Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1916-12-02
Confined from preceding issne)

n hitle-'but as Tor me, well, | always dlu
pride myself that ] could shoot some,
whether it was by daylight or dark"
Stephen O'Mara touched a match 10 the
dry grains Of tobacco which he had been
tamping into the bowl of his pipe. He
swung slowly around toward the inert fig
IRE on the hunk.
"IIe'l sleep the .-av through, / Think
he said, zane TIE niei.t perhaps. But I'd
advise You 10 look in on him now and then,
just the same. He did US a good turn last
night. It's the second turn he has done
for me, Joe. And now perhaps the chance
has come 10 even up the score a little. You
would know, wouldn't You, Joe, just how
many drinks to prescribe for a man who
has been as-as i'll as Garry has?"
Fat Joe's face commenced to shine, and
at that he was only beginning to under
stand.
"Ain't | the doctor?, he demanded ag-
grievedly. "You don't have TO 60 no deep
er into technicalities with me. And | told
you last night anyway, didn't /, that it
would have to be his last little celebration
uiiCSS uS WaS liEuim VII a. iouStl JUL
ney than he's ever took before. Well, I've
handled 50 MANY eases just like his that
there amt even n little enjoyable novelty in
'em any more for me-"
Steve received the statement with an
other nod.
That's it," he unused. "That's it ex-
actly. Ii would lave to be his last un-
less he is figuring on a longer journey than
he has ever taken BEFORE
He crossed and leaned over the thin and
motionless form Of his friend. He laid
one hand gently upon the sleeping mans
shoulder.
"TIe did that for me once joe he spoke
quietly. "fle dropped his hand on my
shoulder like that, and | never forgot the
weight Of it,. You watch him, Joe-watch
him closely for awhile, because-because,
you see n man does stray along once in so
often who's so badly bewildered and trail
weary, so tired Of trying and-and hurt
in soul that the thought Of such jour
ney as you speak of begins to seem the
shortest route after all to an end of
thoughts which even alcohol can't wipe out.
You take care of him, and if he wakes be-
fore ! get back explain TO him a little just
how he came here, and thank him a lot
for what he did. Ask him TO wait until |
come back from Morrison will youe"
For a moment Joe just stood and blink
ed. dumfounded.
Steve crossed the door and began 10 un-
fasten the feed bag from Ragtime's nose.
tie leaned over to lengthen n stirrup, stop
ped again to light his pipe.
"Watch things J" he called "a he swung to
the saddl and put Ra:time to the slope.
"Watch thingsr' His voice drifted up from
drive 'em-drivc 'em from daylight till
dark
From the threshold Fat Joe watched him
until horse and rider disappeared beyond
the line Of timber.
Barbara Allison's presence upon the
dusty Hill road that morning was more than
the result of a merely casual within. even
though when she turned her mount north in
10 that montain highway n scant two hours
before the choice had been made without
actual thought for the route she was Sc
lecting.
The night before as soon rs she had re-
entered hurriedly the glowing lodge a
sprawl upon the hill the impulse had first
come to her-a swift and almost blind de-
sire to turn and escape. if only for n lit
tie while. from the roomful Of chatter and
laughter and bright eyed badinage looscd
upon her Immediately after the mmaskine
BY Dexter Allison's perfectly cadenced an
nounccment of his daughters engagement.
All in q breath the huge room had become
|stiflingly oppressive, the gayety unbearable.
And yet a~fterward, alone in her room.
when the last treble note had died away
and she had dismissed Cecile. her sleepy
eyed maid, the sense Of oppression had re-
turned redonbled. She did not want to
sleep. She was glad Of her wide eyed
wakefulneSs. but in the darkness walls and
ceiling and floor seemed fairly to close in
upon her and hedge in soul and brains as
well as body. Ii was the first time the
girl had ever known the need-the driving
desire to be out Of doors, where there was
nothing but sky and skyline 10 bound her
thoughts. And at last when he RESTLESS
ness became no longer bcarable. while the
remainder Of the house still slept behind |
drawn curtains, she rose and slipped into
boots and breeches and riding coat and de- |
seconded to ordsrs. not too wide awake
groom to saddle iorse. And in the very |
middle of his SENSATIONAL report Of Rag |
times empty stall she swung TO the sad |
die and turned toward the north.