The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-06-23
"sWhy didn't you tell me beforey

O10n vi ttlILuS you'
"Without another word l ran to the
barn and got out Kate, saddled her.
mounted and was about to ride away
when Susie came up pantin. She put
her arms about Kates neck and said
Kate, dear, take him in time to save
him-for my sake-and I'll love you
| forever
mot wishin' to lose time, l broke
away from her l seen blood on her
lips, and knowed the excitement or
the runnin' to the barn or both had
brought on a hemorrhage
Don't kill Kate heard Susie say.
and that was the last, for then I was
out O hearin
II leaned down on the mares neck
and patted her and said, Yer doin'
this for Susie. and | know you'll do
yer best.
II reckon she understood, for she jist
| got down to steady gait that she
could keep all day and reel off the
miles while she was a-doin' it.
knowed Walcott's life depended on my
| gittin' there as soon as Stiggs. fer l
didn't reckon Stiggs would give his en-,
emy any advantage. His way was to
ride up behind man, make show
O. givin' him chanct by calm out to
him and shoot him before he could
turn.
"Stiggs had got a good start O me-
and he never rode a poor horse But
he didn't know any one was after him.
Nevertheless it would be nip and tuck
with me to overhaul him. Kate kept
her steady gait till we got within about
five mics o the Walcott ranch, when
across the grain ground | saw Stiggs
ridin along at good pace. Then
said to my mare
Now or never, Kate. Remember
what Susie said to you.
"She knowed what l was a-sayin'.
and she got over the ground like
greyhound. We was within mile O.
the ranch when, strikin' a soft bit O.
ground, the mare stumbled and fell,
shootin' me over her head l tried to
pull her up but it was no use. Her
left foreleg was broke.
II used my own legs the rest O the
way. | neared the ranch in time to
see Stiggs lettin' down the bars to
go in. AS bad luck would have it.
there was Walcott standin with his
back to Jim watchin' man who was
putin horse through his PAGES. l
seen Stiggs remount and ride up to.
ward the man in the yard. drawin' his
revolver at the same time.
Before startin', thinkin' there might
be occasion for a long range shot.
Id hooked Winchester to my sad
die and brought it from where Kate
fell. Stiggs must "a been 1900 to
LOO yards away, but l knew Wal
colts life depended on my bringin' his
enemy down at that distance. l took |
good aim. fired. and Stiggs tumbled |
oft II his horse
The narrator paused to light pipe.
Il suppose" | said, this is the kill. |
ing YOU referred to that has always
troubled you. You excused the man
because he acted from love-"
Me troubled about KILN Jim Stiggs.
Not mtth. It's another KILN that
DotherS me. AS soon as seen Stiggs
drop | went back to Kate. She had /
saved the man Susie loved, and Susie
had told me not TO kill her. But there
was Kate lyin' on her side with bro.
ken leg There's but one thing to do
with horse in that condition-shoot
MN. Kate when she saw me comm
whlnnied, and when | reached her
there was a mighty sad look in her
eyes. She was an intelligent animal
and knowed that 1t was all up with
her.
Il TUX my revolver from its case
Kate glanced at it and at me- IL ever
horse said in plain language Don't
Kill Kate that horse said it. Or was
because | was seein' the little girl
'tandin' there with the drop of blood
IN her lip-the death mark-and heard
Ter say 1t ag'in?
Il scarcely think I'm the kind n
nan to be chicken hearted. Least.
ways wouldn't mind cuttin' a deers
hroat after shootin' it when it looks
outer its soft eyes. but I
moved the white feather at shootin
Kate. And l never could tell whether
was most because | loved Kate or
| was conscience struck at
avn to go back on the little gal that
ole me not to kill her. | walked away
er few rods. then turned and come /
ack. When did that | could a.
lowed her head off. put the muzzle
my revolver to her brain, pulled the
rlgger and fired. All the while she
'as lookin at me as much as TO saw .
Much obleeged.'
Il walked four miles to house. bor. |
yed a spade, went back and buried
-ate. Then | walked all the wav
ack to the Courtney ranch. l WASN'T
hurry to git there neither. Least.
ways | wouldn't "a been If 1t WASN'T
tell Susie that the man she loved
ad been saved, Seemed as if I'd only
one half what she wanted me to do