Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1913-01-17

Cod" How long he was at 1t, or
what he did, she scarcely knew-she
heard the splash of water; caught the
flash of the sun on the probe: felt the
half conscious shudder of the wound
ed man, whose nead 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 mel"
Live! Why shouldn't he?-nothing
but hole to close up-nature'l do
that, with a bit of nursing-here, now
don't you keel ovsr-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-I wonder how the cuss ever
managed TO get him..
AS he arose to ais 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
preparations for pushing on to the
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 a
| breath of air famed the nearby fire.
the rudy glow of flame flashing
across his face. He heard voices
family, and thus, little by little, con.
seriousness asserted itself and memory
struggled back into his bewildered
brain The desert-the lonely leagues
| of sand-his fingers gripped as If they
| felt the stock of gun-yet that was
all over-he was not there-but he
was somewhere-and alive, alive. IL
| 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 in
sudden recollection.
Doc! is that your"
Sure, old man." the pudgy fingers
feeling his pulse, the gray eyes twink
ling. Marrow 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 q
blanket, and get you into Larned to-
morrow"
| AClO was q ot1~ASS
Keith finding 1t hard to speak.
"Hawley-?" he whispered at last.
"Oh. don't worry; you got him all
right. Say" his voice SOLDERING, may.
be it was just as we'll you took that
| job. If 1t had been me | would have
been in bad"
The wounded mans eyes questioned
Its bad mix-up. Keith. Waite
never told us all of It, | reckon he
didn't want her to know. and she
never shall, If can help it. I've been
looking over some papers in his peck
et-he'd likely been after them this
trip-and his name amt Hawley. Hes
Bartlett Gale, Christies father"
Keith could not seem to grasp the
thought, his eyes half-closed.
"Her-her father?" he questioned
weakly. do you suppose he knew
No; not at first, anyhow; not at
Sheridan. He was too interested In
his scheme to even suspicion he had
actually stumbled onto the real girl
| think he just found out"
A coyote howled somewhere In the
darkness, melancholy chorus joining
in the with long-drawn cadence. A
shadow swept into the radius OF dane.
ing freight
'Is he conscious, Doctor?"
Fairbain drew back silently, and she
dropped on her knees at Keith's side,
bending low to look into his face.
"Hope-Hope.
Yes. dear, and you are going to
live now-live for me-"
He found her hand, and held 1t,
clasped within his own. his eyes wide
open
II have never told you." he said,
softly, how much | love you"
She bent lower until her cheek
touched his
mo, Jack, but you may now"
THE END