The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1914-01-29

moist red patch on hts shirt on the
right side Just below the shoulder
blade, and II seemed that 4 band oi
steel had been suddenly pressed down
over her forehead. Something had
happened TO Doubler!
The world reeled. objects around
her danced fantastically, the trees In
the grove near her seemed to dip
toward her In derision. her knees
sagged and she held tightly to the
her weakness.
She saw II all In q fash. Dakota
had been to visit Doubler and had
shot him. She had heard the shot.
Duncan had been right, and Dakota
how she despised him now!-was
probably even now picturing In his
Imagination the scene Of her discov-
Aring the hester lying on HE own
threshold. murdered. An anger against
him, which arose at the thought. DID
much to help her regain control OF
herself.
she must be brave now. for there
might still b life In Doubler's body.
and she went slowly toward him.
crinsing and shrinking along the wall
" she he touched him first. lightly. with
the tips of her angers. calling softly
to him In . quavertug voice: Becom-
ing moro bold. she took hold OF MN
by the left shoulder and shook MIN
slightly. and her heart , :eSmen nos "
esca ned his lips. Her fear ned IN
stsntiy az she realised that he wa
AIM. that she had not to deal with
q dead man.
Stifiing q Quivertng cob she took
hold ~ him again, tuEgtng and pulling
nj him. trying to turn him over %
that she might see his face. she
obseryed that the red patch on MS
shoulder grew larger with the enort'
and her face grew paler with appre-
hen sion, but convinced that she mus!
persist she shut her eyes ana tugseo
desperately at him, finally succeeding
in pulling him over ON MS oack.
He moaned again, though ms Iscs
was ashen and lifeless. and with nope
Hii,nr her heart she redoubled her
EFFORTS and finally succeeded In drag
Cinr him inside the cabin. out OF the
sun. where he lay inert. with wac
stretched arms, Q gruesome flgure u
the girl.
Painting and exhausted, some stray
wisps of hair sweeping her temples. the
rest Of II threatening TO- come tum.
bling down around her shoulders. ene
leaned against one Of the door jamos
thinking rapidly. She ought to nave
help, OF course, and her thoughts wen,
10 dakota, riding unconcernedly away
on the river trail. She could not &c
40 him for assistance, such . course
vas not to be considered-she would
rather let Doubler die than to 90 e
his murderer; she could never nave
endured the irony Of such an action
Besides, she was certain that. ever
were she to 60 to him. he would nnc
some excuse to refuse her. for. hevine
shot the hester, he certainly would &C
nothing toward bringing the he!I
which might possibly restore him te
She, put aside the thought with .
shudder Of horror. yet conscious tna'
something must be done for poubIci
at once II no was to live. Perhaps II
was already too late to 80 for assist
ance: there seemed to be but very
little life in his body. and trembling
with anxiety she decided that she
must render him whatever aid she
could. There was not much that she
could do, TO be sure, but II she could
do something she might keep him
alive until other help would come.
She stood beside the door 3amb and
watched him for some time, for she
dreaded the idea Of touching him
again. but after q while her courage
returned. and she again went 70 him,
kneeling down beside him. laying her
head on his breast and listening.
His heart was beating. family. blu,
still It was beating. and she rose from
"'t H. somnn heath knife IN one O,
his pockets, and with this she cut the
shirt away from the wound. discover
Ing, when she drew the pieces OF clotf
away, that there was q large, rounc
hole in his breast. She came near te
swooning when she thought Of tht
red patch on his back. for that seemed
TO prove that the bullet had gone
clear through him. 1t had missed
vital spot, though. she thought, Tor !,
seemed to DO rather high on tht
shoulder. g..
She got some water from . pal
that stood just inside the door. ene
she tore from one Of her skirts sh.
bathed and bandaged the wound ant
laid a wet cloth on his forehead. Sh'
tried 70 force some of the water dowr
his throat, but he could not swallow
living there with closed eyes anf
drawing his breath In short. pa'nfu
gasps.
After she had worked with him
for a quarter OF an hour or more she
stood up. convinced that she had done
all she could for him and that the
nsxt move would be to get doctor
She had heard Duncan say that II
was nifty miles to Dry Bottom, and
she knew that II was at least forty
to Iazette. She had never heard any
one mention that there was a doctor
nearer, and 30 OF course she would
have to 60 to LaEette-ten miles
would make great difference.
She might ride to the Double II
ranch house. and she thought OF go.
ing there, but II was at least ter
miles OF tho Lazette trail. and even
though at the Double II she might
get q cowboy to make tho ride &c
I.asette, she would DO losing much
valuable time. She drew q deer
breath over tho contemplation OF the
long ride-at best It would take hei
four hours-but she did not hesitate
long and with q last glance at Doub'
Ter she was out of the door ana walk.
Ing to the corral. whore she un-
hitched her pony. mounted, and sent
the animal over the Level toward the
crossing at a sharp gallop.
Once over the crossing and on tbs
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