Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1916-12-28

"A S"1AI SIduCo DdCk showed TO duane
man coming down the lane. Chess
Alloway! His gun was smoking. He
broke into a run. Then in an instant
he saw Duane, and tried to check his
pace as he swung up his arm. But
that slight pause was fatal. Duane
shot, and Alloway was falling when his
gun went off. His bullet whistled
close to Duane and thudded into the
cabin,
Duane bounded down to the horses.
Jennie was trying to hold the plunging
bay. Euchre lay fiat on his back,
dead, bullet-hole in his shirt, his
face set hard, and his hands twisted
round gun and bride.
Jennie, you've nerve, all right ~
cried Duane, as he dragged down the
horse she was holding. Cup with you
now! There! Never mind-long
stirrups! Hang on somehow
He caught his bride out OF Euchre's
clutching grip and leaped astride. The
frightened horses jumped into a run
and Numbered down the lane into the
road. Duane saw men running from
cabins. He heard shouts. But there
were no shots fired. Jennie seemed
able to stay on her horse, but without
stlrrups she was thrown about so much
that Duane rode closer and reached
out to grasp her arm.
Thus they rode through the valley
to the trail that Led up over the steep
and broken Rim Rock. AS they be-
gan to climb Duane looked back. No
pursuers were in sight.
Jennie, we're going to get away!"
he cried, exultation for her in his
voice.
She was gazing horror-stricken at
his breast, as in turning to look back
he faced her.
"Oh, Duane, your shirts all bloodyi''
she faltered, pointing with trembling
fingers.
With her words Duane became
aware Of two things-the hand he in
stinctively placed to his breast still
held his gun, and he had been shot
through the breast far enough down
to give him grave apprehension of his
life.
They did not stop climbing while
Duane tore scarf and made COM
presses. which he bound tightly over
his wounds. The fresh horses made
fast time up the rough trail. From
open places Duane looked down. When
they surmounted the steep ascent and
"a De-
no signs of pursuit down in the valley,
and with the wild broken fastness
before them, Duane turned to the girl
and assured her that they now had
every chance to escape.
'But-your-wound!' ' she faltered,
with dark, troubled eyes. st see-the
from your back!''
Jennie, I'll take a lot Of killing"
he said.
Then he became silent and attended
to the uneven trail. He was aware
presently that he had not come into
BANDS camp by this route. But that
did not matter; any trail leading out.
beyond the Rim Rock was safe enough.
What he wanted was to get far away
into some wild retreat where he could
hide till he recovered from his wound.
So he turned off on a trail that ap-
peared seldom Travelled.
Soon after this move be became con-
scious Of a further thickening Of his
senses. He felt able to hold on TO his
saddle for a while longer, but he was
failing. Then he thought he ought to
advise Jennie, so in case she was left
alone she would have some idea of
what to do.
Jennie, I'll give out soon," he said.
No don't mean-what you think.
But I'll drop soon. My strengths 60
Ing. II | die-you ride back to the
main trail. Hide and rest by day.
Ride at night. That trail goes TO
water. l believe you could get across
the Nueces, where some rancher will
take you in"
Duane could not get the meaning Of
her incoherent reply. He rode on, and
soon he could not see the trail or hear
his horse. He did not know whether
they travelled a mile or many times
that far. But he was conscious when
the horse stopped, and had a vague
sense OF falling sno feeling JsaQie's