The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1916-07-13

freely both at its entrance and where
1t had come out, but with no signs of
hemorrhage. He did not bleed at the
mouth; however. he began 20 cough up
reddish tinged foam.
AS they rode on, Jennie, with pale
face and mute lips, looked at him.
m badly hurt, Jennie" he said. but
guess III stick it out
The woman-did she shoot your"
Yes. She was a devil, Euchre told
m enod TO look out for her s! wasn't quick
You didn't have to.to-' shivered
the girl.
No! not" he replied.
They did not stop climbing while Du-
ane tore a scarf and made congresses.
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 stood
on top of the Rim Rock, with no signs
OF pursuit down in the valley and With
the wild, broken Businesses before them,
Duane turned to the girl and assured
her that they now had every chance
of escape.
-your-wound." she faltered.
with dark. troubled eyes. L see-the
blood-dripping from your hackl'
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 tha.>
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 until he recovered from his wound.
He seemed TO feel a fire inside his
breast, and his throat burned SO that
it was necessary for him to take
swallow OF water every little while. He
began to suffer considera BILE pain, which
increased as the hours went by and
then gave way to numbness. From
that time on he had need of his great
strength and endurance. Gradually he
lost his steadiness and his keen sight;
and he realized that if he were TO meet
foes, or il pursuing outlaws should
come up with him, he could make only
poor stand. So he turned off on a
trail that appeared seldom travelled.
Soon after this move he became con-
scious of a further thickening of his
sense. He felt able TO hold on to his
saddle for a while longer. but he was
falling. 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.
MOI don't mean--what you think.
But I'll drop soon. My strengths going
# l die-you ride back to the main
trail. Hide and rest by day. Ride at
night That trail goes to water I be-
iieve you could get across the Nueces,
where some rancher will take you II.
Duane could not get the meaning OF
her incoherent reply. He rode on, and
soon ne 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 u falling and feeling Jennie's
arms before all became dark to him.
When consciousness returned ne
found himself lying In a little hut OF
mesquite branches. IL was well built
and evidently some years old. There
were two doors or openings, one II
front and the other at the back Duane
imagined it had been built by fugitive
one who meant to keep an eye both
ways and not TO be surprised. Duane
felt weak and had no desire to move.
Where was he, anyway? A strange, In
something far behind weighed upon
him. Sight Of the two packs Euchre had
made brought his thought to Jennie
What had become OF her? There was
evidence of her work in a smoldering
fire and a little blackened coffee pot
Probably she was outside looking after
the horses or getting water. He thought
-, " '~P t>- - -
ieil Ilred, ana presently MS eyes closed
ana ne Ieil INTO aoze.
awakening from TINS, ne saw Jennie
sitting beside him. In some way she
seemed to have changed. When he
spoke she gave start and turned
eagerly to him.
Duane. she cried.
Hello. How re you. Jennie, and
now am II he said. finding 1t little
difficult to talk.
on. I'm all right she replied. And
you've come to-your wounds healed.
but you've been sick. Fever, ! guess
did all could.
Duane saw now that the difference
In her was a Wilderness and tightness Of
skin, hallowness OF eye. look of.
strain.
fever? How long have We been
here? he asked.
She took some pebbles from the
crown of his sombrero and counted
them
Nine. Nine days" she answered.
Nine days." he exclaimed. incredul-
ously; But another look at her assured
him that she meant what she said. I've
been sick all the time? You nursed