The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1915-09-30
band. which had almost won the prise

/ Inc race was long, out always un.
equal. The ruflans. who had dashed
from the scene Of the cabin almost In
an even line. scattered and struggled
unevenly. Now only two were able TO
send bullets whistling about Willock's
head; now only one found Il possible
90 cover the distance At last he fell
out OF range.
The child who had lain so trustingly
upon wIllock's Wild bosom, who had
chung TO him as to father-she was
safel An unwonted smile crept under
the bristling beard Of the fugitive, ms
ing speed. Should he seek refuge
among civilized communities his crimes
would hang over his head. To venture
into his old haunts In No Mans Land
would be TO expose his back TO the as
sassin's knife. or his breast TO ambush
ed murlerers.
These were desperate reflections. and
the future seemed framed In solitude.
yet Brick Wilcox rode on with that
odd smile about the grim lips. The
smile was unlike him. but. the whole
AFFAIR was such an experience rs had
never entered his most daring fancy.
/ Never before In his life had he held n
child In his arms. still lcss had he felt
the sweet embrace Of peaceful Stun
Der.
The sun had risen when the pony.
after few tottering steps, suddenly
sank to earth. Wilcox unfsstened the
halter from its neck, tied IL with the
lariat about his waist. aud without
pause set out afoot
Though still from long riding. the
change Of motion soon brought renew
Ell vigor. Wilcox had grown thirsty.
and as the sun rose higher and beat
down on him from an unclouded sky,
his eyes searched the plains eagerly
for some shelter that promised water.
He did not look In vain. Against the
horizon rose the low blue shapes of the
Wichita mountains, looking at first like
fat sheets of cardboard. cut out by
careless hand and set upright In the
sand. He advanced. growing weaker.
breathing with more difficulty. but still
muttering. Not yet-not Just yet!'
The mountains had begun to spread
apart There were long ranges and
short Here and there, form that
had seemed an integral part OF some
range. defined itself as distinct from
all others, lying like an island OF rock
In a sea Of unbroken desert wilcox
was approaching the Wichita noun
] taN
ity. As far as he could see In one d.
rection the grotesque forms stretched
In isolated chains or single groups: but
In the other the end was reached. and
beyond lay the unbroken waste of the
Panhandle
Swaying on his great legs rs with
the weakness Of an infant. he was
now very near the end Of the system.
A wall OF granite sparsely dotted with
green rose above him to a height OF
about $50 feet
He sank to the ground. his eyes red
and dimmed. For some time he re
manned there inert staring. his brain
refusing to work. II yonder stood a
white object between him and the
mountain. a curious white something
with Wheels. might II not 10 a covered
wagon? No: II was a mirage. But
was It possible for mirage to deceive
him into the fancy that q wagon stood
only a few hundred feet awayp Per
haps It was really wagon He star
ed stupidity. not moving. There were
no dream horves 10 this ghost wagon
There was no siGn Of life. IL captured
by the Indians Il would not have bssn
lsft intact but how came a wagon
into this barren woridf
He stared ~ at the sun a n b -
sure himself that he vas awakA thsn
laughed hosrseiy. foolishiy. He hegan
10 crawl toward. but the wagon dh
not move. Az II grew palmer In all
its details a new strength came 10 him.
He strore 10 rise and aftsr several At
tempts, succeeded. He staggered for
ward till hts hands graped ons Of the
wheels. II was NO dream.
A searching look dtstfngu1shed tvo
objects that excluded from attsnfinn
all othera Upon a mattruss at ths
rear OF the wagon lay a woman. hR
face covered BY a ctofh. and nsas the
front sat stood a hog Of wstsr. TIE
rigid form Of Shs woman and o. pusk
ton u the ar1m and hands showsd
Dat shs was dead
The man recognised this truth, b9t II
made only a dim impression. That
keg u water meant lffe-and life vas
a tkousandfoh moro 70 him than dsath.
he drew himself upon the seat, snatch
"a at the tin srp beside the beg and
drew out the cloth covered eorDoob
that stopped the now. Having siaksd
hls thirsf there was mingled With bis
sense Of fnefYabse content an ovSs-
wheimins dssire for sleep. He drop
psd ON the second mattress, on which
hedclothss were carelssaiy strewn- HIS
head found he empty pillow mat hay
indented N Il had been LEFT BY some
vanished sleeper. As his eyslids closed
be fell sound asleep. But for the rtst
ing and falling Of his powerful breast
be was motiOnless ~ the body Of tbs