The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-07-03
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form. There was no response, no
movement
"All l wish is that I'd been the n
to kill yer" he growled savagely, grim
ming down. Hell of a good shot.
though I reckon the blame fool
meant II for me-" He threw the rife
forward, In readiness, and moved cau-
tiously v toward Hughes.
"Deader than q door-nail," he NUT.
tered. pressing back the buffalo coat,
and staring CONTEMPORARY down into
the white. staring face. II wonder how
that coward w happened to be here
laying out for me, ! reckoni"
He Strengthened up and laughed.
glancing furtfvely about.
Some good joke that The whole
outfit cleaned out, and me twenty
thousand to the good" feeling inside
his coat to make sure. TITS there all
right. Well. goodbye, boys. there
don't to be nothing here for me
to stay for"
He caught the straying pony and
swung up into the saddle, glanced
about once more 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, no
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 a sense Of freedom. awoke a
strong desire to live. Her eyes opened
again. despairingly, and gazed across
the barren expanse. She could see
Hamlin lying face downward, the yell
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
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gled to move her own feet; the left
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 It
numb and helpless. She lay there
oreathless, conscious that she ached
from head to foot. Beyond her the
Sergeant groaned and turned partial
ly over upon his eide. Tugging at the
blanket she managed to free one arm,
gripped the name of the dead pony,
and drew herself into q sitting pos
ture. Now the blood seemed to surge
through her veins in new volume, ana
she labored feverishly to release the
other hand. At last she undid q knot
with her teeth, and slipped the
blanket from her, beating her hands
together to restore circulation. Her
right leg still was too numb to stand
upon, but she crept forward, dragging
1T h~elplessly behind her over the snow,
to where Hamlin lay.
Tho Oirpc ha0r% 5000
beating as she looked at him-at the
white. c%oloriess face. the closed eyes,
the discoioration Of blood staining the
temple. Yet he lived; his faint breath
was plainly perceptible in the frosty
air.
% God!" she sobbed, what can I
dol"
IL was an unrestrained cry Of an
guish. yet there was no hesitation.
n a forgotten everything except
that helpless figure lying before her
on the snow-her own danger, the sur
rounding desolation, the dead forms
accentuating that wilderness tragedy.
With bare hands she bethed his face
IN snow. rubbing the flesh until It
nusned red. pressing her own warm
body against his, her lips speaking his
name again and again. almost hys-
terically. az though she hoped thus to
call him back to consciousness. Her
exploring fingers told her that It was
no serious wound which had creased
the side Of hts head: IL there was no
ether he would surely revive, and the
discovery sent her blood throbbing
through her veins. She lifted his head
70 her lap. chafng his cold wrists
frantically. her eyes staring again out
across the barren sno fields, With
fresh realization Of their intense lone
Illness. She choked back a sob Of de-
SPAR, and glanced down again into
Harniin's face. He did not stir but his
eyes were open. regarding her in be-
wilderment.
Molly" he whispered. forgetting,
is this really you? What has hap
pened?"
The girls eyes filed instantly with