The Dolores star., 1917-03-02


.At iase thaso eans . ~ go -
sound a hs1vy ~ eEnaA1nG eheoarA
the hrush. ~ ~ ~ been euno ~
minntes tAsA. PsshaDs sAsy - ~
awaksasd 20 his sseaDs an1 vsso ease-
ing aalAe stealth eoe tie fUy 6 oDsa
parsuiG Ghe even ehough4 - heara
a. cath cncs. aAA thsa 4 was an Qusst
agnin; gu1st fbr . whals. 90 at shs
ed q the silencs, NE the punetua,
tiea q on exclamA&1nn-Daxlk. eaRo he
fArAway snap q . Sifle.
She bad dropped 70 . cAair and
nat there tsassly, leaning forward. her
lips parted and her ears straining.
Had she heard one shot and its echo.
o. had thsrs bsea sevefalf Her imag-
ination and fears were playing her
tricks now. and she could hardly b
certain Of her senses
The passage Of time was . thing Of
which she had lost count. Each mo-
ment was century.
Then. with violent start, she sat
up. Now she know she heard sound
there could be NO doubt this time
II came from out beyond the front
door. and she bent forward. listen
ing.
II was strange sort Of sound which
she could not make out, but in Q sub
tie way It was more terrifying than
the cletter Of rifles. Il was - II some
heavy. soft thing were being dragged
up the steps and rolling back.
She rose and took step toward
the door, but halted In doubt. The
sound died and then came again, al
ways with halting intervals Of silence
between. ~ though whoever were
dragging the burden had TO pause on
each step to rest. Then there was .
scraping a. Of boot-leather ON the
boards and labored breath outside
. breath that seemed to be agonised.
She bent forward with one hand
outstretched toward the latch, and
heard faint rapping. II was seem
ingly the rap Of very feeble fingers.
but that might all be part OF ruse.
Was II friend or enemy out there. Just
beyond the thickness OF the heavy
panels? At all events. she must see.
She braced herself and threw the
door open. A figure which had been
leaning against It lurched forward.
stumbled over the threshold and fell
in q heap. half In and half out. 1t
was the figure Of Anse Havey.
How far he had hitched himself
along. foot by foot. like q mortally
wounded animal crawling home to die.
she could not tell. but for ona horri-
fed instant she stood gazing down on
him in stupefaction.
He had gone out splendid vital
creature Of resilient strength and pow
er. He he ! come back the torn and
bleeding wreck of a man. literally
shot to pieces. as q quail ID shattered
when It rises close to quick-shooting
gun.
In the next moment she was stoop
ing with her arms around his body.
striving to lift his weight and bring
him In. She was strong beyond all
seeming Of her slenderness, but the
man was heavy. and ~ she raised his
on and stifed agony escaped his white
lips. and she knew that her efforts
were torturing him.
It was an almost lifeless tongue
that whispered, 81 was skeered-that
Wouldn't get here"
Then as she staggered under his
inert bulk he tried to speak again.
Jest help-drag me-"
The few yards into the hall made
long and terrible journey. and how
she ever got him in. half hanging to
her. half crawling. stopping at every
step. she never knew. Still 1t was
done at last, and she was kneeling ON
the floor with his head on her breast.
No wonder they had left him for
dead and gone away content. He
looked up and faint smile came to
his almost unrecognizable face. The
blood which had already dried and
caked with the dust through which he
had crawled was being fed by fresh
er outpouring. and. as she held him
close to her. her own bosom and arms
were red too. as red % the flower
pinned in her hair.
She must stanch his wounds and
pour whisky down his throat before
the nickering wisp OF life-name burned
out.
wait, dearest" she said in bro
ken voice. 81 must get things you
need"
1T ain't"-he paused moment for
the breath which came very hard
scarcely WILHELM done."
But she few to the cupboard where
there was brandy. She tore linen
from her petticoat and brought water
from the drinking bucket that stood
with its gourd dipper on the porch.
But when she pressed the flask to
his lips he closed them and shook his
head little.
81 amt never touched a drop in my
life," he said. "an' reckon-I nights
well-finish out-twont be long. It's
too late to begin now"
5sqa Eor a vhflo hn Low 0o ortn~ <hov,