The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-06-25

Z
triumphant shout, raised his Wiu'
chester az a distance Of nifty PAGES,
and covered him. An instant latef
later the weapon fell from his hand;
he spun round and fell
A stray bullet from another part OF
the field had pierced him through the
lungs.
Ned ran 10 him. He could see al
glance that the man was dying But
10 his astonishment he seemed 70
know his face And the dying man
knew his
You're Ned Ward" he exclaimed.
"Of the bank back in-what was that
little town."
Yes" said Ned
often I thought OF holding up that
place. Wish I'd done so now and
made a haul Don't you know me?'
Not by name" answered Ned.
my names WhitIng-Phll Whit
ing." mumbled the outlaw. Say Am
/ dying?'
Ned bowed HIS head. The bitter
shame oyercame him and robbed h'sa
Of all power OF speech; added TO this
was the horror that Mays lover
should be such a man as this one.
III my times come ! can stand for
H." mumbled the bandit philosophical
ly, after a coughing spell which racked
him. But you don't bear no malice?
You'll send a message for me to the
only girl I've ever thought much OFF,
Your wife?" Ned burst out impetu-
ously.
Lord, no! I never married-never
had the coin, worse luck. But she was
a dandy girl, back in-what was our
little burg's name?-and ! want her
to know IL hadn't forgotten her.
You see, I've been living on her for
months past-years. now ] come to
think"
Living OF herr"
Yes. She thought ! was going TO
marry her when got a job she
didn't know the life ] was lea :.
She kept sending me money. And
honest, / did mean TO marry her just
as soon as ! could pull of another
trick and 90 East. But ] guess I'm
done for now"
Her name?' asked Ned. kneeling
over the man, and shuddering at the
thought of hearing Mays name pro
nounced by him.
"You1l tell her / was killed in an
accident, friend he whispered.
You'll never let her know the truth
Promise? Then write her name. Miss
Bessie Reid.
The man had grown delirious. He
was muttering now, and Ned kneeled
beside him, waiting, while darkness
fell. The rest OF the band had long
since surrendered and we're being con
veyed in the sherin's charge to the
county seat. Ned and the dying man,
hidden in the sage brush had escaped
notice. ~
She was a sumner a real dandy"
muttered Whiting There wasn't a
girl as smart as her anywhere. l re,
member how We laughed over trick
she played on somebody-odd / cant
remember his name now. She got me
to write a letter to a fri5nd af hers,
to break up a match witt a young fool
Bess hated | wish you could have
seen the way Bess laughed when she
told me" =
Yes, it must he been amusing"
muttered Ned, wiping the froth from
the lips Of the dying man.
He buried him in the sand at dawn.
Then, returning to the. settlement.
Ned realized his holdings and. with
twelve thous nd dollars in his pock-
cts, returned East. He hardly hoped
that May was still unmarried but
he meant to see her and ask her for.
giveness.
When h approached the garden in
the little town he saw a woman clip
ping the hedge. But it was not May.
1t was Bessie Reid. She was dressed
in deep mourning. and, seeing Ned.
she rec, .gnized him at once and ran
to him with startling cry
Il got your letter. 1t was so good
OF you she murmured, her eyes fill
ing With tears. Poor Phil-such
dreadful end in that mine disaster,
and h, W strange you being there and
recognizing him"
Yes answered Ned. Where is
Miss Eale?'
why, l believe she's inside. She
doesn't know you are coming? Ned
listen | played a dastardly trick on
you one day
Il know it" answered Ned.
When you wrote about poor Philip
| saw how wicked | had been.
told her only this morning Ned, she
she has gone in to write you let
ter"
At that instant May emerged, the
e.ter in her hand. Ned saw that she
was trembling as she went down the
steps. He strode toward her; she
'aised her eyes, stared incredulously,
and fell weakly into his arms.
Ned YOu-you know?' she whis-
)ered.
Yes, dear That our wedding Is
hree years overdue and that we are
going TO pull it off tomorrow Le an
,Uarpd lyiSSiuc her