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

and drew herself into sittiag pos
ture. Now the blood seemed to surge
through her veins in new volume, and
she labored feverisaly to release the
other hand. At Last she undid knot
with her teeth, and slipped the
blanket from her, beating her hands
together to restore circulation. Her
light leg still was too numb to stand
upon, but she cert forward, dragging
1T helplessly benz d her over the snow
to Were lianiin lay.
The girls heart seemed to stop
beating as She looked at him-at the
white. ccsorles5 face, the closed eyes,
tie discoloration of blood staining the
temple. Yes he lived; his faint breath
was plainly perceptible in the frosty
air.
20 God!" she sobbed. what can i
dol"
1t was an unrestrained cry Of an.
guish. yet there was no hesitation.
She had 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 bathed his face
IN snow, rubbing the flesh until 1t
flushed red, pressing her own warm
body against his, her lips speaking his
name again and again, almost hys
terically. as 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 his head: If there was no
other he would surely revive, and the
discovery sent her blood throbbins
through her veins. She lifted his head
to her lap. chatting his cold wrists
frantically, her eyes staring again out
across the barren snow fields, with
fresh realization of their intense lone.
Illness. She choked back sob of de.
SPAR, and glanced down again into
Hamlin's face. He did not stir but his
eyes were open, regarding her In be-
wilderment.
Molly" he whispered. forgetting,
ais this really you? What has hap.
pened?"
The girls eyes filed instantly with
tears. but she did not move, except
that the clasp Of her hands grew
stronger.
Eyes, l am Molly; please do not
move yet. You have been hurt. but 1t
is all right now"
"Hurt!" he lifted his head slightly
and stared about; then dropped it
again with sigh of content. ooh.
yes, now I know. Hughes shot me
from behind" He struggled upright,
in spite Of her efforts at restraint.
feeling beside him for the rife. "Du-
pont was there, behind that dead
pony. What became Of Dupont?'
She dropped her face In her hands.
her form trembling.
"He-he got away. He thought you
were dead; TOTO make sure he came
over and kicked you. Then he took
your rife, and the only pony left. and
rode of"
"And left you?"
"Yes-he--he never thought of me:
only-cnly how he should escape with
the money. l never moved. never
opened my eyes; perhaps he be.
Heved me dead also, and-and prayed
he would. would rather have died
than have him touch me again. And
and thought you were dead too. o
God! 1t was so horrible!"
The mans vN{oo Vx,oe 800
thrilling with the love that refused
control.
Il know. dear: know 1t all. now"
he said tenderly. clasping her hands.
But that Is all over and gone" He
put up one hand to his wound.
Heavens, how my head aches! But
that pain won't last long. am a bit
sroggy yet, but will be on my feet
pretty soon. You are brave little
girl. Tell me how you got free?"
She went over the short story slow
". not lifting her eyes to his, and he
listened in silence, moving his limbs
about. confident Of the gradual return
Of strength.
But how did 1t happen!" he asked.
your capture? Your fathers death
1t is all mystery to me after left
you on the hotel balcony"
The tears stood in her eyes sudden.
~ uplifted to his. and impulsively the
man encircled her with his arm.
"You know I care, dear" he ex.
claimed recklessly. "You are not
afraid to tell me-"
mo, no; you have been so kind, 90
true. / can tell you everything only
it is so hard to confess the truth about
my father"
you suspect he was implicated :.
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