Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-24
The Dailp Storp
involved Identities

had not heard the horsemans approach
and her FIRST warning came as she locke
up into the tanned face with its squat
chin and steel gray eyes.
Did ] frighten your asked the ir
! truder, as he noted her dismay. 81 woul
not have dropped in like this II ha
known there was a woman about
thought this was a batch shanty"
"My brother has gone over to Carson
ville,' she said without thinking. Thei
her face went white She had admitted
that she was alone on the ranch, an,
this man was clearly the original OF thu
rude half tone OF the circular on th'
wall headed Wanted! 10000 RewardP'
There could be no mistake. Here was
his full description and his name. The
bill was dated back In August He must
be a clever man TO stay out OF the
clutches OF the law for all that time
The more clever he was the more dan
gerous The only thing to be done was
to make the best Of It and at least hide
all traces Of fear.
~ 20 past here pretty often. I'll drop
in sometimes," he announced. THAT is,
II you'd care to have me-"
She murmured some conventional
| speech and covered her confusion by put
| ting away the freshly ironed clothes.
! Then che turned her attention to the din
ner and in 10 minutes they were at table.
! Her fear had worn or. Somehow that
| steady gaze was most reassurlng. The
man might be all that the bill declared,
but there was nothing to he afraid OF.
Hayes was a capital story teller and he
had her in a gale of laughter as he kept
up a constant flow Of small talk
She was almost sorry when the meal
was over and they rose to leave the table
IL ha1V ,nI har I,.. 1fr1,a g,.aa q.
kitchen and then calmly established him
self In the armchair again.
Thanks for a good dinner and most
pleasant company" he said as he swung
off the big sombrero. May L come in
EEnln?"
yes, If you think 1t safe" she said
softly.
Il don't think It's safe" he smiled,
but I'm coming"
He touched his horse with the spurs and
rode off. She went back to the house
slowly. II hurt to think that he was
only a desperado. The bill stared her in
tho face With an angry twitch she tore
1t from the wall and thrust It into the
fire.
Somehow she could not bring herself to
confess to her brother that 1t was Hayes
who had been at the house, and her ac-
count Of the happening Of the day con-
Cerned an unknown cowboy of whom she |
could give only very hazy description.
He might be a man sought after by the |
law-she could not betray him.
Twice after that she saw him, once at
the house and again one afternoon when |
she was riding alone.
Then came the third encounter. She |
had ridden in to Carsonville and the |
shadows were falling as she neared tho |
ranch. Just off the trail Hayes horse |
grazed quietly and she rode toward It, |
With cry she perceived in the shadow |
the figure of man and realized that |
It was Hayes.
He was bleeding from a wound In the |
shoulder and had tainted from loss of
blood. Tearing strips from her habit
she manufactured rude bandage and |
with her handkerchief she washed the
tiny hole and made pad to place over It,
She had just finished her amateur sur
gerry when he opened his eyes. YOU"
he whispered. 80 they didn't get me
after all"
You were all alone" she said softly
Now you must not try to talk l am
going to try to get you into your saddle
and take you on to the ranch"
He raised himself upon his left arm
but sank back with groan. 1T guess
ia better lie quiet n moment" he said,
until my head stops swimming"
Her quick ear caught the sound of hoof
beats Here comes help" she cried
More apt to be more trouble" he
5asped. "Thsy feel safer now It Is get
.Ing dark"
They won't take YOU" she cried, as
he rider came nearer. Its only one
man."
II guess I did tho other one up." he
nuttered. Hand me my gun and get
behind that tree"
AS the rider came to a halt at the sight
DI the horses she IN
Throw up your hands" she called.
you" va
For answer there was a flash and she
;ould hear the whistle of a bullet as 1t
sped past~her. She pointed her gun.
pulled the trigger and as the recoii tore
ne weapon from her shoulder she saw
he newcomer fall.
lie recovered consciousness before she
rad completed her task, but Hayes was
m his feet now and a pistol held at his
lead kept him quiet
II was slow progress with two wounded
nen under convoy and Alice was glad
when she heard her brothers haIl up
he trail. He had become anxious and
lad ridden out to meet her.
She rode forward to meet him.
George" she said. "a man is back there
herln TO prevent his taking my res
uer' I'm not going TO have him cap
ured, He saved my life. We owe It to
Inn TO let him go free"
wen talk that over when we get to |
no house." he said. squirting past her
Il mean what j say" she called de-
antly as she wheeled and followed
II was not until the ranch had been
cached and new dressings applied that
he breathed more freely when she saw
er brother had rebound the stranger
nd left Hayes with his hands free.
1T was a close call for YOU" he said
s he handed Hayes a light. Alice
wears that she is going to let Saunders
o because he saved her life"
NO" corrected the girl. 1T was Mr..
iayes who saved me-"
you told me II was the man whom the
herif was after" insisted George. Jack
the Sheriff."
"But-that circular" she said, puzzled.
The one In the Kitchen" Alice nodded.
Her brother rolled on the door IN an
cstacy OF mirth and It was Hayes who
nered the explanation "It was one OF !
he boys jokes" he said kindly. II was
photographed when I went to Frisco last
ummer They thought Il was a need-
sss extravaganza and some one got up |
hat circular and seemed to think II was
good Joke on the Sheriff TO advertise
i'm as a fugitive.
And you are not an Outlawg'
Don't you think you could love the
herin as much as a desperado7" he
sked boldly. He read the answer in her
yes and drew her toward him. Her
rother sat bolt upright
We'll he said stvou ara IN fba oapt,,r