Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1915-03-17
6he
Horse Thief
How He Was Saved.
BY M. H. WORSLEY.
Copyright by Frank A Munsey Co.

Vi CIV llLuCiOu anu TIE SudCk
a 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 door with all
her strength, but did not utter a word.
For Gods sake, give me a fighting
chancer' the man groaned.
She stepped back.
1.-The sheriff! Hide mev'
They're herer' 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 man.
This isn't kids game I'm playing.
I've got you covered, and if you give
them so much as wink p
A laundering at the door closed his
mouth. He stepped quickly behind the
curtain. a slit half an inch in length
affording him view Of the scene at
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 their
horses and waited.
Il 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 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 you?
There was biting irony in her voice.
We've heard about you in these parts.
Something brand new from Boston,
eh? 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"
lis your sense of manliness as great
as your sense of justice? Perhaps
you'd like to search nay shack?
''It's my duty" be 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 curiously.
! Something beneath the clothes on the
shakedOwn stirred uneasily. She whis-
pered soothingly and drew down the
sheet. The man at the door saw the
flushed face of a suffering girl child.
The woman recrossed the floor.
SIS that your man?' 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
her face is flushed"
Broke her arm,'' said the woman,
''and it's set badly"
| The man behind the curtain waited
till the sheriff had gone and then came
from his hiding place.
''Why didn't you tell me?' he asked,
nodding at the shakedown. "Is it your
kiddy?"
mo; my niece"
Let me have look at her arm"
He went over 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.
''Setv' he muttered. "It hasn't had
a chance to set Who made these
splints?"
Il did, said the woman. 1T was the
best l could do
you can't expect a woman to bt
clever at everything" he unused. "Givt
me that box" With the aid of his
jackknife he fashioned the splints ant
cast round for sling. Now tina
belt,'' he commanded, indicating ;
mans cartridge belt hanging behint
the door.
Mechanically she handed it to him
and, though the muscles of her face di,
not move. she saw the look of surpris
that came into his eyes as he took tn
belt in his fingers and turned it over
Within half an hour the child wa
sleeping peacefully.
I'm obliged to you said the won
an. Are we quits?''
81 should like to think so.'' he re
piled. moving toward the door,
! There are a couple of horse rugs il
T the other room.' she said quietly. 9Th
J drifts would give you less of chanc
than the sheriff did"