The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-20


didn't think Of telling YOU
without another word | ran to the
harh AMI got out Kate. saddled her.
mounted and was about 10 ride away
when Susie came up pantin'. She put
her arms about Rates neck and said.
kate. dear. take him in time TO save
him-for my sake-and I'll love YOU
forever
Not wishin' to lose time. broke
away from her. | seen blood on her
Hps. aud | knowed the excitement or
Tue 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 was
out O hearin'
leaned down on the mares neck
and patted her and said. Yer dom
this for Susie. and know you'll do
yer best.
reckon she understood. for she list
got down to steady gait that she
could keep all day and reel off the
miles while She was a-doin' il.
khowed Nalcott's life defended on nv
Sittln' there as soon as Stiggs. fer |
didn reckon StiggS would give his en-
envy any advantage. Ills way was to
ride up behind man. make a show
o giYin' him chanel by calm out to
him and shoot him before he could
turn
'Sticss had cot a good start a. me.
and he never rode "A poor horse. BUT
he didn't know any one was after him
Nevertheless il would Ice nip and tuck
with me 10 overhaul him Kate kept
her steady sait Till We cot within about
I'VE mics % the Walcutt ranch. when
across the grain ground | saw StiggS
ridin along al good pace Then /
said 60 nay mare
Now or never. Kate Remember
what Susie said 10 You
She knoWed what Was a.sayin'
and She cot over the ground like "a
greyhound. We was within mile a.
the ranch when. strikin' soft bit a.
ground. the mare stumbled and felt
shoutlu' me over her head. | tried to
I pull her up. but it was no use Her
left forclcg was broke
! Il used my own legs the rest o the
way. neared the ranch in time to
see Stiggs lcttin' down the bars to
| 20 in. rs bad luck would have It,
there was Walcott standin with his
! back To Jim. watchin' man who was
putin a horse through his PAGES.
seen Stiggs remount and ride up to-
ward the man in the yard. DRAWN his
/ revolver AT the same time.
Before startin'. thinkin' there might
be occasion for long range shot,
| Id hooked Winchester to my sad
die aud brought 1t from where Kate
| fell. Stggs must a been l.2OO to
l.Joo yards away, but | knew Wal
| colts life depended on my bringin his
enemy down AT that distance. | took
a good aim. fired. and Stiggs tumbed
uit II his horse
The narrator paused to light pipe
Il suppose" ! said, "thiS Is the kill
ing You referred TO that has always
!
because he acted from love"
Me troubled about KILN Jim Slggs
Not much It's another KILN that
hother~ me. As soon as | seen Sti..s
drop went back To Kate. She hal
saved the man Susie loved, and Susie
had told me not TO kill her. But there
was Kate lyn' on her side with "A bro
ken leg There's hut one thing to de
with horse IN that condition shoot
him Kate when She saw me comm
whnnied and when ] reached hcl
there was u mighty sad look in her
eyes She was an intelligent animal
and knowed that 1t was all up viii
her
Il tux my revolver from its case
Kate glanced al II and al ne II eve
horse said ia plain language Don
XIII Kate that horse said II. Or wa,
il because was Seein' the little gir
standh there with the drop of hoo'
IN her np-thc death mark and hear'
her say it as'inf
II scarcely think I'm the kind u
man to he chicken hearted. Least
aways wouldn't mind cuttin' deer
throat after Shootin it when II look
anpcalin like outer its soft eyes. but
showed the white feather al sho"tin
, Kate And never could tell whethe
il was most bccause | loved Kate 4"
whether was conscience struck Il
havin 10 20 back on the little gal tina
foIe me not to kiIl her ! walked AVA
/ fer few rods then turned and com
back When / did that could q
I bowed her bead oil put the muzzl
, ! ms revolver 10 her brain. pulled ~
trigger and fired. All the while sh
was lnnl,tH az me rs much as I" sa
Much ul4regrd
. Il walked four miles 10 "A house boi
t ryed a spade. went back and burie
4 Kate Then walked all the wa
hack To the Courtney ranch. ! WASH
4 g. o. hurry IA cit there neither. LeaS