Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-07

His life' He gave il no thought.
He was revulsed at the spirit of the
thing and at the necessity for it, A
moment ago il had seemed distant,
vague, unreal
Now 1t was al hand. sharply defined,
4 cold. irrevocable fact.
1t was dawn: this was Crooked
Ford And the sounds he heard were
made by the hoofs of an approaching
horse.
The horse stopped. and again Hardy
heard the creak of saddle, as though
the animal sighed deeply. He lifted
his head to look, but could see moth.
ing except the tangle OF growth and
the narrow road striking back toward
open country. The rider was not in
sight
Might 1t be some one else, That
was possible, surely. II so. their pres
ence would mean complications; then
the doctor suddenly remembered that
he had no plan beyond reaching the
scene OF the prearranged crime. What
to do first. toward what end to work.
he did not know. Only one idea had
been In his mind and that was to
thwart Bart Sears In his endeavor of
that morning. at the point of the gun
il necessary. The process had been
driven from consideration by the very
magnitude OF his determination.
He drew quick breath when he re.
allied that, and stirred uneasly. He
felt weak and incapable and lost in the
mazes OF new experience.
Then the horse started forward
again, and Ellis Hardy froze once
more into man Of iron. is physique
matching the hardness OF his will.
He rode into sight quite unpreten.
tiousH. To'the waiting man il seemed
quite flat and somehow disappointing,
that entrance Of the outlaw.
A rifle was across his saddle. horn
ready for action. and his jumper
buiged where heavy revovers were
strapped 20 his hips; but he rode
loosely in his seat, the foot toward
Hardy dangling idly from its stirrup-
for all the world like tired. honest
rancher riding the road home and.
with the close approach Of his goal,
Lifting the animal which carried him
go at an aimless gait.
The horse expelled breath loudly,
with shake of the head, just as
though precautiOn were unnecessary,
and walked along, ears forward, with
mild interest in the service he rem
dered his master. Perhaps he smeled
water and wanted drink; anyhow, he
broke into a shambllng trot and the
accelerated pace sent Hardy's blood
pumping in quick leaps for Bart
Sears rode straight toward him and
rapidly.
The nausea left Hardy, his intent
ness slackened. Suddenly it seemed
as though the whole thing were of
small consequence. as though it mat.
tered little what he did. The sudden
ease was restfu, soothing, like mar
cote to sufferer. His breath came
and went with less difficulty, the blood
ceased to roar in his ears; he lay still,
languidly watching Sears ride for.
ward.
muttered word from the rider
and the horse stopped. almost in his
trucks.
They stood there motionless, not
dozen feet from Ellis Hardy.
The doctor tried to fight his way
from the lethargy which held him as
man struggles in dream to move. 1t
was time for action and he could not
rally his senses. not even his reason.
1t was expressing. killing.
Unconscious OF the mechanics of
the action he elevated the barrel OF
the revolver and sQuirted along it. The
sight covered Sears right temple,
and his finger was on the trigger.
Then he was aware. A tremor shot
through him so violent that a thrill Of
uOiiVi ioIOWNu W. tOI I've iHUukHt
surely the waiting outlaw must have
heard. Hardy was alive to the nitua.
ton again. Alive and painting.
There before him waited the, center
from which radiated all the tentacles
OF this grim drama which had snatch.
ed the young physician up and made
Of him such an important factor The
outlaw waited 10 ply his trade--and
Hardy knew Bart Sears was listening
for the hoofs of coming horse and
the chuck of buggy.wheels that would
herald the approach OF another victim.
The bandits face was pale from his
weeks under shelter Of Navin's roof,
but his shoulders were firm and fiat.
and in his eyes was the wicked lust.
the defiance of others, the greed. the
reckless spirit which made him what
ne was.