Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-13
Continued from page 4

seen her as PLAIN IN the freight as see you
now. She was young woman as purity as
picture, dressed in 1ow-cut gown, with
a string of pearls around her neck and kind
of crown on her head. And she was laugh
ing! 1 couldn't sleep last night for thinkin
about that laugh, when it would have been
more natural for her to cry; and when the
guns began to crack this morning left my
horses in the furrow to ride over here and
tell you about her. had to. 'Tain't right
to fire on that house with an innocent woman
in it."
@You saw the Queen of the May or some
other fairy" answered the Sheriff mock
ingly. run back to your pillow, Danny,
take pill on retiring tonight, and by morn
ing you'll be yourself again"
Nevertheless his mind had leaped back
to Christmas Eve and Jaffs Christmas box,
and after Kelsey had gone he began to nib
bic his stubby red mustache. If there really
was woman in Jaff's cabin, it would make
a mighty unpleasant newspaper story-for
himself He turned nervously at the snap
ping at twig behind him.
We've got him!" cried Cal Botsford.
3At least he's out in front of his cabin wav-
ing white handkerchief"
"Thank God!' exclaimed Bates fervently.
He 1eaped to his feet, felt in his hip
pocket to make sure of his bracelets, and
started up the slope, with Botsford in his
wake.
JAFF, standing in front of his battered
> castle, presented a pitiable sight. The
30. 3Os had evidently done considerable
rummaging around inside. One bloody
bandage encircled his head and another his
right wrist; his left leg was tied round with
a handkerchief above his knee; hands and
foc from
der stains, and hair and whiskers were
singed.
"You can have the girl now-whats
left of her, said he with simple pathos, a
mere hint of tragedy.
Enigmatical as the words were to Cal
Botsford, sudden sweat beaded the Sher-
ifs brow, and his hand came out of his
pocket without the steel cuffs. Motioning
Botsford to wait outside, he followed Jaff in.
The floor was ankle deep with plaster,
broken glass, splinters, scraps of wall paper,
and exploded shells. But what unclaimed
the Sheriff's eyes was a bed in the corner
upon which young woman lay, clothed
much as Kelsey had described her. Her
eyes were shut, her face deathly white, and
one temple was crossed with trickle of
blood
4Dead2' whispered Bates, from dry
throat.
Dying answered Jaff calmly.
Bates jumped to the door. @Doc Free
man-quick!" said he thickly to Botsford.
@He's at Kamschulte's, dressing Bob's
shoulder. Tell him it's matter Of life or
death. But don't mention this gal yet
for there is girl. And tell the boys" he
added, at sight of the ingathering deputies,
ito keep outside"
He turned back into the room. Jaff,
occupying chair from which one arm and
half the back had been shot away, motioned
him toward another one in scarcely better
repair.
7 HID her well for nigh onto twenty
years, said Jaff, like man resuming
story @Her mother in Heaven will bless
me for that. Only one man in this country
ever seen her. That was the minister that
buried her mother. | realized afterward it
was mistake to let him see her, and cor
rected it by having him out here the next
year to bury Ruby. Of course he didn't
bury her. only box with some stones in it.
4Yet l always felt it in my bones that
some day this thing would come to pass
Secrets, you know, will always out in time;
and | made up my mind, with God as my
counselor, to kill her before I'd let anybody
take her to living death in a 'sylum. But
that would have been grievous hard thing
for father to do, and I'm glad to be spared