Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1916-02-05

minutes then. Perhaps they had lust
awakened to his escape and were cast
ing aside stealth for the fury of open
| pursuit She even thought she heard
an oath once. and then it was all quiet
again; quiet for a while, and at the
end of the silence, like the punctua-
| ton of an exclamation-mark, came the
far-away snap of rifle.
She had dropped to a chair and
sat there tensely, leaning forward. her
lips parted and her ears straining.
Had she heard one shot and it's echo
or had there been several? Her imag-
ination and fears were playing her
tricks now, and she could hardly be
certain of her senses.
The passage of time was a thing of
which she had lost count Each mo-
ment was century.
Then, with a violent start, she sat
up. Now she knew she heard a sound
there could be no doubt this time.
1t came from out beyond the front
door, and she bent forward, listen
ing.
1t was strange sort of sound which
she could not make out, but in a sub
tie way it was more terrifying than
the clatter of rifles. 1t was as if some
up the steps and rolling back
She rose and took a step toward
the door, but halted in doubt The
sound died and then came again, al
ways with hating intervals of silence
between, as though whoever were
dragging the burden had to pause on
each step to rest. Then there was a
scraping as of boot-leather on the
boards and a labored breath outside
a breath that seemed to be agonized-
She bent forward with one hand
outstretched toward the latch, and
heard a faint rapping. 1t was seem
ingly the rap of very feeble fingers.
but that might all be part of a ruse.
Was it friend or enemy out there, just
beyond the thickness of the heavy
panels? AT all events. she must see.
She braced herself and threw the
door open. A figure which had been
leaning against it lurched forward.
stumbled over the threshold and fell
in a heap, half in and half out. 1t
was the figure of Anse Havey.
How far he had hitched himself
along, foot by foot, like a mortally
wounded animal crawling home to die
she could not tell, but for one horri-
fed instant she stood gazing down on
him in stupefaction.
He had gone out a splendid vital
creature of resilient strength and pow
er. He hi l come back the torn and
bleeding wreck of a man. literally
shot to pieces, as a quail is shattered
when it rises close to quick-shooting
gun.
In the next moment she was stoop-
ing with her arms around his body.
striving to lift his weight and bring
him in She was strong beyond all
seeming of her slenderness, but the |
man was heavy, and as she raised his
head and shoulders sound of bitten |
off and stified agony escaped his white |
lips, and she knew that her efforts |
were torturing him.
1t was an almost lifeless tongue |
that whispered. Il was skeered-that |
Wouldn't get here"
Then as she staggered under his |
inert bulk he tried to speak again.
Jest help-drag me-
The few yards into the hall made a
long and terrible journey, and how
she ever got him in, half hanging to
her. half crawling. stopping at every
step, she never knew. Still it was
done at last. and she was kneeling on
the floor with his head on her breast
No wonder they had left him for
dead and gone away content. He
looked up and a faint smile came to
his almost unacceptable face. The
blood which had already dried and
caked with the dust through which he
had crawled was being fed by fresh
er outpouring. and. as she held him
close to her. her own bosom and arms
were red too, as red as the flower
pinned in her hair.
She must stanch his wounds and
pour whisky down his throat before
he Pickering wisp of life-fame burned
but
Wait, dearest" she said in bro
ken voice. Il must get things you
need
1T ain't"-he paused moment for
he breath which came very hard
scarcely-worth WILHELM done"
But she flew to the cupboard where
here was brandy. She tore linen
rom her petticoat and brought water
rom the drinking bucket that stood
With it's gourd dipper on the porch.
But when she pressed the flask to
lis lips he closed them and shook his
head little.
Il amt never touched a drop in my
ife.'' he said. AN l reckon-I nights
vell-finish out-twon't be long. It's
90 late to begin now"
For a while he Law paSnino then