Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-06-18
6he
Horse Thief
How He Was Saved.
By M. H. WORSLEY.
by Frank A. Munsey Co.


q waste of cleaning snow.
AS the girl came from behind the
shack, hauling the brushwood after
her, the soft yet distinct pad-pad OF
a runners feet in the snow caused her
to throw her head back and listen in.
tently.
Slowly the girl, her face almost as
white as the snow, dropped the brush.
wood and crept into the shack. and her
fingers felt for the bolts on the door.
But she was too late!
A mans arm was thrust into the
opening between the door and the
jamb. She pushed at the IGOR with all
her strength, but did moi utter a word
For Gods sake, give me a fighting
ehance!' the man groaned.
She stepped back.
1.-THE sheriff! Hide mev'
They're here!' she said quickly as
the shouting Of a dozen men was
heard. "Get behind that curtain. I'm
going to light the lamp. Don't move
or get skeered into shooting"
mo tricks, mindr' said the nan
''This isn't a kids game I'm playing
I've got you covered, and If you give
them SO much as a wink p
"A laundering Mt the door closed his
mouth. He stepped quickly behind the
curtain, a slit half an inch in length
a~ffording him a view of the scene al
the door.
The girl lit the lamp, then carelessly
drew back the bolts.
The man at the door leaped lightly
from his saddle and politely raised his
hat. His companions drew back theft
horses and waited.
~ apologize for having disturbed a
woman at this time of night, but we're
looking for an ex%-freighter by the name
of Joe Gregar. Lifted a horse some
miles back and not the first by a good
many. He's given us a mighty good
run for the money, but reckon we've
freed him."
you're the new sheriff, aren't your
There was biting irony in her voice.
We've heard about you in these parts.
Something brand new from Boston,
Ell? Came out here to show them how
to rope in Brunte Heath, didn't you!
Is it Brunte that you're after?"
"Brunte can wait. Well take Gregar
to go on with. Like as not they're one
and The same"
SIS your of manliness as great
as your sense of justice? Perhaps
you'd like TO search my shack?"
"It's my duty" he stammered. much
as / may regret it."
She stepped back from the door and
walked slowly to the other side of the
room. She stopped over a shakedown,
then turned and glanced at the man In
the doorway.
He was watching her c%uriously.
Something beneath the clothes on the
shakedown stirred uneasily. She whis-
pered soothfngly and drew down the
sheet. The man at the door saw the
flushed face of a suffering girl child.
The %recrossed the floor.
us that your manT' she asked
brokenly. "Would you like to search
further?'
NO." he said; I'll take your word
If you'll take my apologies. What is
it? Can't be fever this weather, but
ner race is flushed.
Broke Der arm,'' said the
''and it's set badly"
The man behind the curtain waited
till the sheriff had gone and her came
from his hiding place.
"Why didn't you tell me-" he asked,
nodding at the shakedown. "Is it your
kiddy:"
"No: my niece"
LET me have a look at her arm"
He went owe to the shakedown and
gently turned aside the clothes. The
child looked up into his face and SEEM
ed satisfied.
Are you the doctor man ~ she ask
ed. He nodded reassuringly and com
menced tenderly to remove the band.
ages.
"Setr' he muttered. 'It hasn't had
a chance to set. Who made these
splints?'
81 did," said the woman. ut was the
best / could do"
"You can't expect a woman to be
clever at everything" he unused. "Give
me that box" With the aid of his
JuShhu1le ne 1dSulOleu lue SPLITS ana
cast round for a sling. "Now that
belt" he commanded, indicating a
mans cartridge belt hanging behind
the door.
Mechanically she handed it to him,
and, though the muscles of her face did
not move, she saw the look Of surprise
that came into his eyes as he took The
belt in his fingers and turned it over.
Within half an hour the child wal
sleeping peacefully.
I'm obliged to you." said the won.
an. "Are we quits?"
Il should like to think So" he re
Piled, moving toward the door.
There are a couple of horse rugs in
the other ROOM" she said quietly. 1.-THE
drifts would give you less Of a chance
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