The Press., 1915-05-05
6he
 Horse Thief
 , , ar How He Was Saved.
By M. H. WORsLEY.

! \ A , ]&+43~s49.sI.s..s4s E s4as..s..s-s* The winter had broken earlier than usual, and between the nearest point , of civilization and the shack stretched 3 waste of gleaming snow. ,es,
 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, 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 a word
 "For Gods sake, give me a fighting chance!' the man groaned. .,s ....., ..ye } She stepped back. ., V
 "The sheriff! Hide me!' - "Theyre herer' she said quickly as
 the shouting of a dozen men was heard. "Get behind that curtain Pm going to light the lamp, Don't move or get skeered into shooting g..
 "No tricks, mindv' said the man
 '"This isn't kids game Pm playitigl' I've got you covered, and if you give them so much as wink I'- 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. s.4 ~stsasjty t.s.x "I 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 a good many. He's given us a mighty good run for the money, but I reckon we've treed him. @'.,av,
 "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?' --..e
 "Brunte can wait. We'll take Gregar 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 ?'''5' >%fr&' l "It's my duty" he stammered. :entich as I may regret it." ,.s- -..-s- She stepped back from the door and walked slowly to the other side of the room. She stopped over shakedown, then turned and glanced at the man in the doorway. ", '''s @'"
 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 suffering girl "chi1tl.' i The woman recrossed the floor. s;5H@ "
 "Is that your man?" .ag she asked brokenly. "Would you like to search further?' ..,..,a,., l "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, | holding at the shakedown. '1s it your kiddy?" .+.' ,f No; 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 .e ...s.,s.yssy
 Are you the doctor man ?'' she ask. ed. He nodded reassuringly and com menced tenderly to remove the band ages.
 "Setv' he muttered Tt hasn't had chance to set. Who made these splints?" 'ro '"
 q 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 jackknife he fashioned the splints and cast round for 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 I that came into his eyes as he took the | belt in his fingers and turned it over | Within half an hour the child was sleeping peacefully. a-
 'I'm obliged to you,," said the wom- an. Are we quits?" sf',s -.rs : 7'@
 q should like to think. SOS he re piled moving toward the door t'>v
 'There are couple of horse rugs in ! the other room" she said quietly. 'H'The | drifts would give you less of chance | chan the sheriff did"
 Embarrassment showed itself in the | twitching of his fingers.
 ''I shall sit up with the child,". she l added.
 Thanks" His hand was on the door leading into the other apartment "I hope that Brunte Heath, whoever he is, will have half my luck.'
 "I hope so,' she whispered. "He de serves it."
 You seem to know something about Brunte?' he said. es.~
 She was sitting on the. side of the shakedown, and her eyes met -his.-fair- ly and squarely. ~1 ~
 '1 know that he's never had square deal, if that's what you mean.'
 He's married, isn't hep
 "So I've heard''s as 6 TI;
 "Wealthy woman too?" ssa
 'Wealthy-but she isn't much of a woman. He was good and straight man when she left him."
 ho &1 I,o |