The Colorado statesman., 1915-02-20

how hard / tried
Talk to him. Howe had begged of
Apache Nell Rub his fool throat.
Make him get better" Nell promised
to do her best, but the lost harmony
and the tender, soothing Tilt Of Il
Wonder Who's kissing Her Now" no
longer was waited across the dismal
tables of the Silver Stag.
The Lady Cassandra disappeared
without warning.
Without the witchery of Charley's
tenor voice the varied attractions of
the Silver Stag palled upon her.
Whittier she went no one knew, and
few seemed to care.
Time trudged by in Cab Horse.
Apache Nell, on the morning of
sunny day, wandered afar from the
purlieus of the town. Two miles from
Cab Horse she came to cluster of
scrubby trees and halted to enjoy
their slender shade. In the act OF
brushing her moist forehead with a
dainty cambric Handkerchief she
paused, and her eyes lighted.
From somewhere came a sound
and the sound was the voice of Char
ley White lifted in song.
Nell secreted herself skillfully and
waited
Charley approached from the oppo-
site direction. Harmony welled from
him like a long pent-up oil well in the
first fine, careless rapture of its shoot
ing, and the echoes wound their ture-
full way over the smiling land.
he 1oJ hn I'm Of
trees Nell suddenly stepped into the
road before him.
81 thought" she said sternly, that
you couldn't sing! Why have you de-
ceived Mr.. Howe and me and every
body? Explain!"
Charley removed his hat and hung
his head.
your throat is perfectly right, isn't
it?" Nell demanded.
Charley nodded dismally
Then why?" Nell asked
Il lied about my throat" he replied,
slowly. There has never been any
thing the matter with it."
Then why did you stop singing at
the Silver Stag?"
Because, Nell, have enemies, and
because by enemies have threatened
to kill me-"
The argument then ensuing lasted
the greater part of an hour, and when
it was ended Charley said:
For your sake I'll go back. If am
killed my blood is upon your head"
you will not be killed." Nell said.
The Silver Stag greeted it's return
ing SOngbird with cheers
All was festive, and the crowds gath
cred about the yellow tables and spent
money with abandon.
At fifteen minutes past ten Charley
| White turned into the thrilling orato-
rio known as the Wyoming Rag" and
at ten-sixteen party of strangers
wandered into the Silver Stag and oc-
| cupied table.
There were three men and two wom-
en-, and their hilarity was unusual.
even for a Silver Stag party.
Their voices rose after a time, and
Charley glanced over inquiringly.
From laughter the newcomers drift
ed into earnest conversation, low in
tone at first.
One of the men rose and made a
sweeping gesture
The two women shrieked
The other two men leaped to their
feet.
Revolvers were drawn in the twink
ling of an eye, and in the twinkling of
another eye the regulars of the Silver
Stag were underneath tables and the
strange party was standing in the CEN
ter of a cloud of smoke.
Their guns barked vtciously.
At the top of long note Charley
White ceased singing abruptly.
Quietly he sank to the stage, his
frantic hands tugging at his shirt
band.
Apache Nell reached him first. Her
arms were about him when Howe
came into the room.
The warm blood trickled through
his coat and colored Nell's waist.
Il told you they'd get me-" he whis-
pered family.
few hours later, when they had
probed into and got the bullet out of
his shoulder, Charley White sat up
in Doc Meehan's spare bedroom and
cast faint smile at Nell
I'm going to get WELL" he said
cheerfully, and Nell patted his hand.
"Of course you are" she replied.
And We'll be married as soon as I
can get on my feet"
Nell agreed.
You came near chasing your hus.
band-to-be out of the game ahead of
his time" the patient continued "If I
We're vindictive sort I might hold 1t
against you. wonder who that bunch
was and what they had against me?"
"They didn't have anything against
you,' Nell said slowly. THE bullet
that hit you was an accidental shot"
After the warning had!" he said
scornfully. Don't kid me, Nell. You