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

to die in your arms!"
You shan't die" she breathed
fiercely between her teeth My arms
shall always be around you"
But he shook his head and his fig
ure sagged little against her knees.
know-when I'm DONE" he saio
slowly Its all right now-Ive done
got here That's enough loves ye."
For time she wondered whether
he had lost consciousness, and she
laid him down slowly and brought
cushions with which to soften his po-
sition- 1t was almost daybreak now.
She sat there beside him, and as her
heart beat close to him he seemed to
draw from it some of its abundant vi
tally, for he revived a little and
though his eyes were closed and she
had to bend down to catch his words,
his voice grew somewhat stronger.
i amt never felt 1onesome-before.
But out there-dyin' by myself-the
last of my family had to come.
Dyin' amt like livin'-I couldn't die
without ye."
You aren't dying" she argued des-
perately. You sha'n't die
1t amt that" His breath came
with great difficulty. They'll come
back here. They'll get me yet-an' I'd
ruther die first
She laid his head very gently on the
pillows and rose to her feet In the
instant she stood TRANSPORTED Deep
in her violet eyes blazed such a blue
ire as that which burns at the hot
test heart of flame. Around her lips
came the grim set of fight and blood
lust.
The crushed flower on her bosom
rose and fell under a violent tempest
OF passion The skirt of her evening
gown had been torn in her effort to
carry him. Somehow one silk stock
ing was snagged above her slipper
His blood Redeemed her white arms
and bosom. She drew a deep breath
and clenched her hands The dis
c1ple of peace was gone, and there
stood there in it's stead the hot
breathed incarnation of some valkyr
lowering over the din of battle and
urging on the fight
Yet her voice was colder and stead
Ter than he had ever heard it. She
pointed to the door,
Get you'll" she exclaimed scorn-
fully. mo man but a Havey crosses
that threshold while l live. I'm Ha-
vey now and we live or die together.
Get you'll" Her voice broke with a
wild laugh. Let them comet"
No bitterly bred daughter of the
hills was ever so completely the
woman as this transformed
and reborn girl of the cultured East.
She moved about the place with
steady, indomitable energy With
borrowed of the need, she
upset the great oaken table and bar
ricaded the door, laughing as she
heard the clatter of pedagogic vol
umes on the floor. Fox's Book of
Martyrs" fell at her feet, and she |
Kicked it viciously to one side.
She went and stood before her rack |
of guns, and her lips curled as she |
caught up a heavy-calibered repeater !
With all the fierce desire of a drunkard |
or his drink. She stood there loading |
lilies and setting them in an orderly |
inc against the wall. She devastated |
her altar of peace with the unframed |
oy of barbarian sacking a temple.
Then she turned and saw in the |
mans eyes wild glow of admiration
hat burned above his fever. and she
aid to him once more, Now let 'em
come"
He shook his head, but strangely |
enough her love and awakened feroc-
ty had strengthened and quickened
lin like brandy. and he pleaded:
Drag me over where 1 can get just
me shot,
Then Juanfta blew out the lamp and
TODD silent in the hush that comes
'efore dawn. She did not have to
Wait long, for soon she heard hoof-
,eats in the road, and they stopped
uSt at the turn.
Hello. strangeri' she shouted, and
took all her strength to command
Ter voice. Halt where you are"
There was an instant's silence in
he first misty gray that was bringing
he yelled sunrise
A stified murmur of voices came
rom the road. and she caught the
Tords. He's in thar all right" A
noment later someone called out sui
emily from the shadows:
I'VE gives We three minutes ter
cave tibet house. We're a-comin' in
n we'd rather not ter harm We. Git
ut quick
I'VE can't save me. dearest. It's
90 late. For Gods sake, go out"
loaded Anse Hayey tensely.
Her answer was to cry out into the
avn in a voice that could not be mis-
Understood. "Anse Havey's in here
ome and get him." and for added en-
he ornnchod hahind tho |