Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1915-02-25
6be
Horse Thief
How He Was Saved.
By M. II. woRsLEY.
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.

/. I. !.
The winter had broken earlier than
usual, and between the nearest point
of civilization and the shack stretched
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
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, dropp d the brush
wood and crept into the shack. and lei
fingers felt for the bolts on the door
But she was too late.
y mans arm was thrust into tn,
opening between the door and tha
jamb. She pushed at the door with an!
her strength, but did not utter word
For Gods sake, give me fighting
chance" the man groaned.
She stepped back
THE sheriff. Hide me!''
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"
No tricks, mind.' said the man
This isn't kids game I'm playing.
I've got you covered, and if you give
them SO much as Il wink p
a laundering at the door closed his
mouth. He stepped quickly behind the
curtain, slit half an inch in length
atfording him Il 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 their
horses and waited.
Il apologize for having disturbed a
woman at this time of night, but We're
looking for an eX-freishter by the name
of Joe Gregar. Lifted horse some
miles back and not the first by a good
many. He's given us Il 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
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 Gregal
to go on with. Like as not they're one
and the same"
is your sense of manliness as great
as your sense of justice? Perhaps
you'd like to search my shack?'
Its my duty" he stammered much
as | may regret it,
She stepped back from the door an
walked slowly to the other side of til
room. She stopped over shakedowll
then turned and glanced at the man il
the doorway.
He was watching her curiously
Something beneath the clothes on tn
shakedown stirred uneasily She Viii
pered soothingly and drew down til,
sheet. The man at the door saw tn
flushed face of "A suffering girl chill
! The woman recrossed the floor.
is that your MANI she aske,
orokenly. "Would you like to scare
further?"
NO" he said; I'll take your wor
If you'll take my apologies. What i,
it? Can't be fever this weather. Du
her face is flushed"
Broke her arm said the woman
land 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. rs 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 MANI" she ask
ed. He nodded reassuringIy and com
menced tenderly to remove the band
ages.
"Set" he muttered ut hasn't had
chance to set. Who made these
splints?"
81 did," said the woman. ut was the
best could do"
you can't expect woman to be
clever at everything" he unused. "Give
me that box" With the aid of his
iackknife he fashioned the splints and
cast round for Il 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 us he took the
belt in his fingers and turned it over
Within half an hour the child was
sleeping peacefully.
I'm obliged to you" said the WON