The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1915-04-16


"Wealthy-but she isn't much Of
woman. He was good and straight
man when she left him."
"And then he took to horse liftingr
I'm all his life he's taken one horse,
| although he's been blamed for many"
WAS there another man in the trou-
| BILE between him and his wife?"
$50 they say" she answered.
lis Brunte looking for hlm?'
"A man can't afford to take the law
into his own hands when he's GOT
"What?"
"a sick child" And she nodded in
| the direction of the shakedown.
The man leaped to his feet. His eyes
were riveted on hers.
do you mean to say that she-she Is
Brunte Heaths child?'
"Yes," said the woman deliberately.
"Where is he?"
"He has gone to fetch the doctor"
| "And the doctor is thirty miles away
| if he's a foot!' He went to the door
| and looked out. "And it's showing
fierce" he added in whisper.
FLOWS he mounted"
ION the horse the sheriff wanted him
for. 1t was his only chance. His own
horses died a month ago, and he was
waiting till the spring before buying
more.'
The face of the man was study in
bewilderment. He crossed the floor to
the shakedown and looked ut the sleep
ing child.
Lifted a horse to ride thirty miles
in this weather to save his kid!' He
turned away from the bed. And good
luck to you, Bruntev' he muttered.
you'd risk your own neck for him?"
said the man presently.
"For him and the kiddy, yes"
For moment their eyes met and
spoke. And there was something more
than admiration in his. Then his lips
opened and the question that had been
disturbing him for some time refused
longer to be controlled.
whats Brunte Heath to yOu?" he
asked. And the silence that followed
was charged with fears and doubts for
both of them.
Pm his sister," she said at last. And
it was impossible to misunderstood the
deep breath that left his lips.
"And a sister whom he ought to be
! proud of" he said without reserve.
"Bet the sheriff wouldn't think So"
"I'm not so sure" he said thought
fully.
He was sitting there gazing at her
when suddenly the strained call of
dog-wolf reached them. With a cry Of
| joy she sprang to the door and threw
| it open.
A man, slight of stature, yet seeming
ly of strength, judging by the way in
which he hauled his tired horse
through the snow, was coming toward
the shack. The woman ran to meet
him, kissed him affectionately and
drew him into the humble apartment.
The man already there rose to meet
him, but the woman was the first to
speak.
"A man by the name of Joe Gregar
Brunte,' she said. HE came here
with the sheriff on his heels, and
gave him chance. knew that you'd
say it was the right thing to do"
"Mebbe it was, mebbe it wasn't" he
said, staring hard at the stranger
Flows the galT' His eyes were still
fixed ON those of the other man. How
long have you been in this country"
he asked in a suspicious voice.
"Long enough to know a man when
I see one. Your horse has slipped his
halter, Brunte Heath
Two heads were turned to the open
door simultaneously, Heath's and the
woman's. And cold official voice
turned them back again.
"Put up your hands, Brunte Heath.
I've got you covered, and it wouldn't
be easy to miss from this distance"
II thought that l recognized you"
said Brunte, Stretching his hands above
his head and smiling bitterly as the
barrel of the revolver almost brushed
his nose. Nan, little gal, they've play
ed 1t low down on you this time. Have
you been properly introduced to the
new sheriff.
The sheriff thrust his revolver into
its holster and held out his hand to
the man.
81 did manage to take you without
firing a shot. Brunte," he said with a
laugh. Bear that in mind, will you
Because one Of these days you may
hear the fellows chipping the new
sheriff, and then you can-well, you
can butt in and say that he wasn't
quite as green as he looked. 1 don't
know what you've got in the pack for
the little girl, but if it's a doll to play
with 1t will do her more good than
medicine. Keep her arm i'm the splints
for a couple of weeks and keep your
heart up for good. That little girl on
the shakedown is worth working for
honest work! l shall come back one
of these days"-he glanced meaningly
ut the woman-"to see how the patient
is progressing"
He walked to the door and looked
back.
Brunte Heath was bending over his
little girl. The woman was standing
transfixed in the center Of the room.
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