony. She strug
gled desperately, forgetful OF pain. in
the faith that she might save Ham
lin. Little by little she worked the
imprisoned limb free, only to find i,
numb and helpless. She lay there
breathless, conscious that she acheG
from head to foot. Beyond her the
Sergeant groaned and turned partial
ly over upon his side. Tugging at the
blanket she managed to free one arm
gripsed the name Of the dead pony