The Red Cloud chief., 1917-10-25
tccryhahsb By Charles sedbner's Sons,

one of which seemed to have survived
in habitnble entirety, scattered among
the frs of the gulch.
At the top of the rise the horsewom-
nm drew rein and shaded her eyes
with n gantleted hand. On n bench
beside the door on the single tenanted
| cabin n man wns sitting, and she saw
him stand to answer her hand-wave.
A few minutes later the man, Il gaunt
young fellow with one arm In q sling
and the pallor OF q long confinement
whitening his face and hands, was try
Ing to help the horsewoman to dis
mount In the cabin dooryard, but she
pushed him aside and swung out of
the saddle unaided, laughing at him
out Of the %slate-gray eyes and saying:
"IIow often have I got to tell you that
you simply can't help q woman Cat Of
n mans saddle?"
The man smiled at that
"It's automatic" he returned. II
shall never get owe wanting to help
you, I guess. Have you come to tell
me that I can GOT"
Flinging the bride reins over the
head Of the wlry little cow-pony which
was thus left free to crop the short,
sweet grass of the creek valley, the
young woman led the man to the house
bench and made him sit down.
"You are frightfully anxious to 60
and commit suicide, aren't your she
leased, sitting beside him. "Every time
l come it's always the same thing /:
when can I goT You're not well
yet"
I'm well enough to do what I've
got to do, Corona; and until It's done.
|. . . Besides, there Is Jibbey."
"Where Is Mr.. Jibbey this m%orning?'
Gle has gone up the creek, fishing.
I made him go. If / didn't take a club
to him now and then he'd hang over
me all the time. There never was
another man like him, Corona. And
ut home we used to call him the black
sheep and the failure and cross the
street to dodge him when he'd been
drinking too much!"
"He says you've made a mar OF
him +; that you saved his life when you
had every reason not to-. You never
told me that, john"
"No; I didn't mean to tell anyone
But to think Of his coming out here
to nurse me, leaving Verda on the
night he married heri A brother OF
my own blood wouldn't have done It.
The young woman was looking W
with a shrewd little smile. MAYBE
the blood brother would do even that
II you had just made 1t possible fol
him to marry the girl he'd set hi.
heart on, John"
then: Hasn't the time come wher
you can tell me a little more about
what happened to me after the doctor
put me to sleep that night at thu
damn"
"Yes. The only reason you haven
been told was because we didn't wan
you to worry; we wanted you to have
a chance to get well and strong again.
The mans eyes filed suddenly, ant
he took no shame. He was still shak,
enough in nerve and muscle to ex
cuse 1t. "Nobody ever had sucI
friends, Corona" he said. "You al
knew I'd have to 60 back to Lawrence
Vile and fight 1t out, and you dldn'
want me to go handicapped and half
dead. But how did they come to lie
: you take me away? I've known Mac
: auley ever since I was in Knockers. II
! Is not the mar to take any chances.
: The young woman's laugh wa
I, soundless. "Mr. Macauley WASH
, asked. He thinks you are dead" sh
= said.
u "What!"
c "It's so. You were not the only on
wounded in the fight at the dan
There were two others-two {
MGraw's men. Three days later, jui